Lime water

[Cu455]

Is this the same lime water people use to dose their tanks? Is kalk and lime water the same thing?

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae158/cu455cu455/4009eba652464169d55311120a3175a1_zpsad4dae1c.jpg

[cichlid nutz]

It is all Calcium Hydroxide. Cheapest version I have found is buying at the grocery store under "pickling Lime".

[jerpa]

It is. Does it state a saturation level?

[Cu455]

I am not sure the saturation level. It says lab grade. Maybe this will help.
http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae158/cu455cu455/cbb817ada6f347e3a1dc743efc085240_zpsb7d4960c.jpg
http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae158/cu455cu455/906156c5f4c9ec8b010ab5c7835a0e15_zps8935f16e.jpg
http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae158/cu455cu455/6be8e5628e435d541e1add8d77511622_zps18735fde.jpg

[Cu455]

It also says percentage volatile by volume 99%.

[disc1]

I would say that is probably the absolute most expensive way you could ever come by calcium hydroxide, but yes that would work. You would use that straight. When we talk about tablespoons per gallon we're talking about adding the dry powder. That looks to be already in a saturated solution.

A much much cheaper option would be to go to the grocery store and get the food grade stuff.

[Cu455]

I wasn't planning on using it. I add pottasium iodide every few days and that's it for the dosing. I was going to put is up for trade but didn't want to be the reason someone's tank dies. Maybe I will keep a bottle and use it. What is a safe amount to to add with out overdosing and worrying about testing? I have a 90 gallon tank with a 40 refugium. I use instant ocean salt. I have a few sps, candy cane, wall hammer. everything is under 4 inches.

[nmbeg]

Use it as your top-off.

[disc1]

I wasn't planning on using it. I add pottasium iodide every few days and that's it for the dosing. I was going to put is up for trade but didn't want to be the reason someone's tank dies. Maybe I will keep a bottle and use it. What is a safe amount to to add with out overdosing and worrying about testing? I have a 90 gallon tank with a 40 refugium. I use instant ocean salt. I have a few sps, candy cane, wall hammer. everything is under 4 inches.

Use it as your top-off.

It looks like a gallon or so. That might last a day or two.

[Cu455]

Could I add a quater of a bottle every few days and not have to worry about having any negative effects?

[disc1]

Why not. Add it very slowly or you'll have a snowstorm. Most folks that do sat'd kalk do it on a slow drip. That small of an amount probably won't do much of anything.

[D-Nak]

Am I missing something here? I think this needs to be thought out before arbitrarily dumping some of it into your tank. What I think I'm looking at is a gallon a Kalkwasser. Kalk (limewater, calcium hydroxide) has a very high pH (over 12). If too much is added to quickly you'll get a big ph spike and you could nuke your tank. You basically have to dial in how much you need -- by testing. The key to a successful tank -- especially when dealing with SPS -- is having a stable tank without huge swings (in pH, alk, etc.). You should start by testing your CA levels. If over 400, you don't need to add any at all, though Kalk can benefit your tank by mantaining a higher pH if yours tends to be low, can it also help with phosphate issues.

I definitely suggest reading up on kalkwasser before using it.

[Cu455]

I was thinking of adding a turkey baster full every week or so. D Nak you are right about just adding stuff. My tank is doing great, all my coral are growing and splitting. I will just leave the water as is and give it away.

[disc1]

I was thinking of adding a turkey baster full every week or so. D Nak you are right about just adding stuff. My tank is doing great, all my coral are growing and splitting. I will just leave the water as is and give it away.

A turkey baster full once a week wouldn't really do anything. Most folks that use kalk use it for top off. On a 90 gallon tank that means a gallon or two a day.