jnarowe
Beer-a-holic
Kevin and I are going to test 4 kinds of kalkwasser and a sample of Mrs. Wages.
Background: I have been using kalk since I started my system and for quite a while it went very well, but as of late, the results have not been so good. Originally I brought in some Seachem, ESV, and Custom Aquatic's generic powder. I used up the Custom generic and the Seachem, which both seemed to work fine, but since the switch to the ESV, I have noticed a lot of residue in the reactor and very little in the way of pH bump or alkalinity stability.
Throughout the Winter both Kevin and I have had problems maintaining alkalinity and I had blamed it on low evap. rates. But now we have lost that "excuse". I have been dosing baked baking soda like mad to make up the difference, and we finally both got tired of it and decided to test some kalk powders to find a good one.
Method: Kevin and I will both test these and post the results within this thread. I use a Barr Aquatic KR3020 magnetic stirrer coupled with a LiterMeter III and controlled as well by my tank controller, an ACIII Pro. My typical evap./top-off rate is 14g per day during the Summer.
Kevin uses a Geo reactor controlled by a Tunze Osmolator, also controlled by an ACIII.
To test we are going to clean and re-fill our reactors with fresh product and run it for a week. At the week's end, we will report on performance including pH and alkalinity, visible residue, as well as any results we get when testing for contaminants.
Cleaning consists of completely draining the reactor, wiping out any residue, a quick vinegar bath, and rinse with RO/DI water. I will be using 250g for each test.
Science? Not. We are not scientists and can only test these products from the hobbyist viewpoint and available materials and information. While we will report on our findings, they are in no way meant to infer scientific data. This is just a opportunity to add to our collective "data base" and come to some conclusion for our own needs based on our systems.
Reminder: Products change. Suppliers change. Our results are not set in stone and are not terribly accurate. What we may find in the next couple of weeks may not be true a year from now, and it is incumbant on any dedicated hobbyist to do their own testing and make the appropriate buying decision.
Products:
1. Two Little Fishes Kalkwasser: Ingredients: Calium, Hydroxide.
2. Warner Marine Reef Pure Kalkwasser: Ingredients: None. I know there is a stigma asociated with this brand and I generally will not use any product that does not list its ingredients, but this product was recommended by Steve Weast. He judges purity by the products effect on his system and the amount of residue accumulated in the reactor.
3. ROWA kalk: Ingredients: Calcium Hydroxide, 98.2%.
4. Custom Aquatic Generic Brand: Ingredients: None. Again I have used this product before with good results, but do not have access to any published ingredients or purity.
5. Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime: Ingredients: Food grade calcium hydroxide. This is a popular DIY substitute and I am excited to finally test this product.
Background: I have been using kalk since I started my system and for quite a while it went very well, but as of late, the results have not been so good. Originally I brought in some Seachem, ESV, and Custom Aquatic's generic powder. I used up the Custom generic and the Seachem, which both seemed to work fine, but since the switch to the ESV, I have noticed a lot of residue in the reactor and very little in the way of pH bump or alkalinity stability.
Throughout the Winter both Kevin and I have had problems maintaining alkalinity and I had blamed it on low evap. rates. But now we have lost that "excuse". I have been dosing baked baking soda like mad to make up the difference, and we finally both got tired of it and decided to test some kalk powders to find a good one.
Method: Kevin and I will both test these and post the results within this thread. I use a Barr Aquatic KR3020 magnetic stirrer coupled with a LiterMeter III and controlled as well by my tank controller, an ACIII Pro. My typical evap./top-off rate is 14g per day during the Summer.
Kevin uses a Geo reactor controlled by a Tunze Osmolator, also controlled by an ACIII.
To test we are going to clean and re-fill our reactors with fresh product and run it for a week. At the week's end, we will report on performance including pH and alkalinity, visible residue, as well as any results we get when testing for contaminants.
Cleaning consists of completely draining the reactor, wiping out any residue, a quick vinegar bath, and rinse with RO/DI water. I will be using 250g for each test.
Science? Not. We are not scientists and can only test these products from the hobbyist viewpoint and available materials and information. While we will report on our findings, they are in no way meant to infer scientific data. This is just a opportunity to add to our collective "data base" and come to some conclusion for our own needs based on our systems.
Reminder: Products change. Suppliers change. Our results are not set in stone and are not terribly accurate. What we may find in the next couple of weeks may not be true a year from now, and it is incumbant on any dedicated hobbyist to do their own testing and make the appropriate buying decision.
Products:
1. Two Little Fishes Kalkwasser: Ingredients: Calium, Hydroxide.
2. Warner Marine Reef Pure Kalkwasser: Ingredients: None. I know there is a stigma asociated with this brand and I generally will not use any product that does not list its ingredients, but this product was recommended by Steve Weast. He judges purity by the products effect on his system and the amount of residue accumulated in the reactor.
3. ROWA kalk: Ingredients: Calcium Hydroxide, 98.2%.
4. Custom Aquatic Generic Brand: Ingredients: None. Again I have used this product before with good results, but do not have access to any published ingredients or purity.
5. Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime: Ingredients: Food grade calcium hydroxide. This is a popular DIY substitute and I am excited to finally test this product.
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