how fast/slow for a kalk drip?

XSiVE · 08/31/2007, 06:28 PM

I grabbed a 1/2gallon bottle and decided to make a kalk dripper..

Measuring how fast it was dripping, I figured the 1/2 gallon container would be emptied into my water in about 2 hours.

is this too fast?

I am using the Kent Marine kalkwasser mix, which recommends 1/8 to 2 tsp per gallon for a stock solution so I used 1tsp for this mix.

MalHavoc · 08/31/2007, 06:38 PM

When I dosed Kalk into my 180, I had it match my evaporation rate.

XSiVE · 08/31/2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MalHavoc
When I dosed Kalk into my 180, I had it match my evaporation rate.

hmm.. so I could probably mix up a slightly lower concentration and just add it to my top-off water? that just seems like way too much.. iunno tho im new at this :P

MalHavoc · 08/31/2007, 07:23 PM

well, I was adding between 2 and 5 gallons a day. More in the winter, when the house air was dry. If it's too much, you can mix a lower concentration. It takes very little powder to saturate the solution - calcium hydroxide isn't very soluble.

CarmieJo · 08/31/2007, 07:30 PM

Here is a podcast on kalk. http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/po...sode-13-a.html If you don't have a player you can download the free iTunes software and listen at your computer.

Sk8r · 08/31/2007, 07:39 PM

Mine is about a gallon plus a day, via the topoff water, for a 54g.

Mind, you need ro/di topoff. Ro/di water is chemically 'hungry' and dissolves the right amount of kalk to do good without having enough to do harm. I suppose there must be some situations of a fantastic amount of evaporation where too much kalk would go in, say, in the desert areas, but if you have anything like a normal evaporation, you should be ok.

XSiVE · 08/31/2007, 07:58 PM

thanks all! I was a little concerned I would be dosing too much if I made up a stock solution out of my top-off water.. so thats why I decided I would try a drip instead... I evap about a gallon a day. I guess I'll just mix up some new kalk top-off water

maybe next week while I have some time off I'll get ambitious and make a reactor.. but I think the wife would rather I do some drywall work

08/31/2007, 06:28 PM	#1
XSiVE Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Waterford, MI Posts: 790	how fast/slow for a kalk drip? I grabbed a 1/2gallon bottle and decided to make a kalk dripper.. Measuring how fast it was dripping, I figured the 1/2 gallon container would be emptied into my water in about 2 hours. is this too fast? I am using the Kent Marine kalkwasser mix, which recommends 1/8 to 2 tsp per gallon for a stock solution so I used 1tsp for this mix.

08/31/2007, 06:38 PM	#2
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	When I dosed Kalk into my 180, I had it match my evaporation rate. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

08/31/2007, 07:23 PM	#4
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	well, I was adding between 2 and 5 gallons a day. More in the winter, when the house air was dry. If it's too much, you can mix a lower concentration. It takes very little powder to saturate the solution - calcium hydroxide isn't very soluble. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

08/31/2007, 07:30 PM	#5
CarmieJo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 390	Here is a podcast on kalk. http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/po...sode-13-a.html If you don't have a player you can download the free iTunes software and listen at your computer. __________________ Carmie Only disasters happen fast! Current Tank Info: 54 gal AGA corner tank with a Solaris LED fixture; NanoCube 24

08/31/2007, 07:39 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Mine is about a gallon plus a day, via the topoff water, for a 54g. Mind, you need ro/di topoff. Ro/di water is chemically 'hungry' and dissolves the right amount of kalk to do good without having enough to do harm. I suppose there must be some situations of a fantastic amount of evaporation where too much kalk would go in, say, in the desert areas, but if you have anything like a normal evaporation, you should be ok. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/31/2007, 07:58 PM	#7
XSiVE Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Waterford, MI Posts: 790	thanks all! I was a little concerned I would be dosing too much if I made up a stock solution out of my top-off water.. so thats why I decided I would try a drip instead... I evap about a gallon a day. I guess I'll just mix up some new kalk top-off water maybe next week while I have some time off I'll get ambitious and make a reactor.. but I think the wife would rather I do some drywall work