Kalkwasser powder: How often to add to reservoir

[SuperNerd]

I'm using a reservoir, not a kalk reactor.
Am I supposed to add kalk powder EVERY time I fill the reservoir with fresh water?

[Billybeau1]

Yes. How much are you using per gallon ?

[mixed_reefer]

I use the same method. I over used my kalk, i was just using a big serving spoon and i was making sure i had enough i guess. I found myself with about 2 inches of lime in the bottom. I have been adding fresh water to the lime that is sitting, trying to use it up, is that ok?
Sorry to hijack if i did, i think it is related to what nerd is asking.

[Billybeau1]

Yes that is fine but you should try to limit your additions to 2 tsp per gallon of water.

Depending on the brand of lime used, the impurities can settle to the bottom and should be avoided for adding to the tank.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you do have excess solids remaining on the bottom, you may not need to add new lime every time, but bear in mind that some solid that remain are not lime, but residual materials like calcium carbonate that won't dissolve. If you measure the conductivity of the limewater, it is easy to know the potency and whether you need more solid lime or not.

[SuperNerd]

Originally posted by Billybeau1
Yes. How much are you using per gallon ?

Approximately 2 teaspoons per gallon.

Originally posted by Billybeau1
Depending on the brand of lime used, the impurities can settle to the bottom and should be avoided for adding to the tank.
**This answer was given to mixed_reefer but I thought I would borrow it for a second**

Right now I am using 2 little fishies but I was planning on using Mrs. Wages later unless an alternative is recommended.

Originally posted by mixed_reefer
Sorry to hijack if i did, i think it is related to what nerd is asking.

That's okay. It seems you read part of my mind.

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
If you do have excess solids remaining on the bottom, you may not need to add new lime every time, but bear in mind that some solid that remain are not lime, but residual materials like calcium carbonate that won't dissolve. If you measure the conductivity of the limewater, it is easy to know the potency and whether you need more solid lime or not.

Can the conductivity be measured by any standard conductivity probe?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Can the conductivity be measured by any standard conductivity probe?

If the probe can read at 10 mS/cm, then yes. Some can and some do not (only reading lower values, in some cases).

[cwegescheide]

Taggin along. Curious about how you measure conductivity.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

With an electronic conductivity meter. Pinpoint sells two, and only the salinity meter reads in the right range for limewater, the other is for RO/DI purity.

These articles have more:

What is TDS?
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

Using Conductivity to Measure Salinity
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquarium....aspx?aid=1804

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

from the last one:



Figure 1. The conductivity of limewater as a function of the time after the addition of
calcium oxide at 21 °C.