kalkwasser +vinegar?

[luumanfoo29]

i read online about adding vinegar to kalkwasser then adding it to RO water...it talks about how it works really well...i've been doing it for about a month but i've only been in the hobby for about 3 months and have nothing to compare it to. Anyone else do the same? Does this actually work better than just shaking it up with RO water?

I know calcium reactors work the best but they are wicked expensive, especially for a college kid who orders pizza every night for dinner . So $20 for kalkwasser and $.50 a gallon of RO water is much more in my price range.

here's the article:
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html

 

[NateHanson]

vinegar is sometimes added to kalkwasser to increase the ammount of kalk that can be dissolved in water. Most people just use regular saturated kalkwasser (pickling lime and RO) to supplement their tanks with Ca and Alk (often in addition to a ca reactor)

 

[PenMan]

Check around for pickling lime it is much cheaper. It should be in the $3-4 range per one pound can.

 

[luumanfoo29]

is it the same kind of stuff?

 

[NateHanson]

is it the same kind of stuff?

Yes, both Kalk powder and Pickling lime are CaOH (Calcium Hydroxide). You can get Pickling lime in 1 pound cans at hardware stores this time of year.

Nate

 

[dz6t]

You don't need a calcium reactor for a 29 gallon softy tank.

 

[eSoteric]

at this point i wouldnt even worry it, when i was doing a softie tank i didnt check for anyhting , and it thrived. I just started to add kalk now that i have several SPS.

 

[luumanfoo29]

oo ic. but kalk couldnt hurt for a soft coral tank right?

 

[NateHanson]

Adding anything without testing the levels in your tank water could be harmful.

Kalk raises Ca and Alk levels, and also has an upward effect on pH, so I would first check those three parameters in your tank. Good levels for Ca are 350-450 ppm, Alk 3-5 meq/L, and pH around 8.2.

Your tank isn't using much Ca and Alk if you've only got softies, so be careful about regularly adding kalk. It could quickly raise those levels too high.

Careful testing is key when considering and begining a new dosing regime.

Nate