Kalk Slurry

NO3 · 05/30/2018, 07:38 PM

How when I know when my Kalk slurry is no longer useful?

My setup:
I have a 15gal gravity fed top off with a manual float valve in sump. I just added 1/4 cup of Kalk to the 15gal top off and let it settle. I have a 1/4" waterline drawing thru a gravity siphon top off water leaving about 3in of slurry on the bottom.

When will I know to dump the 3in Kalk slurry?
Dump every time when I fill the 15g top off??
Run a Dkh test on the clear Kalk liquid every time AFTER I fill the 15g top off? (below 12 Dkh, dump it?)

Your advice welcomed, please and thank you
Bear with me as I'm trying to change how I react to differing opinions

jamie1981 · 05/30/2018, 09:04 PM

Just add more kalk or replace it each time. I just throw a small scoop of kalk in every day or so and manually mix when I do my daily fish feeding. I use a small 10 gallon top-off reservoir with a float valve in my sump also. Because kalk can tend to clog float valves over time my system also has a float switch that will trigger a BRS top off doser as a backup should the water level fall too low in the sump. My system is rather large so it is filled automatically daily.

I mainly have SPS and run a large Korallin C-10002 reactor along with the kalk to help keep the pH higher.

Trying to test the potency of kalk slurry is going to be a hassle and Kalk is cheap.

nereefpat · 05/31/2018, 08:04 AM

You can check the concentration of kalk in the solution by measuring pH. Fully saturated kalk should have a pH of about 12.

According to bertoni here,

"each time the concentration of Kalk is cut in half, the pH of the solution will drop by 0.3 units (log102)."

I think most of us just dump more in and add more water though.

Tripod1404 · 05/31/2018, 08:50 AM

Like @jamie1981 said, I just add equivalent amount of kalk each time I refill the ATO reservoir. Say if you added 10 scoops to 10 gallons of reservoir and it dropped to 7 gallons, I add 3 gallon water and 3 scoops of kalk (values are arbitrary here). Once every 3-4 months, I completely siphon everything and put in fresh mixture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NO3 · 05/31/2018, 08:54 AM

Thanks everyone!!!!

I had a rough week on RC being over sensitive and commented in ways im not proud of

I trying to change my ways going forward.

jamie1981 · 05/31/2018, 09:15 AM

IF you want to save a bit on the kalk you can use Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime instead. It's the exact same stuff (calcium hydroxide) just food grade and less than half the cost of kalk sold specifically for the reef hobby.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

ca1ore · 05/31/2018, 10:48 AM

Just another data point ....

Since I switched to a kalk stir device that actually works (as opposed to all the ones I made that didn't

), I find that I don't get that insoluble kalk slurry at the bottom of the cylinder. Perhaps the constant stirring action means that it all dissolves .... dunno. Works well though.

Tripod1404 · 05/31/2018, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Just another data point ....

Since I switched to a kalk stir device that actually works (as opposed to all the ones I made that didn't

), I find that I don't get that insoluble kalk slurry at the bottom of the cylinder. Perhaps the constant stirring action means that it all dissolves .... dunno. Works well though.

Thats a great idea! Whats the name of the device?

ca1ore · 05/31/2018, 01:04 PM

I'm using the avast marine one .... bit there's probably others.

05/30/2018, 07:38 PM	#1
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	Kalk Slurry How when I know when my Kalk slurry is no longer useful? My setup: I have a 15gal gravity fed top off with a manual float valve in sump. I just added 1/4 cup of Kalk to the 15gal top off and let it settle. I have a 1/4" waterline drawing thru a gravity siphon top off water leaving about 3in of slurry on the bottom. When will I know to dump the 3in Kalk slurry? Dump every time when I fill the 15g top off?? Run a Dkh test on the clear Kalk liquid every time AFTER I fill the 15g top off? (below 12 Dkh, dump it?) Your advice welcomed, please and thank you Bear with me as I'm trying to change how I react to differing opinions Last edited by NO3; 05/30/2018 at 07:53 PM.

05/30/2018, 09:04 PM	#2
jamie1981 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 308	Just add more kalk or replace it each time. I just throw a small scoop of kalk in every day or so and manually mix when I do my daily fish feeding. I use a small 10 gallon top-off reservoir with a float valve in my sump also. Because kalk can tend to clog float valves over time my system also has a float switch that will trigger a BRS top off doser as a backup should the water level fall too low in the sump. My system is rather large so it is filled automatically daily. I mainly have SPS and run a large Korallin C-10002 reactor along with the kalk to help keep the pH higher. Trying to test the potency of kalk slurry is going to be a hassle and Kalk is cheap. Last edited by jamie1981; 05/31/2018 at 08:17 AM.

05/31/2018, 08:04 AM	#3
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	You can check the concentration of kalk in the solution by measuring pH. Fully saturated kalk should have a pH of about 12. According to bertoni here, "each time the concentration of Kalk is cut in half, the pH of the solution will drop by 0.3 units (log102)." I think most of us just dump more in and add more water though. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

05/31/2018, 10:48 AM	#7
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Just another data point .... Since I switched to a kalk stir device that actually works (as opposed to all the ones I made that didn't ), I find that I don't get that insoluble kalk slurry at the bottom of the cylinder. Perhaps the constant stirring action means that it all dissolves .... dunno. Works well though. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/31/2018, 01:04 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I'm using the avast marine one .... bit there's probably others. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/31/2018, 08:50 AM	#4
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	Like @jamie1981 said, I just add equivalent amount of kalk each time I refill the ATO reservoir. Say if you added 10 scoops to 10 gallons of reservoir and it dropped to 7 gallons, I add 3 gallon water and 3 scoops of kalk (values are arbitrary here). Once every 3-4 months, I completely siphon everything and put in fresh mixture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/31/2018, 08:54 AM	#5
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	Thanks everyone!!!! I had a rough week on RC being over sensitive and commented in ways im not proud of I trying to change my ways going forward.

05/31/2018, 09:15 AM	#6
jamie1981 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 308	IF you want to save a bit on the kalk you can use Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime instead. It's the exact same stuff (calcium hydroxide) just food grade and less than half the cost of kalk sold specifically for the reef hobby. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1