Adding Vinegar to Kalkwasser

[ChuzUThisDay]

Yes, the vinegar helps the kalk dissolve but you will still get sediment. CaOH doesn't dissolve too well on its own and there will be more sediment over time as CO2 gets onto the water and percipitates some Ca out of solution.

I've been doing this for about 6 or more months now and i haven't found that the precipitate does anything negative except it's unsightly. I also try to not get that slurry into the lines or tank(i dose it with a dosing pump)

Did you start with the 60ml of vinegar, or did you build up to that over the 6 months?

 

[Holy_makerel]

Did you start with the 60ml of vinegar, or did you build up to that over the 6 months?

Good question! I started with 20 and brought it up 10ml every 2 weeks or so

 

[ChuzUThisDay]

Good question! I started with 20 and brought it up 10ml every 2 weeks or so

Just to make it clear for my old mind:

1) Add 20ml/gal of vinegar to ATO
2) Add x tsp/gal of kalk (I'm adding 1 Tbsp/ 5 gallons just starting)
3) Add RO/DI water
4) Stir to mix (not vigorously)
5) Let it settle
6) Turn on ATO as normal

Any mixing before step 3 or am I over complicating this?

 

[Holy_makerel]

Just to make it clear for my old mind:

1) Add 20ml/gal of vinegar to ATO
2) Add x tsp/gal of kalk (I'm adding 1 Tbsp/ 5 gallons just starting)
3) Add RO/DI water
4) Stir to mix (not vigorously)
5) Let it settle
6) Turn on ATO as normal

Any mixing before step 3 or am I over complicating this?

So to make fully concentrated kalk solution you add 2tsp/gal. Looks like you are adding 1tsp/5gal? You may not get much return for your efforts with that concentration. I'd do 1tsp/gal and see what your results are.

I use a gal jug, add water and vinegar, then 2tsp kalk. Shake up, wait about an hour and add it to my reservoir.

I also dose with my dosing pump instead of the ATO so a 50% solution makes sense to me adding it that way just to give a little buffer in case of a pump error or something.

 

[ChuzUThisDay]

So to make fully concentrated kalk solution you add 2tsp/gal. Looks like you are adding 1tsp/5gal? You may not get much return for your efforts with that concentration. I'd do 1tsp/gal and see what your results are.

I use a gal jug, add water and vinegar, then 2tsp kalk. Shake up, wait about an hour and add it to my reservoir.

I also dose with my dosing pump instead of the ATO so a 50% solution makes sense to me adding it that way just to give a little buffer in case of a pump error or something.

Thanks!

I use 1 tablespoon per five gallons. It was suggested to me to start at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon since I'm running mostly soft coral. That would be 2 1/2 teaspoons, but the one tablespoon is easier to deal with and is still on the low end of concentration. Sounds like I can try adding the vinegar to what I'm already doing without too much of a worry. I appreciate the patience and knowledge!