Kalk Question

[The Staffords]

How long can you use kalk after it has been mixed without a kalk stirrer or reactor? Days, weeks, months?
Looking at using it to topoff and wanted to make sure It can sit for around 2 weeks in my topoff jug.

[jeremyreef]

i would think it would be fine as long as it is mixed with ro water but not 100%.

[hdelectraglide]

I used it like this before and seen no adverse affect . I just mixed in a jug only use the stuff on top not the real thick slurry at the bottom this is how i did it . And do not shake and pour shake or stir let it set and clear up then pour and be carefull kalk can kill a tank do all of research first. Why are you going to use kalk?

[jeremyreef]

i use it to maintain alk and cal levels, works great for me just messy. i clean my reactor monthly so i would think there is always some older kalk in it most of the time.

[The Staffords]

I'm just Getting ready to set an auto topoff and was thinking about using kalk instead of plain RO. I've researched and used it before manually so i know not to use the sludge at the bottom. I just wasnt sure how long kalk can stay suspended in solution with no water movement.

[chromiumlux]

There are some good articles on the net about the useable life of Kalk. I have not ventured into the kalk territory yet myself. i have read that if you are using a bucket cut a peice of styrofoam to fit the inside of bucket and lay directly on top of water. This will help reduce air contact and co2 uptake of kalk mixture which will shorten useable kalk life. Have you considered a calcium reactor instead?

[The Staffords]

The 2.5g jug I have has a lid that I will drill a hole in just big enought for airline to slide through for my aqualifter so air contact should be min. I really didnt want to get a reactor due to price, lack of space, and already dosing 2 -part. My tank evaporates roughly 2g-2.5g of water a week. I dose 50-70ml of 2 part to maintain alk and cal. I figure topping off with kalk would possibly let me cut back dosing a bit. In my first reef tank dripped kalk once a week with great sucess, but never used to solely top off or with 2-part.

[chromiumlux]

How are you going to use the aqualifter? via timer or controller?

[The Staffords]

Not sure yet, but probably a timer.

After looking on RC for a bit it sounds like it may be easier to topoff with RO and do a weekly kalk drip.