kalkwasser and vinegar

[tomaquar]

I dont want to set up a kalkwasser reactor in my living room so Ive look up some info. There are several pages out there that say you can titrate kalwasser to the desired pH with white vinegar. The reported upside is that the result does not alter pH and it frees the Ca to a usable form without the one drop at a time CO2 reaction.

Does anyone have personal experience with this?

Thanks

 

[purplegorilla]

Hmm, my understanding is by adding vinegar you are able to dissolve more caOH substrate in solution which makes kalkwasser. Eitherway you still have to set up a kalk reactor.

 

[ichthyoid]

Yes, the article in the link below is what got me started. You may need to supplement to get the levels required if you keep SPS and/or have low evaporation rates.

You may be interested to know that this was the earliest version of carbon dosing that I am aware of, although many will not recognize it as such. There may be an earlier article, I just can't think of one, and/or never/can't remember that I read it.

I read the article, written by Craig Bingman who is a reef aquarist, who happens to also hold a PhD in chemistry. You MUST have a good skimmer or you will be disappointed with the results. Make SURE you understand the steps, before beginning. It's not difficult, it's just that the artcle lacks a plain 1, 2, 3...step wise instruction method, IMO.

 

[tomaquar]

Thanks ichthyoid. That is one of the articles I saw.

Why did you make the comment about the skimmer. Mine right now is a little underpowered but since my bioload is two clowns in a 55 gal tank Im putting off purchasing a new one for awhile.

 

[snowmansnow]

why not a kalk reactor in living room ? just wondered

 

[ichthyoid]

tomaquar;626689 wrote: Thanks ichthyoid. That is one of the articles I saw.

Why did you make the comment about the skimmer. Mine right now is a little underpowered but since my bioload is two clowns in a 55 gal tank Im putting off purchasing a new one for awhile.

The short answer is that a good skimmer is needed to pull out the additional bacteria that will bloom from added carbon. A small bioload may help, but I along with many others favor over skimming as opposed to under skimming.

When you mix vinegar with calcium hydroxide (kalk) a chemical reaction occurs. What is formed is called calcium acetate. Heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria consume the acetate portion which liberates the calcium for corals. These bacteria will also help feed those corals, especially any SPS you may have. You will need a good skimmer to remove the extra bacteria not consumed by the corals. If you don't have a good skimmer, you will begin to accumulate a sludge layer in your tank and/or sump from due to dead bacteria. All tanks, especially non-skimmed or poorly skimmed tanks, will show sludge build up over time as well. It just happens much faster when dosing one of the various forms of carbon. Hence the recommendation of a good skimmer (good = somewhat oversized for your tank size, and of good design). This leads to a another discussion about what are good skimmers. I suggest that you stick with popular brands/designs if unsure. I like margins of around 2X or higher the recommended capacity.

Here is a good overview of denitrification, if interested:

 

[jeffh]

I've dosed both Kalk and Kalk with vinegar in the past. I just used a 5 gallon bucket and mixed in the kalk. Let it settle for a 1/2 hour and then you can use it as your topoff. There is no need for a reactor. There are risks associated with kalk though, so it's best you plan ahead and know what you are doing.

 

[tomaquar]

what are the risks you are talking about

 

[ichthyoid]

tomaquar;627624 wrote: what are the risks you are talking about

Kalk, also know as calcium hydroxide, has a pH of 12.4 and can cook everything in your tank if you aren't careful and dose too much.

Here's a good article, long but comprehensive.

 

[fraggel rock]

I have been dosing kalk in my top off water for years without a reactor. The main thing that I have always been told is to mix it in a separate container, let the slurry settle to the bottom "I wait 24 hrs." And then pour into your top of container. Although recently I have been eyeballing the new two little fishies reactor. It seems like it might work well since the only thing that stirs the kalk in the unit is the pressure from your top off pump.

Edit:

ichthyoid;626685 wrote: Yes, the article in the link below is what got me started. You may need to supplement to get the levels required if you keep SPS and/or have low evaporation rates.

You may be interested to know that this was the earliest version of carbon dosing that I am aware of, although many will not recognize it as such. There may be an earlier article, I just can't think of one, and/or never/can't remember that I read it.

I read the article, written by Craig Bingman who is a reef aquarist, who happens to also hold a PhD in chemistry. You MUST have a good skimmer or you will be disappointed with the results. Make SURE you understand the steps, before beginning. It's not difficult, it's just that the artcle lacks a plain 1, 2, 3...step wise instruction method, IMO.

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html">http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html</a>[/QUOTE]

Awesome article, I have never even seen that before.:thumbs: