Kalkwasser questions

Bruno3047 · 05/22/2011, 08:09 PM

I am switching from a FOWLR to a reef tank. I have a 6 gallon ATO that I hoped to use for dosing Kalkwasser into my 60G tank. Yesterday, I mixed my first 5 gallons of Kalkwasser and it didn't turn out the way I expected, I used 1/2 teaspoon to the gallon for starters because I had never attempted this before, and what I got was an ATO tank full of cloudy water. Whenever my ATO turns on, the main tank turns cloudy for an hour or two. The cloudy kalkwasser water definitely has pH-boosting and calcium-boosting properties. What I was expecting was to have an ATO container full of clear kalkwasser with some residue on the bottom of the container and a film over the top of the solution. What happened?

Parms:
SG 1.025
pH 8.2 (Up from 8.0 after starting the kalkwasser)
Ca 345 (Up from 300 after starting the kalkwasser)

JPMagyar · 05/22/2011, 08:31 PM

Which kalk reactor are you using? The mixing units that use pumps are worthless as a pump is too violent to be useful. Only the reactors with stirring rods are worthwhile as they allow the water to settle and the top layer becomes mostly clear. Regardless you will find that kalk is not as "set and forget" as you might hope and I would suspect that if your tank turned cloudy from dosing kalk there may be more going on, but the pros here would need much more info than you have given to positively identify your problems. Sorry if that isn't helpful right now but its's a start

Joe in NY

Bruno3047 · 05/22/2011, 10:22 PM

I'm using Two Little Fishes Kalkwasser. After mixing the Kalkwasser mix with 5 gallons of RO water in a separate bucket, I immediately then pumped it into my ATO reservoir. I was expecting the solution to settle out in the reservoir as I mentioned. It just never settled. It just stayed cloudy. Was 24 hours not long enough to let it settle? In any case, I’m sure that it has something to do with the Kalkwasser mix, not the tank. Thanks for your insights.

scottjm · 05/22/2011, 10:56 PM

My kalk setup:

RO/DI > 32 gallon Brute

32 > Tees off to ATO and my Kalk reactor that both end in my sump. The ATO has a float valve that is submerged. My kalk reactor drips what i evaporate to approximately 1/2 inch over my old top off float valve.

Only thing that is cloudy is the reactor. If your tank is cloudy you may want to pull the reserve so you don't shock the tank.

I am new to understanding this myself. I am assuming using a reactor and a doser pump would be ideal but it comes at a cost. I use my reserve top off to use for saltwater mix. Mixing kalk in that was not a option.

Hope this helps. I am still contemplating using a doser pump to help reduce any errors.

NatureNerd · 05/22/2011, 11:45 PM

Try posting this in the chemistry section. The experts there will help. Here is what I do for top-off. I have a 6.5g bin that I add Kalk and RO water. I use about a large teaspoon per gallon. It settles out in an hour or so. There is always a layer of undissolved solids at the bottom of the bin and a film at the water surface.

After it settles out, I enable a BRS peristolic dosing pump. It runs for 1 minute every 18 minutes, 24/7, 365 days per year. My controller does this cycling. I pump from about an inch from the bottom of the bin and into my sump. The kalkwasser never clouds my tank or sump. I could close the loop around this setup so that it is totally automated. I choose not to as the rate of evaporation in my tank seems pretty constant and my pump rate matches it almost exactly and I always worry about a level sensor failure resulting in the pumping of the entire bin into my system. That's what works for me.

05/22/2011, 08:09 PM	#1
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	Kalkwasser questions I am switching from a FOWLR to a reef tank. I have a 6 gallon ATO that I hoped to use for dosing Kalkwasser into my 60G tank. Yesterday, I mixed my first 5 gallons of Kalkwasser and it didn't turn out the way I expected, I used 1/2 teaspoon to the gallon for starters because I had never attempted this before, and what I got was an ATO tank full of cloudy water. Whenever my ATO turns on, the main tank turns cloudy for an hour or two. The cloudy kalkwasser water definitely has pH-boosting and calcium-boosting properties. What I was expecting was to have an ATO container full of clear kalkwasser with some residue on the bottom of the container and a film over the top of the solution. What happened? Parms: SG 1.025 pH 8.2 (Up from 8.0 after starting the kalkwasser) Ca 345 (Up from 300 after starting the kalkwasser)

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05/22/2011, 08:31 PM	#2
JPMagyar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NY,NY Posts: 2,072	Which kalk reactor are you using? The mixing units that use pumps are worthless as a pump is too violent to be useful. Only the reactors with stirring rods are worthwhile as they allow the water to settle and the top layer becomes mostly clear. Regardless you will find that kalk is not as "set and forget" as you might hope and I would suspect that if your tank turned cloudy from dosing kalk there may be more going on, but the pros here would need much more info than you have given to positively identify your problems. Sorry if that isn't helpful right now but its's a start Joe in NY

05/22/2011, 10:22 PM	#3
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	I'm using Two Little Fishes Kalkwasser. After mixing the Kalkwasser mix with 5 gallons of RO water in a separate bucket, I immediately then pumped it into my ATO reservoir. I was expecting the solution to settle out in the reservoir as I mentioned. It just never settled. It just stayed cloudy. Was 24 hours not long enough to let it settle? In any case, I’m sure that it has something to do with the Kalkwasser mix, not the tank. Thanks for your insights.

05/22/2011, 10:56 PM	#4
scottjm Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hawthorn Woods Posts: 109	My kalk setup: RO/DI > 32 gallon Brute 32 > Tees off to ATO and my Kalk reactor that both end in my sump. The ATO has a float valve that is submerged. My kalk reactor drips what i evaporate to approximately 1/2 inch over my old top off float valve. Only thing that is cloudy is the reactor. If your tank is cloudy you may want to pull the reserve so you don't shock the tank. I am new to understanding this myself. I am assuming using a reactor and a doser pump would be ideal but it comes at a cost. I use my reserve top off to use for saltwater mix. Mixing kalk in that was not a option. Hope this helps. I am still contemplating using a doser pump to help reduce any errors.

05/22/2011, 11:45 PM	#5
NatureNerd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 877	Try posting this in the chemistry section. The experts there will help. Here is what I do for top-off. I have a 6.5g bin that I add Kalk and RO water. I use about a large teaspoon per gallon. It settles out in an hour or so. There is always a layer of undissolved solids at the bottom of the bin and a film at the water surface. After it settles out, I enable a BRS peristolic dosing pump. It runs for 1 minute every 18 minutes, 24/7, 365 days per year. My controller does this cycling. I pump from about an inch from the bottom of the bin and into my sump. The kalkwasser never clouds my tank or sump. I could close the loop around this setup so that it is totally automated. I choose not to as the rate of evaporation in my tank seems pretty constant and my pump rate matches it almost exactly and I always worry about a level sensor failure resulting in the pumping of the entire bin into my system. That's what works for me.