Kalk dosage

[terryansimon]

learnt something from Henry....what he does is that he puts some Kalk powder into a bottle of coldwater *those 1.5l mineral water type* and he shakes them around.

after that, he pours it in slowly, taking note of any drastic pH fluctuations...

and he claims that he works. and I've done it so far and it works! then again, are there any negative feedbacks to this system?

[strat]

learnt something from Henry....what he does is that he puts some Kalk powder into a bottle of coldwater *those 1.5l mineral water type* and he shakes them around.

after that, he pours it in slowly, taking note of any drastic pH fluctuations...

and he claims that he works. and I've done it so far and it works! then again, are there any negative feedbacks to this system?

I suppose that you did not pour directly to the main tank but to the sump?

Just make sure that there is not much PH flucuations.

Anyway, it think it's safer to drip.

[terryansimon]

dunno he pours it into his overflow and so did I.

only did it once.

[ervine]

Huh... so what's the point.. I don't really get it.. cold water mix with kalk for what purpose exactly?

[ryan]

yeah! more details please?

this is very interesting...

[terryansimon]

kalk powder mix with cold water for direct pouring instead of dripping.

supposedly increases the solubility and no powder residue is left behind. although I'm trying to figure out the exact science of it.

[AlfaRomeo]

Where is Tanzy when we need him..

[ervine]

kalk powder mix with cold water for direct pouring instead of dripping.

supposedly increases the solubility and no powder residue is left behind. although I'm trying to figure out the exact science of it.

hm... it works? In that case should we start chilling our kalk reactors too? hehehee....

[terryansimon]

I don't know but Henry does it and he taught me that. so I just want to ask for the exact science behind it. (=

and so far, I think it works for his tank (=

[riot]

I thought to dose it straight you gotta mix with vinegar - spike it to raise calcium & reduce PH. Calfo method?

[lightningstrike]

IMHO, I think even if u mix kalk with vinegar, in order for it to work better, u will still need some contact time for it to react with CO2 in the atmosphere or tank water. Thus i will still suggest dripping.....

juz me 2 cents, pls correct me if i hv given the wrong info.

[ryz]

I mix kalk with freshwater and let it sand for one night... then I pur the whole thing in... Thats how I've been doing it for ages... SOmetimes I add 4 litres at a time!!!

[roidan]

i always thought the general rule is tat things dissolve easier in hot fluids...

dissolve kalk in cold water easier to dissolve than in hot water ah

wah...maybe this is something new that i dunno

[terryansimon]

dunno. dunno dunno dunno. but the hot temperature thing is true. (= unless cold water enhances Ca's solubility as its a very reactive element? dunno. Tanzy, where are you. (=

[sam_always]

If i am remember correctly. las time in school lab, I did an experiment regarding solubility on certain elements. Some element has better solubility in cool water. Dont know is Ca one of them.... One example. there is one powder that my mum use for cooking is more soluble when mix with cool water. Also some milk powder or protein powder need to mix with cool water first before add in hot water. From this observation, i think i believe what terryansimon said. Correct me if i am wrong

[FuEl]

I pour my kalk too. However, I don't slimpy pour everything. I make sure I omit the precipitate. I pour it at intervals..maybe 10% of the total volume every 10 minutes?

[terryansimon]

the thing is, the solution has no precipitate! I've shaken the bottle, and allow it to settle back in the fridge and still nothing.

by the way, I add very little lah. less than one tea spoon for one 1.5l bottle of water.

[terryansimon]

If i am remember correctly. las time in school lab, I did an experiment regarding solubility on certain elements. Some element has better solubility in cool water. Dont know is Ca one of them.... One example. there is one powder that my mum use for cooking is more soluble when mix with cool water. Also some milk powder or protein powder need to mix with cool water first before add in hot water. From this observation, i think i believe what terryansimon said. Correct me if i am wrong

which kinda explains why Na has a violent reaction when cold H20 is introduced.

[FuEl]

the thing is, the solution has no precipitate! I've shaken the bottle, and allow it to settle back in the fridge and still nothing.

by the way, I add very little lah. less than one tea spoon for one 1.5l bottle of water.

Eh? I thought kalk only reaches maximum efficiency when it is most saturated? I dissolve 0.5 teaspoon in slightly less than 1l if water.. makes it fully saturated, with a little precipitate.

[terryansimon]

maybe thats why I can dose it in just like that. I don't dare to put too much because of insoluble CaCO3 precipitation.

oh well. I'll still dose it this way as it has not been doing any harm. I don't know but I find that dosing even maintains my macroalgae. hmm.

[alanseah]

well if everyone think that dripping kalk is safe...

and pouring in kalk is not safe...

what about those that use kalk reactor that is connected to their auto-top up system...

the auto-up will only be activitate when required amt of % of water is below the required amt then kalk will be pour in.. but this pouring in of kalk can be alot and fast as it is required to fill up until the float switch is turn off...

so it's it the same as pouring 1L of kalk solution into the sump...???

[ervine]

well if everyone think that dripping kalk is safe...

and pouring in kalk is not safe...

what about those that use kalk reactor that is connected to their auto-top up system...

the auto-up will only be activitate when required amt of % of water is below the required amt then kalk will be pour in.. but this pouring in of kalk can be alot and fast as it is required to fill up until the float switch is turn off...

so it's it the same as pouring 1L of kalk solution into the sump...???

Huh no it's not...

kalk reactors work only when water levels dip below a certain level which activate the auto-top up which then pushes water back into the tank...

But the kalk reactor does not simply dump all the water at one shot what... it flows rather slowly... and depending on where you place your float switch it'll dose a different amount each time..

For me I think each time it drips about 250ml only... furthermore, I don't know of people who use an overrated pump dose the kalk... so I still think it's not the same as pouring..

but then again, it really depends on your tank capacity.. dosing 1litre of kalk solution in a 10gal tank is completely different from dosing 1litre of kalk in a 100gal tank...