WMAS Discussion Forum : pH question http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:37:56 +0000 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:46:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=42181 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[pH question : I&#039;m having a kalk reactor...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367855&title=ph-question#367855 Author: bugzme
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 14 2010 at 5:46pm

I'm having a kalk reactor made right now, Could I just run my ro/di water to it or should I run it through a dosing pump?]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:46:11 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367855&title=ph-question#367855 <![CDATA[pH question : P.Kapp wrote:if you add the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367827&title=ph-question#367827 Author: downhill_biker
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 14 2010 at 12:07pm

Originally posted by P.Kapp P.Kapp wrote:

if you add the pickling lime to a top off resevoir, will it settle on the bottom, or top? or does it mix in completely? i dont have one set up yet, but i was planning on having a 30 to 40 gal top off resevoir, and this sounds like a good idea.


If it were me I would use a reactor over a tank. The reactor will allow it to better mix and take less maintenance. I had a 55g drum for kalk for a while and it was difficult to mix and keep the ambient air/CO2 out, which drops the pH and the amount of calcium it adds. But yes, you add it to the topoff, it gets stirred up and the sediment settles to the bottom. What you are left with is a clear saturated limewater. Honestly you should not dose kalk without more research. It can EASILY nuke your tank, so make sure you have educated yourself before you attempt it.

I would not even consider kalk without reading this entire article and having a firm understanding of it. If you have questions about the article feel free to ask and we will try to help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php
]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:07:14 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367827&title=ph-question#367827 <![CDATA[pH question : if you add the pickling lime to...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367822&title=ph-question#367822 Author: P.Kapp
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 14 2010 at 11:27am

if you add the pickling lime to a top off resevoir, will it settle on the bottom, or top? or does it mix in completely? i dont have one set up yet, but i was planning on having a 30 to 40 gal top off resevoir, and this sounds like a good idea.]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:27:18 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367822&title=ph-question#367822 <![CDATA[pH question : sterling18 wrote:Mark, What...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367820&title=ph-question#367820 Author: downhill_biker
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 14 2010 at 11:10am

Originally posted by sterling18 sterling18 wrote:

Mark,
 
What about connecting a dosing pump connected to ato system.  That should work.  It supplies power to the dosing pump until the float switch is switched back from open to close.


Yes, you can do this. As far as I know this is what everyone has already been suggesting. It is a great way to dose kalk, in small doses throughout the day. Stability is key in a reef tank, and this is a great way to help with that.
]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:10:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367820&title=ph-question#367820 <![CDATA[pH question : Mark, What about connecting...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367818&title=ph-question#367818 Author: sterling18
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 14 2010 at 11:04am

Mark,
 
What about connecting a dosing pump connected to ato system.  That should work.  It supplies power to the dosing pump until the float switch is switched back from open to close.
]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:04:23 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367818&title=ph-question#367818 <![CDATA[pH question : Yes, many people add lime to...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367637&title=ph-question#367637 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 12 2010 at 5:22pm

Yes, many people add lime to their auto top-off.
Even better is to have the automatic system top off only at night. This helps keep pH up during the dark when it naturally falls due to the loss of photosynthesis.

I have used a dosing pump on a timer to add during the night, just the right amount of Kalkwasser to top off daily evaporation. I had to tune it for the season, but since I was watching the system daily, farming coral, it was not a problem. The dosing pump took Kalkwasser from a few inches off the bottom of a 7 gal bucket of RO water with a cup of Lime. When the bucket was near empty, I would fill it with RO water which again dissolved some Lime in the bottom of the bucket. I would discard the residue of undissolved Lime after about 3 or 4 refills.

Be sure to place the dosing line in a spot in the tank where the water moves fast and not near any coral.

If I had wanted to make it more automatic, a solenoid could have been added after the timer to allow the dosing pump to run only until the tank was topped off to the right level.  


Edited by Mark Peterson - July 12 2010 at 5:24pm]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:22:29 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367637&title=ph-question#367637 <![CDATA[pH question : Is there a way to add Pickling...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367576&title=ph-question#367576 Author: omedman
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 11 2010 at 10:39pm

Is there a way to add Pickling Lime to an auto top off system if it is hooked directly into a RO system, or do you just dose it with a drip method?]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:39:15 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367576&title=ph-question#367576 <![CDATA[pH question : downhill_biker wrote:pH of...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367303&title=ph-question#367303 Author: sterling18
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 09 2010 at 10:17pm

Originally posted by downhill_biker downhill_biker wrote:

pH of limewater is actually 12.4, or at least that is what you want. At this pH it has calcium of 900ppm, and if the pH drops to 12.2, only 0.2 pts, it has a pH of 300ppm. Trust me you want the highest pH possible.

Kalk definitely helps with pH, keeping it high and stable, as long as it is dosed properly. I had one overdose that resulted in a snow storm and a loss of several corals. The main thing to remember if this ever happens is that pH of 9.0 is the magic number. Corals can pretty readily handle this, and it is better to let it come down naturally from 9.0 or below. If the pH is above 9.0 you should use CO2 or Carbonated Water to bring it down to 9.0 and then let it drop naturally. I was told this by Randy Holmes-Farley, and nobody can dispute that he is the ultimate reef chemistry guru.


Good to know.  Tks.
]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:17:23 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367303&title=ph-question#367303 <![CDATA[pH question : pH of limewater is actually 12.4,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367301&title=ph-question#367301 Author: downhill_biker
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 09 2010 at 10:11pm

pH of limewater is actually 12.4, or at least that is what you want. At this pH it has calcium of 900ppm, and if the pH drops to 12.2, only 0.2 pts, it has a pH of 300ppm. Trust me you want the highest pH possible.

Kalk definitely helps with pH, keeping it high and stable, as long as it is dosed properly. I had one overdose that resulted in a snow storm and a loss of several corals. The main thing to remember if this ever happens is that pH of 9.0 is the magic number. Corals can pretty readily handle this, and it is better to let it come down naturally from 9.0 or below. If the pH is above 9.0 you should use CO2 or Carbonated Water to bring it down to 9.0 and then let it drop naturally. I was told this by Randy Holmes-Farley, and nobody can dispute that he is the ultimate reef chemistry guru.
]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:11:09 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367301&title=ph-question#367301 <![CDATA[pH question : thats cool thx for the info ]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367292&title=ph-question#367292 Author: SGH360
Subject: 42181
Posted: July 09 2010 at 6:38pm

thats cool thx for the info]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:38:58 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42181&PID=367292&title=ph-question#367292