Kalk Stirrer Refill

[wizard261]

Sorry if this is a bad question. How do you know when to refill the stirrer with Kalk?

 

[reefsaver]

Decreased pH, Calcium, and Alkalinity Levels are a good indicator it's time to top it up.
Regularly test your tank's pH, calcium, and alkalinity levels. If you notice a consistent drop in these parameters, it may indicate that the Kalkwasser solution is becoming depleted and needs replenishment.
Sediment Build-Up:
Inspect the stirrer regularly. If the settled Kalk at the bottom of the stirrer appears to be significantly reduced or has turned into a thick, unusable sludge, it’s time to add more Kalk powder.
Precipitation and Clogging:
If you notice precipitation or clogging in the stirrer or on the dosing equipment, this can be a sign that the Kalk solution is no longer saturated and effective.

It's a brilliant question brother. Maintaining these levels is crucial for success so be proud brother.

 

[wizard261]

Decreased pH, Calcium, and Alkalinity Levels are a good indicator it's time to top it up.
Regularly test your tank's pH, calcium, and alkalinity levels. If you notice a consistent drop in these parameters, it may indicate that the Kalkwasser solution is becoming depleted and needs replenishment.
Sediment Build-Up:
Inspect the stirrer regularly. If the settled Kalk at the bottom of the stirrer appears to be significantly reduced or has turned into a thick, unusable sludge, it’s time to add more Kalk powder.
Precipitation and Clogging:
If you notice precipitation or clogging in the stirrer or on the dosing equipment, this can be a sign that the Kalk solution is no longer saturated and effective.

It's a brilliant question brother. Maintaining these levels is crucial for success so be proud brother.

Thanks for he reply

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

It’s a great question, I’ve been wondering about this myself. I have a GEO stirrer. I drip about 14 hours a day. My mixer is programmed to mix every 20 minutes for 20 seconds, I’ve been holding at 12.4 since the last time I filled it. That’s the thing, I thought GEO’s instructions may have been conservative about how much they say to put in the stirrer. In my typical “what could go wrong” style of reefing, lol, I put about a pound, maybe a pound and a 1/2 in the stirrer. The top 3 -5 inches of the stirrer are always clear, FYI. Like I said I’m holding at 12.4 and if I shut the stirrer down I have about 3 inches of kalk settling at the bottom. I haven’t filled it in 3-4 months. But I am noticing that it is starting to look a little grey and not as white. But I have relocated the stirrer and the light may be different. How are you guys putting in?

 

[wizard261]

It’s a great question, I’ve been wondering about this myself. I have a GEO stirrer. I drip about 14 hours a day. My mixer is programmed to mix every 20 minutes for 20 seconds, I’ve been holding at 12.4 since the last time I filled it. That’s the thing, I thought GEO’s instructions may have been conservative about how much they say to put in the stirrer. In my typical “what could go wrong” style of reefing, lol, I put about a pound, maybe a pound and a 1/2 in the stirrer. The top 3 -5 inches of the stirrer are always clear, FYI. Like I said I’m holding at 12.4 and if I shut the stirrer down I have about 3 inches of kalk settling at the bottom. I haven’t filled it in 3-4 months. But I am noticing that it is starting to look a little grey and not as white. But I have relocated the stirrer and the light may be different. How are you guys putting in?

I am going by the instructions on the bottle and putting in only 2tps per gallon
Is this not enough. Not sure I am mee to doing this

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I am going by the instructions on the bottle and putting in only 2tps per gallon
Is this not enough. Not sure I am mee to doing this

lol, hence my name. Don’t follow my foot steps. However, when I mix kalk for a brute where I am dosing just a premixed kalk solution, I use the 6.5g per G dosage. But in my mixer, I do it to keep the PH around 12.4 for very long periods of time. I’ve also mixed a slight slurry, but, but, but, but, I’ve dropped it into an MP in my sump. From there it went through an L2 so, it was really mixed up well before hitting the tank. Again, I wouldn’t take what I do as advice but I’m simply sharing and also looking for feedback to above or anything. I already know I am bat poop cray cray…

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I am going by the instructions on the bottle and putting in only 2tps per gallon
Is this not enough. Not sure I am mee to doing this

That is not correct usage of a kalk stirrer. Those directions are for making a batch reservoir (I prefer that method, by the way).

Typically, a reactor is filled with an amount such as a cup or two 9depending on what it can stir reasonably).

You can tell when it is depleted by tank alk, tank pH, effluent conductivity, or effluent pH.

Effluent conductivity is by far the best way, but not everyone does that. pH of the effluent is a crude measure since a drop of 0.1 pH units is a 20% drop in potency. Going by tank pH works if you know the usual tank ph range and it suddenly drops. Same for alk.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I thought the point of the kalk stirrer

Is that you have saturated water, with kalk at the bottom

And it didn't matter how much. If you add another cup of kalk to the water, it's not going to saturate more

Guess there are other thoughts on that

 

[wizard261]

lol, hence my name. Don’t follow my foot steps. However, when I mix kalk for a brute where I am dosing just a premixed kalk solution, I use the 6.5g per G dosage. But in my mixer, I do it to keep the PH around 12.4 for very long periods of time. I’ve also mixed a slight slurry, but, but, but, but, I’ve dropped it into an MP in my sump. From there it went through an L2 so, it was really mixed up well before hitting the tank. Again, I wouldn’t take what I do as advice but I’m simply sharing and also looking for feedback to above or anything. I already know I am bat poop cray cray…

Listen I think we r all bat s*it for being in this hobby. I have bought so much stuff off this site and I am thinking of getting a Cade 1200

 

[BiggestE22]

Sorry if this is a bad question. How do you know when to refill the stirrer with Kalk?

Usually the reactor comes with a ph probe port.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I thought the point of the kalk stirrer

Is that you have saturated water, with kalk at the bottom

And it didn't matter how much. If you add another cup of kalk to the water, it's not going to saturate more

Guess there are other thoughts on that

That is correct, as long as the stirrer does not get jammed or particulates enter the effluent.

 

[wizard261]

That is not correct usage of a kalk stirrer. Those directions are for making a batch reservoir (I prefer that method, by the way).

Typically, a reactor is filled with an amount such as a cup or two 9depending on what it can stir reasonably).

You can tell when it is depleted by tank alk, tank pH, effluent conductivity, or effluent pH.

Effluent conductivity is by far the best way, but not everyone does that. pH of the effluent is a crude measure since a drop of 0.1 pH units is a 20% drop in potency. Going by tank pH works if you know the usual tank ph range and it suddenly drops. Same for alk.

So if I get what ur saying just add a cup or 2 and not follow bottle directions

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So if I get what ur saying just add a cup or 2 and not follow bottle directions

Correct. You should follow the stirrer directions, not directions to make a single batch of saturated kalkwasser. The kalk powder bottle itself cannot know anything about the stirrer you intend to use.

 

[wizard261]

Correct. You should follow the stirrer directions, not directions to make a single batch of saturated kalkwasser. The kalk powder bottle itself cannot know anything about the stirrer you intend to use.

Thanks that makes allot of sence