High concentration kalkwasser

Reefer08 · 09/14/2008, 10:20 PM

Does the PH of a high concentration kalkwasser go above 12-13?? Im asking because I want to add more to my ato kalkwasser but im already running 2 teaspoons per gallon but I don't wanna add kalk mix thats above a ph of 13. thanks

tanker · 09/14/2008, 10:58 PM

You shold only drip kalk anyway. A slow drip (even if high PH) if added slowly is OK.

crashrat · 09/14/2008, 11:08 PM

From what I understand 1 tea is the saturation for 1 gal of water, unless you add a couple of Tbsp of vinegar then you can bump to 2 tea of kalk.

LockeOak · 09/14/2008, 11:55 PM

You're probably already at or above the saturation point. You'll have to acidify the solution with acetic or hydrochloric (careful!) acid to get more into solution.

Reefer08 · 09/15/2008, 12:20 AM

what? I don't understand what you guys mean. Are you saying that regardless of the amount of kalkwasser that I add over 1 teaspoon the calcium/alkalinity amount in the mix won't go any higher?? Why would I add vinegar?

Reefer08 · 09/15/2008, 12:29 AM

So the purpose of the vinegar would be to lower the PH (acidify) the mixture which would raise the saturation point? Weird cuz on the label of the kalkwasser it says add 2 teaspoons maximum to 1 gallon.

CleveYank · 09/15/2008, 12:40 AM

As an example,
If you,
Dump 1 cup of Kalk in 1 gallon of water the "solution" is only able to dissolve 2 teaspoons or there abouts without the further manipulation. IN the case of the other posters an acid is being used as the "solvent" to counter the basic scale quality of Calcium Hydroxide or KALK powder with the acidic scale quality of Acetic Acid (Vinegar). This allows the water to take up more KALK within "solution". There are other little things like air contaminate impact and if the stuff sits a while the Vinegar can attract a bacteria. I would recommend that if you are trying to use Kalk as a method to maintain the Ca and Alk that you buy some ESV B-ionic 2 part and raise the levels where you want them and use a Kalk via water make-up to maintain those levels. I'm not a proponent of the Vinegar method in that I have dosed Kalk via makeup water and have not needed to bother with solvent via vinegar to boost the Ca levels. Your mileage and experience of course may vary.

Reefer08 · 09/15/2008, 01:11 AM

Well im currently running kalkwasser through my auto top off and also using B-ionic 2 part nightly also. I already have a fan over my sump and main tank. But I wanted to stop using 2 part and only do kalkwasser. But currently kalkwasser isn'y providing enough alkalinity to keep my parameters stable so I wanted to know if I could saturate my kalkwasser more.

09/14/2008, 10:20 PM	#1
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	High concentration kalkwasser Does the PH of a high concentration kalkwasser go above 12-13?? Im asking because I want to add more to my ato kalkwasser but im already running 2 teaspoons per gallon but I don't wanna add kalk mix thats above a ph of 13. thanks

09/14/2008, 11:08 PM	#3
crashrat Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 551	From what I understand 1 tea is the saturation for 1 gal of water, unless you add a couple of Tbsp of vinegar then you can bump to 2 tea of kalk. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Mixed LPS, SPS, Tek T5 6 bulb, 20 gal sump, MSX200

09/14/2008, 10:58 PM	#2
tanker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sf bay area Posts: 3,522	You shold only drip kalk anyway. A slow drip (even if high PH) if added slowly is OK.

09/14/2008, 11:55 PM	#4
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	You're probably already at or above the saturation point. You'll have to acidify the solution with acetic or hydrochloric (careful!) acid to get more into solution.

09/15/2008, 12:20 AM	#5
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	what? I don't understand what you guys mean. Are you saying that regardless of the amount of kalkwasser that I add over 1 teaspoon the calcium/alkalinity amount in the mix won't go any higher?? Why would I add vinegar?

09/15/2008, 12:29 AM	#6
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	So the purpose of the vinegar would be to lower the PH (acidify) the mixture which would raise the saturation point? Weird cuz on the label of the kalkwasser it says add 2 teaspoons maximum to 1 gallon.

09/15/2008, 12:40 AM	#7
CleveYank 20 Years and Over Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,052	As an example, If you, Dump 1 cup of Kalk in 1 gallon of water the "solution" is only able to dissolve 2 teaspoons or there abouts without the further manipulation. IN the case of the other posters an acid is being used as the "solvent" to counter the basic scale quality of Calcium Hydroxide or KALK powder with the acidic scale quality of Acetic Acid (Vinegar). This allows the water to take up more KALK within "solution". There are other little things like air contaminate impact and if the stuff sits a while the Vinegar can attract a bacteria. I would recommend that if you are trying to use Kalk as a method to maintain the Ca and Alk that you buy some ESV B-ionic 2 part and raise the levels where you want them and use a Kalk via water make-up to maintain those levels. I'm not a proponent of the Vinegar method in that I have dosed Kalk via makeup water and have not needed to bother with solvent via vinegar to boost the Ca levels. Your mileage and experience of course may vary.

09/15/2008, 01:11 AM	#8
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	Well im currently running kalkwasser through my auto top off and also using B-ionic 2 part nightly also. I already have a fan over my sump and main tank. But I wanted to stop using 2 part and only do kalkwasser. But currently kalkwasser isn'y providing enough alkalinity to keep my parameters stable so I wanted to know if I could saturate my kalkwasser more.