Something Weird with Kalk

Ereefic · #1 10/13/2004, 10:16 PM

I mix kalk in 25 gal. batches and use Ball's pickling lime. Normally, during the course of using up the bucket, the mixture is always cloudy. I could never even see the pump in the bucket.

Tonight while checking the level of Kalk left, the mixture was clear. A little hazy but I could see the pump with half a bucket left.

This is the first time in a year that this has happened. If I pH test the Kalk the color is really blue so I assume it's fine. I'll check tank parameters tomorrow. Any ideas why this might be? Just find it a little odd.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #2 10/14/2004, 07:21 AM

My limewater settles over a day or two, and by the end of the container, is quite clear underneath whatever surface film it gets.

You've checked it after a few days and it is typically still cloudy?

Maybe this batch had less solid lime added, more acidic water, or more pure Ca(OH)2.

Ereefic · #3 10/14/2004, 10:34 AM

I mix it up the same way I always do. I'll mix a new batch in a few days and see what happens. It is a new can of Ball's I used so maybe a bum batch?

Randy Holmes-Farley · #4 10/14/2004, 10:35 AM

Maybe, but I wouldn't assume that the lime is to blame.