Kalk into the top off bucket

[parajack]

I've been using the very reliable Tunze top off system for years and was wondering what the downside would be to adding Kalk directly to the 5g top off bucket....

I haven't done well over the years in addressing the Calcium / alkalinity needs of my 55g / 20g sump reef, and it's starting to suffer the consequences :spin1:

I'd like to get going with a reliable Kalk dosing methodology - could I just add it to my top off bucket?

Jack

 

[hypernesia]

That's typically what most on here top off with. I aqualift my top off from a 5 gallon container that i mix kalk in. It is separate from the RO-DI. I just fill the container and add kalk. takes about 2 days to go through.

 

[cuse1]

I use the tunze top off as well with my alk,,,yOu are gonna have to clean ur pump every couple months. The way I clean mine is .. Putting it in a 5 gallon bucket with warm water and some vinegar and turning the unit it off and on a few times. Not sure if I'm doing any damage by turning it off and on as much as I do but it works for me hopefully some one else will chime in

 

[bertoni]

Kalk is caustic, and some plastics or other material might be damaged by exposure to it, but most often, people don't have troubles with it. Cleaning the pump probably is required, but I agree that a quick dip in vinegar and water should do the trick. I usually ran my pumps for a few minutes in a small container if they were gunked up.

 

[parajack]

Thanks. So that's it - I have the Kalk solution sitting right in front of me?

Do I need to drop another pump/powerhead into the bucket to keep the Kalk stirred up, or should I just plan to pre-mix it and add it to the bucket and not worry about it after that?

I'll check my one remaining LFS, but can I get a recommendation on a good place to order the Kalk and a good product to use?

I think I'm going through about 3/4 to 1 gal a day in a sump/tank system of about 75g. Is it best to ramp it up slowly over a period of a few weeks, testing each day or so?

thanks!

jack

 

[cuse1]

No power head,,, just premix it. Let it settle for a few hours, some people let it settle for 24 hours.Make sure you keep the pump off the bottom a couple of inches. You don't want the pump to suck in the powder that is settled on the bottom of your bucket.

 

[hypernesia]

Best place in my opinion to buy kalk is bulk reef supply online

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[kduen]

+1 for BRS or if you can find it locally Mrs. Wages Pickling lime is the same thing.

 

[hypernesia]

3 tablespoons per 5 gallons of water should give you a saturated solution of kalk. Just mix and let it sit for a while and then let your ATO do its thing. If you have to make up lost evap do that with regular RO-DI then let the ATO pump in your kalk solution once your water volume is back to the proper level.

 

[HighlandReefer]

3 tablespoons per 5 gallons of water should give you a saturated solution of kalk. Just mix and let it sit for a while and then let your ATO do its thing. If you have to make up lost evap do that with regular RO-DI then let the ATO pump in your kalk solution once your water volume is back to the proper level.

Kalk water is saturated at around 2 teaspoons per 1 gallon of rodi water. For 5 gallons, that would be around 10 teaspoons. There are 3 teaspoons in 1 table spoon. So it would take about 3 1/3 table spoons to saturate 5 gallons of rodi water. Not much difference, but still could make some difference in a few cases.

 

[hypernesia]

darn it, you had to get me with that 1/3 tablespoon

 

[HighlandReefer]

:lol: