who doses kalkwasser???

[Reptoreef]

Who doses kalkwasser??? what method do you use(gravity, pump, just at night, all the time with top-off). Any problems with OD or ph problems?

[jerryc]

I have used it for a long time a cheap calcium i use pickling lime drip 24*7
and no and no to the next to parts

wish i code have a reactor but don't have the space if i can figure out how to
build a Minny unit i may give it a try

[davejnz]

I gravity feed limewater 24/7 to a float valve in sump for both of my tanks.
I've OD'd a few times but its never stressed nothing out too bad.It just precipitates calcium and leaves a white dust on the LR.
My PH is a tad high 8.4,sometimes 8.5 just before lights go out.It'll drop to 8.2 in the morn.To tell you the truth,I really dont monitor my PH anymore,Its always the same.

[dakar]

Lime water here as well, gavity drip. Got the drip rate dailed in where it matches the evap., but still sorting out the pickling lime to water ratio, back down to 1tsp/gal, had a few instanaces were PH got hammered up over 8.6, but settles back down fairly quickly.

Tried the two part mixtures of baked baking soda and dowflake, way too potent to control easily in smaller tanks without dosing pumps to measure. But they were effective, was able to hold alk at 12dKH and Calcium over 500 without precip., after a few PH would creep up.

[ereefic]

On the 120 & 45 gal. system, kalk is added to replace all evaporated water. It is mixed in a trash can at about 25 gal. at a time. A maxi-jet 600 pumps into the sump via a float switch (one for back up too). I did mix the kalk to strong once and it slowly raised the level until it turned the tank totally cloudy. No damage done. Remix that once a week.

110 gal. is using a dripper right now but may be getting a calcium reactor soon (otherwise building my own). Sick of filling the dripper on a daily basis.

[Whoyah]

I use a DIY top off to dose kalk and replace evaporated water. I was using Balls Pickling Lime but I guess has been obsoleted. I went to every grocery store in my town and could not find any. I had to break down and buy really kalkwasser at like $ 14.00 instead on $1.50 for three times the amount. If any one has line on the Balls give a holler, I would like to buy a bunch.

Never any ODs. My only problem is remembering to turn off the auto top off when I do a water change. :oops: I have done that a couple times.

[ereefic]

http://www.canningpantry.com/pickling-lime-case.html

It's Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime, but the same thing. I can't find Ball's in town here eithrer, just picked up 3 cans in Madison yesterday. no sure if they'll get it again or not.

[jerryc]

Try thees c if it helps http://store.yahoo.com/mrswages/mrswagpiclim.html[/img]



I just got a can at the local store for a $1.65 yesterday but Thais is a big home garden and caning committee

[davejnz]

We get Balls down here at grocery,to tell ya the truth,It leaves alot of impurites behind in the reservoir,thinking of switching to Mrs.Wages

[ereefic]

Doesn't matter if they stay in the bucket. ;)

[dakar]

Woodman's on the west side of Madison seems to always have it in stock... although I grab 4-5 at a time just in case. Think they were like $2 a pop.

If you really want to see it precipitate stuff add it to straight tap water instead of RO... leaves a solid 1/2" of crud in the bottom of the jug.

[Reptoreef]

I have been using "S" type from Home Depot for quite some time... no probs and a 50lb bag was only $6.

[Whoyah]

$6 for 50 lbs!!!! :shock: What section is that in? Is that like landscaping?

[Reptoreef]

Near the concrete.

[Whoyah]

I have been using "S" type from Home Depot for quite some time... no probs and a 50lb bag was only $6.

Any idea what the "S" stands for?

I am about out of my kalkwasser power. Not only is it 20 time more expensive then pickling lime, you have to use twice as much. :-? 50 lbs for $6 sounds like a deal to me.

[Reptoreef]

Dunno, I just know it works and that it's used for mixing concrete from scratch.

[Whoyah]

I went bought the big 50 lb bag of lime this weekend at the hardware store. Man, 50 lbs if a lot freakin lime. I filled a 5 gallon bucket and good size box but for $7 you really can't bet the price. The mix ratio seem to be about the same as the Kent kalkwasser I was running. Well I won't run out for a while thats for sure. Any thing you have noticed that I should watch for?

[Reptoreef]

Nope... just seems to be the same as with any lime mixed as kalkwasser.