Kalk alternatives

[kev-kev]

I've been using TLF kalkwasser, what else can I use?

[reef_doug]

Any food grade Kalkwasser (pickling lime) will work.

You can get Mrs. Wages at Walmart or some grocery stores for a couple bucks. Look for it in the canning area near the mason jars.

[kev-kev]

Thanks Reef Doug I'll look into it. any sugg. on dosing it?

[reef_doug]

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm


I would first see if your alkalinity and calcium are within range. Then use Kalk in most to all of your topoff water. Amount is 1.5-2 tsp p/gallon of RO/DI. Dripping kalk is a preferred way to minimize pH spikes.

[virginiadiver69]

The cheapest I've found is at bulkreefsupply. Very clean also.

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13328485#post13328485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by virginiadiver69
The cheapest I've found is at bulkreefsupply. Very clean also. :) +1

[kev-kev]

Thanks for the info. :)

[garyw68]

i bought mine at walmart for $1

[kev-kev]

I looked at Walmart but no luck, which section?

[IslandCrow]

I usually find the lime in the kitchen supplies area. It's very seasonal, though. It's only sold during typical times when people do a lot of canning. Some grocery stores will carry it, but I believe it's seasonal with them as well. Whenever I see it, I buy a bunch. I don't think my Walmart is currently carrying it either. Bulk Reef Supply is definitely a good alternative, and there are plenty of places online you can order Mrs. Wages pickling lime (I don't have any links handy, I'm afraid).

Also, if you go with pickling lime, make sure it's pickling lime and not pickling salts or pickling spices.

[onano]

Walmart is starting to sell it down right now. I got the last cans at my local store. When you see it buy it in bulk. If you shop in a Super Wally it is with the kitchen storage stuff. Look for the canning jars and it should be there. In a Super they do have canning jars on the food side but not all the supplies in the area so don't get the two sections confused. Go to the housewares area.

[rick s]

Kev,

I'm near Richmond. My Ukrops, Food Lion, and Kroger carry Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime. You really have to look for it (or ask) because it's not always where you'd expect it to be.
Also, Southern States Hardware stores.

[Almon]

About 18 months ago our club had a group buy (3/4 ton) of Mississippi Lime. Totally awesome. It ended up being $16.50 for a 50# bag. This stuff is great and I still have some left...http://www.mississippilime.com/products/hydratedlime/vitacalhcalciumhydroxide

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/422334268_c92c3c508d_b.jpg

[patsfan1130]

Dont know if you have ang Agway stores in your area but they carry it year round

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

About 18 months ago our club had a group buy (3/4 ton) of Mississippi Lime.

:thumbsup:

I've been suing the same batch of food grade Mississippi Lime Co. quicklime for more than a decade. We too got it in a group buy. :)

[kev-kev]

I looked again @ Walmart w/ no luck:(
I'm gonna try Food Lion and Kroger this weekend , gave up lookin for a while my TLF Kalk gettin low again, 2 teaspoons every 2-3 days in top-off, is that about right or am I using too much?

[kev-kev]

Also Rick thanks for the So. States # there right up the street, go figure huh, Almon gonna pm ya

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

2 teaspoons every 2-3 days in top-off, is that about right or am I using too much?

Depends on the tank, but a good starting point is 1 level teaspoon per gallon of top off water, added dropwise. :)

[kev-kev]

Thanks Randy, I'm currently using an ATO w/ a maxi-jet . Should I seriously look into slowly dripping top-off w/ kalk or by using 2-3 tsps/5 gals. be suff. Kalk reactors seem to be overpriced, Do they make a huge difference?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not a fan of limewater reactors, and I prefer dosing from a settled reservoir like a trash can, but you need to be sure your pump delivers it slowly enough, or in small enough amounts at once.

How much is added each time it triggers to what size sump and tank?

[JustinReef]

I use limewater for my top off but my ATO dumps about a gallon at a time into the tank :( Never seen any negative effects after dosing but maybe I should look into a new ATO? The PH spikes for a moment. Usually from 8.3 to 8.5 or 8.6

Just a soft coral reef though, so maybe they just don't care much? I don't know, seems to be working but maybe it would be good to change this.

[kev-kev]

Well mine is similiar to Justins, about 1/2 a gallon or more added to a 20 L tank 30x12x12 30 gal. sump? 75 gal tank
I've never tested ph after top-off and seen the effects but if there jumping that much that can't be good. Just what I was looking for another Dilemma:(

[JustinReef]

My tank volume is about 180G, not as bad maybe but I am now wondering if its even a bit more than a gallon each time.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Adding 1.25% of the tank volume at once is too much, IMO, jumping the pH by about 0.6 pH units

[kev-kev]

Thanks Randy your opinions are very appreciated, w/your knowledge one can't steer too far off the beaten path.TY

[JustinReef]

I really wish I could mod my ATO to top off sooner but one of those poorly designed (IMO) JBJ ones where the float valve is not adjustable. It only drops about a half inch but in my sump that is a few gallons. In a smaller sump or a sump with a small return section, it would be great. I guess I should figure out a way to set up a new auto top off :(

[sjm817]

justinpsmith,

I worked with someone to get a JBJ to work better with Kalk ATO and came up with a simple mod. I never really got the feedback on if it changed the float sensitivity.

Mind taking a look and seeing if it would work? This would be good info for JBJ users who use Limewater topoff.

The first post is below. You can follow the subsequent posts if you need to.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13216619#post13216619

This is to try and get it to work the same way as the Reef Fanatic Level Controller. This unit works great fro Kalk ATO. You can't even see a level change in the sump.

[Phyxius]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13568921#post13568921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev-kev
I looked again @ Walmart w/ no luck:(
I'm gonna try Food Lion and Kroger this weekend , gave up lookin for a while my TLF Kalk gettin low again, 2 teaspoons every 2-3 days in top-off, is that about right or am I using too much?

Food Lion has it in the cooking Isle with all the spices and cooking supplies. I`m actually 6 hrs away from home at Hilton Head in SC and went into a Walmart here to get some things here and they had Mrs Wages on clearance for $1.50 so I bought all 14 containers they had :)