Dripping Kalkwasser...Help.

[OrionN]

You can add Ca Cl2 which disolves much more redily than Ca (OH)2 and not anywhere near as caustic. However in order to keep your chemistry balance, you also need to add Na2 CO3 to bring bicarb up. Calcium Chloride and Sodium Bicarb is the main ingredience of two part additive. Add Calcium hydroxide (kalk) you added both components in one.

[Mr Cob]

Add Calcium hydroxide (kalk) you added both components in one.

I'm assuming this is what I did by adding the kalkwasser???

I'm not interested in other approaches...I want to use what I bought.

[Jamie]

I'm assuming this is what I did by adding the kalkwasser???

I'm not interested in other approaches...I want to use what I bought.

Yes, that is what your kalk is doing. I know they're expensive, but what you are stuggling with is why many reefers buy calcium reactors and/or kalk reactors. They really make a big difference and remove the daily mainenance requirement for Ca from the equation. FWIW, I would recommend keeping your eyes peeled for a nice used unit. I'm not saying its a requirement...I think Bernie V. used only ESV B-Ionic daily and his tank way incredible.

[OrionN]

You can buy Picking lime (food grade Calcium hydroxide) at HEB (Mrs Wade Picking lime is the brand that I use) It is really in expensive. Only seasonal about this time of the year. People use this in food canning. Because the "self purification" process of kalk (precipitation of impurities) and I feel that If I can eat it, the fish can too. It cost about 1-2 dollars for 1/2 a gallon powder of this stuff. i have used it for 10+ years without problem years

[Mr Cob]

You can buy Picking lime (food grade Calcium hydroxide) at HEB (Mrs Wade Picking lime is the brand that I use) It is really in expensive. Only seasonal about this time of the year. People use this in food canning. Because the "self purification" process of kalk (precipitation of impurities) and I feel that If I can eat it, the fish can too. It cost about 1-2 dollars for 1/2 a gallon powder of this stuff. i have used it for 10+ years without problem years

Very interesting, Minh. You don't mess around. Very knowledgeable about what's going in your tank.

[Mr Cob]

Thanks, Jamie.

[Mr Cob]

Well, calcium was at 400ppm and PH at 8.2 after dosing for 24 hours at one drop per 10 seconds. I will bump it to 1 drop per 5 seconds now for 24 hours and see where I'm at tomorrow.

[Mr Cob]

So...did not test yesterday but did today.

PH: 7.8 how the heck did it go back down!?!
Calcium: 460-480ppm

So, looking to get a probe for my PH monitor to rule out these stupid test kits. Nothing I can do about the Calcium test kit...just have to assume it's accurate. I backed the dripping back down to 10 seconds since the calcium raised with 5 second intervals.

[Mr Cob]

Going to dose superbuffer dkh to get PH back up. Will do small portions in case it's my test kit acting up.

[txav8r]

Youcan come get my test kit if you want to compare them. I'm only gonna be here another 30 min. or so, and won't be back till late sunday. Someone will be at the house most of the day though. I'll set them out just in case.