View Full Version : new to kalk/lime water
schoch79
02/05/2010, 02:29 PM
Well I just bought some food grade lime and made up a batch...1 tsp to 1 gallon of water. I mixed it all up and am letting it settle now. I seem to have a lot of precipitate settling on the bottom of the container and some white chunks of the same floating in the water still settling out. Is this normal? What is the white stuff? It I didn't wait for it to settle would it have a negative effect on my aquarium? Thanks.
Untamed12
02/05/2010, 02:33 PM
That doesn't sound too unusual to me. If any of the solids get into the aquarium that wouldn't be a big deal.
Just remember that Kalk is very high pH and needs to be added to your system very slowly. Too much, too fast and you can pull all the Calcium out of solution (snowstorm) as well as cause sand clumping and Ca plating on the insides of your pumps.
Monitor your Ca/Alk and ensure that you are only adding as much Kalk as you need to maintain your levels.
Randy Holmes-Farley
02/05/2010, 02:40 PM
The solids can be undissolved calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or other things. Just let the biggest stuff settle out and use the rest.
These have more:
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm
schoch79
02/05/2010, 02:41 PM
Thank you for the advice. I have read up on it a little bit and am aware of what you said about adding it slowly but thanks anyway. My biggest concern was that I did something wrong with the mixing or something. It just seems like too much coming out of the solution. Does anyone know what exactly it is that precipitated out?
Laddy
02/05/2010, 03:29 PM
HOw'd you mix the solution up?
You want the limewater being added to your tank to be clear.
I have my reactor set on my controller, and mix the water in the reactor twice a day (12am, 12pm), at the same time my controller shuts off my ATO (I top off with limewater) for 1/2 an hour to allow settlement.
Hope this helps.
schoch79
02/05/2010, 03:31 PM
I mixed the kalk just by swirling it in the water. It all seemed to dissolve then a bunch started to clump up and settle. I am under the understanding that you don't want to mix it too vigorously because of the co2 that would be added to the mix.
Laddy
02/05/2010, 04:10 PM
There may be a difference between mixing and aeration. Also I believe I've read that CO2 concerns in limewater for the hobbyist may be over-stated (I believe Randy above may have written something to that effect in a forum post somewhere.....I think he's a pEE Aish Dee, I hear :D).
Once a month or so I'll create a slurry mix, and pour that into my reactor. It cuts down on clumping, and extends the circulation pump's life......try that next time.
schoch79
02/05/2010, 05:03 PM
Good idea thanks. That doesn't create any issues with it just precipitating out though? I'm thinking of how salt will even under go a chemical reaction if left exposed to the air/moisture and will be garbage there after
Chupakabra-King
02/05/2010, 05:14 PM
YOu know I take 1/4 - 1/2 tsp per gallon of RO water. It always mixes clear and I add it straight away. Never had a problem . I used to use a TBL spoon to a gallon of RO and it always mixed milky . I let that settle and dripped it in over an 8 hour period . Either way has worked fine for me . I like the way I do it now better . My corals never complain , neither do my fish . Everything is doing great.
SMITTY27030
02/05/2010, 06:11 PM
i use ms wages pickling lime.. one tsp to a gal of ro water on my top off..have had some settling on the bottom of my bucket but usually just use whats mixed and pour out the part settled in tank
garzaci
02/05/2010, 08:30 PM
I use ms wages. 1 tsp per 1/2 gal. I fill a water jug to a predetermined point, add lime, slowly swirl a little and let settle. Then drip at about 1 drop every 3 or 4 seconds. I don't have a lot of evap on my tank therefore I try to completely saturate the water.
schoch79
02/05/2010, 09:55 PM
chupa...you add it straight away? Do you just dump it in when you top off or do you mean you dose with that right away?
Randy Holmes-Farley
02/06/2010, 08:03 AM
I would not worry about the solids, but I would let them settle out overnight. :)
troyman
02/06/2010, 08:12 AM
i add a teaspoon of white vinager when mixing it mixes alot better
Randy Holmes-Farley
02/06/2010, 10:17 AM
Yes, vinegar does allow more than 2 teaspoons per gallon to dissolve (45 mL viengar per gallon will help 3 teaspoons to dissolve), but folks need to know that it drives bacterial growth and reduces O2. It is a fine plan if you recognize that, and I intentionally dose vinegar myself, but I might be reluctant to dose the vinegar/limewater at night (when O2 is naturally lower), and it will have a lower pH boost than ordinary limewater (maybe none), if that is a goal. :)
Chupakabra-King
02/06/2010, 10:52 AM
chupa...you add it straight away? Do you just dump it in when you top off or do you mean you dose with that right away?
I mean I add it to the tank right away . The water is clear , not milky , so its not a saturated mixture . I do check PH every other day to make sure I dont go over but it hasn't ever gone over 8.2 . Its been a steady 8.2 .
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