Kalkwasser

[Gatortailale]

Kalkwasser thread on Reefs.Org

 

Above link is to a very good discussion on the how to of dripping kalk, the chemical reactions, using vinegar, ect. ...

 

SEE AUTHOR Breefcase for detailed info:

 

 

Hope this helps

Craig

 

made the Reefs.Org link clickable

[Larry Grenier]

Yes, that is an excellent thread.  The part that I clipped and added to my auqarium cheat-sheet is

Dissolving the Kalk powder in the Vinegar first will accomplish several very good things.

 

First, it will get more Calcium ions (Ca++) into the solution because you are dissolving the Ca(OH)2 in an acid instead of water, and forming Calcium Acetate, which exists as a dissociated equilibrium of free Calcium ions and Acetate ions.

 

Second, the Acetic Acid (Vinegar) provides an equivalent of all the CO2 you need to avoid precipitating the newly-added Calcium ions as useless white Calcium Carbonate powder.

 

Third, after all the cool Calcium ion chemistry is over, the leftover Acetate ions from the broken-down Vinegar leaves you with free organic Carbon in the water that feeds the bacteria in your tank so that it converts more poisonous Nitrates to NO2 gas (a very good thing).

And further down the thread there's this:

The problem with allowing the CO2 reaction to occur as you mix your Kalk in a container without Vinegar is that you are mixing it in a comparatively small quantity of water that contains only a very limited amount of CO2. So, instead of having enough CO2 to go all the way to useful Bicarbonate ions (HCO3-, or Alkalinity) as you want it to, the chemical reaction stops at the undesirable Carbonate ion (CO3--). This is what sets the stage for the Calcium ions to precipitate out as useless solid Calcium Carbonate while still in the mixing container -- the Kalk mixes with SOME CO2, but not with ENOUGH CO2.

 

Good stuff  

[Sph2sail]

This begs a question...

 

If you are using a Nilsen reactor and are feeding RO/DI water in to get Kalk out to drop into the sump, should you spike the RO/DI water with vinegar?  Seems like it might have a desirable effect.

 

If yes, how much vinegar to RO/DI is a good concentration?

 

s

[michaelg]

Steve- I have been giving that some thought myself for some time now.  If you want to experiment with it, you need to know approximately the time for turnover in your water resevoir and volume.  If it is constantly re-filling, then this is harder to calculate.  If the filling is intermittent, then I believe the max recommended by Bingman was 12 mls of vinegar/ gallon.  I would start with 1/4-1/3 of that myself and work up. I don't think any adjustment needs to be made because it is a neilsen reactor.  The reactor just helps with recovery of the CaOH and good mixing. 

 

You can always test the effluent from the reactor for pH, alk, and calcium.  If you plan to test, get a baseline for how it is running now.

[michaelg]

Aquarium Frontiers link at reefs.org

 

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_frontiers/index.html

[chideloh]

Michael and others,

 

Did you read Carlos Vicente's article? What do you think of it? Most of us are "high tech" kind of people, especially for those of us with mostly SPS corals.

 

Do you think what Carlos is doing possible with SPS dominant tanks?  I would love to get rid of all these equipments and water cahnges and make it as simple as possible.

 

What is a Leng Sy Ecosystem?

 

David

[michaelg]

Do you have a link for the article?  I haven't read it.  

 

There is no such thing as a miracle anything in this hobby.  Leng's system of filtration is basically a refugia.  Mud and algae- which can be a beneficial component to any reef system, but to tell people they can sit back and ignore the care of their system to me is irresponsible. Yes some calcium and carbonate will dissolve from the substrate, but from my experiences, not nearly enough given a normal setup.

[chideloh]

Michael,

 

The article is in the link that you posted at reefs.org.

 

David

[michaelg]

2 things- first is that it is a softie tank.  Second, he doesn't mention what if any suppliments he adds.  He has run a heavy amount of carbon from what I can tell, which would be needed from all those sarcophytons!  Apples to oranges IMO- no I don't think this method could support an sps dominated tank.  In the 30 gallon, prior to break down, I either had to add lots of 2 part supplimemts, or run the reactor- coupled with the continual dosing of kalkwasser.  Keep in mind that the refugium I had in line was essentially a leng sy system, other than it was a seperate system and not my sump.

After seeing how quickly O2 levels can drop off, I see no reason not to run my skimmer.  I don't think we can provide enough O2- Bob Stark gave a great talk on ORP levels and "health of the system" back in 2000 at a CMAS conference.  Made a lot of sence to me and was one of the talks that really stuck in my mind.

[bcjm]

This is great article too.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

[michaelg]

Kalk safety sheet information:  Info provided by Rich aka AquariaUSA and reefoto

 

msds sheets a lot to insure we don't get in trouble

 

Incompatibilities:

Violent reactions with maleic anhydride, nitroethane, nitromethane,

nitroparaffins, nitropropane, phosphorus. As a strongly alkaline material, it

is incompatible with acids.

Conditions to Avoid:

Air, dusting, and incompatibles.

 

 

CALCIUM HYDROXIDE

1. Product Identification

Synonyms: Calcium hydrate; slaked lime

CAS No.: 1305-62-0

Molecular Weight: 74.09

Chemical Formula: Ca(OH)2

Product Codes:

J.T. Baker: 1372, 1374, 5143

Mallinckrodt: 2630, 3288, 4195, 4315, 6805

2. Composition/Information on Ingredients

Ingredient CAS No Percent

Hazardous

--------------------------------------- ------------ ------------

---------

Calcium Hydroxide 1305-62-0 99 - 100%

Yes

3. Hazards Identification

Emergency Overview

--------------------------

DANGER! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES

BURNS TO SKIN AND EYES. CAUSES SEVERE IRRITATION TO

RESPIRATORY TRACT.

J.T. Baker SAF-T-DATA™ Ratings (Provided here for your

convenience)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

-----------------

Health Rating: 1 - Slight

Flammability Rating: 0 - None

Reactivity Rating: 1 - Slight

Contact Rating: 2 - Moderate

Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES; LAB COAT

Storage Color Code: Orange (General Storage)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

-----------------

Potential Health Effects

----------------------------------

Inhalation:

Causes irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing,

shortness of breath. Can cause chemical bronchitis.

Ingestion:

Gastric irritant. Ingestion may be followed by severe pain, vomiting,

diarrhea, and collapse. If death does not occur in 24 hours, esophageal

perforation may occur, as evidenced by fall in blood pressure and severe

pain. A narrowing of the esophagus may occur weeks, months, or years

after ingestion, making swallowing difficult.

Skin Contact:

Corrosive. May cause severe burns and blistering, depending on duration

of contact.

Eye Contact:

Corrosive. May produce severe irritation and pain. May induce ulcerations

of the corneal epithelium. Can cause blindness.

Chronic Exposure:

Prolonged or repeated skin contact may produce severe irritation or

dermatitis.

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:

Persons with pre-existing skin problems or impaired respiratory function

may be more susceptible to the effects of this substance.

4. First Aid Measures

Inhalation:

Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If

breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician immediately.

Ingestion:

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Give large quantities of water. Never

give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician

immediately.

Skin Contact:

In case of contact, wipe off excess material from skin then immediately

flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove

contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Call a

physician immediately.

Eye Contact:

Immediately flush eyes with gentle but large stream of water for at least 15

minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Call a physician

immediately.

5. Fire Fighting Measures

Fire:

Not considered to be a fire hazard.

Explosion:

Not considered to be an explosion hazard.

Fire Extinguishing Media:

Use any means suitable for extinguishing surrounding fire.

Special Information:

In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved

self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the

pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.

6. Accidental Release Measures

Ventilate area of leak or spill. Keep unnecessary and unprotected people

away from area of spill. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment

as specified in Section 8. Spills: Pick up and place in a suitable container

for reclamation or disposal, using a method that does not generate dust.

Do not flush caustic residues to the sewer. Residues from spills can be

diluted with water, neutralized with dilute acid such as acetic, hydrochloric

or sulfuric. Absorb neutralized caustic residue on clay, vermiculite or other

inert substance and package in a suitable container for disposal.

7. Handling and Storage

Keep in a tightly closed container, stored in a cool, dry, ventilated area.

Protect against physical damage. Isolate from incompatible substances.

Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain

product residues (dust, solids); observe all warnings and precautions listed

for the product.

8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Airborne Exposure Limits:

-OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):

15 mg/m3 (total dust), 5 mg/m3 (respirable fraction)

-ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV):

5 mg/m3

Ventilation System:

A system of local and/or general exhaust is recommended to keep

employee exposures below the Airborne Exposure Limits. Local exhaust

ventilation is generally preferred because it can control the emissions of

the contaminant at its source, preventing dispersion of it into the general

work area. Please refer to the ACGIH document, Industrial Ventilation, A

Manual of Recommended Practices, most recent edition, for details.

Personal Respirators (NIOSH Approved):

If the exposure limit is exceeded and engineering controls are not feasible,

a full facepiece particulate respirator (NIOSH type N100 filters) may be

worn for up to 50 times the exposure limit or the maximum use

concentration specified by the appropriate regulatory agency or respirator

supplier, whichever is lowest. If oil particles (e.g. lubricants, cutting fluids.

glycerine, etc.) are present, use a NIOSH type R or P filter. For

emergencies or instances where the exposure levels are not known, use a

full-facepiece positive-pressure, air-supplied respirator. WARNING: Airpurifying

respirators do not protect workers in oxygen-deficient

atmospheres.

Skin Protection:

Wear impervious protective clothing, including boots, gloves, lab coat,

apron or coveralls, as appropriate, to prevent skin contact.

Eye Protection:

Use chemical safety goggles and/or full face shield where dusting or

splashing of solutions is possible. Maintain eye wash fountain and quickdrench

facilities in work area.

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance:

White crystals or powder.

Odor:

Odorless.

Solubility:

0.185 g/100 cc water @ 0C

Specific Gravity:

2.24

pH:

12.4 (saturated solution)

% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F):

0

Boiling Point:

Decomposes.

Melting Point:

580C (1076F)

Vapor Density (Air=1):

No information found.

Vapor Pressure (mm Hg):

No information found.

Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1):

No information found.

10. Stability and Reactivity

Stability:

Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Readily absorbs

carbon dioxide from air to form calcium carbonate.

Hazardous Decomposition Products:

Caustic fumes of calcium oxide form when heated to decomposition

(580C; 1076F).

Hazardous Polymerization:

Will not occur.

Incompatibilities:

Violent reactions with maleic anhydride, nitroethane, nitromethane,

nitroparaffins, nitropropane, phosphorus. As a strongly alkaline material, it

is incompatible with acids.

Conditions to Avoid:

Air, dusting, and incompatibles.

11. Toxicological Information

Oral Rat LD50: 7340 mg/kg; eye rabbit, standard Draize, 10 mg, severe;

investigated as a mutagen

--------\Cancer Lists\------------------------------------------------

------

---NTP Carcinogen---

Ingredient Known Anticipated IARC

Category

------------------------------------ ----- ----------- -------

------

Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0) No No None

12. Ecological Information

Environmental Fate:

This material is not expected to significantly bioaccumulate.

Environmental Toxicity:

No information found.

13. Disposal Considerations

Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be managed in

an appropriate and approved waste facility. Although not a listed RCRA

hazardous waste, this material may exhibit one or more characteristics of a

hazardous waste and require appropriate analysis to determine specific

disposal requirements. Processing, use or contamination of this product

may change the waste management options. State and local disposal

regulations may differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of

container and unused contents in accordance with federal, state and local

requirements.

14. Transport Information

Not regulated.

15. Regulatory Information

--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 1\--------------------------

-------

Ingredient TSCA EC Japan

Australia

----------------------------------------------- ---- --- ----- ---

------

Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0) Yes Yes Yes

Yes

--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 2\--------------------------

-------

--Canada--

Ingredient Korea DSL NDSL

Phil.

----------------------------------------------- ----- --- ---- --

---

Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0) Yes Yes No

Yes

--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 1\---------

-------

-SARA 302- ------SARA

313------

Ingredient RQ TPQ List

Chemical Catg.

----------------------------------------- --- ----- ---- -------

-------

Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0) No No No No

--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 2\---------

-------

-RCRA- -TSCAIngredient

CERCLA 261.33 8(d)

----------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------

Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0) No No No

Chemical Weapons Convention: No TSCA 12(b): No CDTA: No

SARA 311/312: Acute: Yes Chronic: Yes Fire: No Pressure: No

Reactivity: No (Pure / Solid)

Australian Hazchem Code: None allocated.

Poison Schedule: None allocated.

WHMIS:

This MSDS has been prepared according to the hazard criteria of the

Controlled Products Regulations (CPR) and the MSDS contains all of the

information required by the CPR.

16. Other Information

NFPA Ratings: Health: 3 Flammability: 0 Reactivity: 0

Label Hazard Warning:

DANGER! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES

BURNS TO SKIN AND EYES. CAUSES SEVERE IRRITATION TO

RESPIRATORY TRACT.

Label Precautions:

Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing.

Wash thoroughly after handling.

Do not breathe dust.

Keep container closed.

Use only with adequate ventilation.

Label First Aid:

In case of contact, wipe off excess material from skin then immediately

flush eyes or skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove

contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. If inhaled,

remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing

is difficult, give oxygen. If swallowed, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.

Give large quantities of water. Never give anything by mouth to an

unconscious person. In all cases call a physician immediately.

Product Use:

Laboratory Reagent.

Revision Information:

MSDS Section(s) changed since last revision of document include: 8.

Disclaimer:

************************************************************

************************************

Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc. provides the information contained herein

in good faith but makes no representation as to its comprehensiveness

or accuracy. This document is intended only as a guide to the

appropriate precautionary handling of the material by a properly

trained person using this product. Individuals receiving the

information must exercise their independent judgment in determining

its appropriateness for a particular purpose. MALLINCKRODT

BAKER, INC. MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR

WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING

WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTIES OF

MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN

OR THE PRODUCT TO WHICH THE INFORMATION REFERS.

ACCORDINGLY, MALLINCKRODT BAKER, INC. WILL NOT

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM USE OF

OR RELIANCE UPON THIS INFORMATION.

************************************************************

************************************

Prepared by: Environmental Health & Safety

Phone Number: (314) 654-1600 (U.S.A.)

[GaryL]

Since we are in the midst of make kalk reactors i got curious and checked my alk..... it was low, my ph is at 8.2. so using this link i decided to drip kalk. i am using a 1/2 gallon jug, i picked up some IV pump line with a bubble counter and the little thumb wheel. i got ot for 4 dollars. i used the vinegar method to mix the kalk, measured out 6 teaspoons of vinegar to 1 tsp of kalk, it disolved nicely. then i started the drip. i adjusted it to a real slow drip, i guess 1 drip per minute. any thought on how fast the drip should be. is it a personal preferance or should there be more of an exact measurement? thanks in advance. G

[GaryL]

Great post by the way, it is very helpful!!..

[Guest Houshan]

Since we are in the midst of make kalk reactors i got curious and checked my alk..... it was low, my ph is at 8.2. so using this link i decided to drip kalk. i am using a 1/2 gallon jug, i picked up some IV pump line with a bubble counter and the little thumb wheel. i got ot for 4 dollars. i used the vinegar method to mix the kalk, measured out 6 teaspoons of vinegar to 1 tsp of kalk, it disolved nicely. then i started the drip. i adjusted it to a real slow drip, i guess 1 drip per minute. any thought on how fast the drip should be. is it a personal preferance or should there be more of an exact measurement? thanks in advance. G

Gary,

 

If I'm not mistaken, most people drip at the same rate of their water evaporation.  Replacing 100% of evaporated water with kalkwasser.

 

- Jose

[michaelg]

Y'up do all your evaporation with it.  I add about 3 gallons a day in the summer.  drip drip drip drip... I add it directly to a topoff resevoir- a maxijet pumps a bolus of water at a time- Ive never had a problem.  If you opt to add less than this, due to another way of topping off and want to keep the 1/2 gallon rig you made- then add it at night when tank pH drops.  It helps a bit with the swing.  Check the pH of your cocktail to make sure the solution is strong enough.  It should be around 12.  My Kalk goes into the sump where the tank return is (opposite pump end), so it gets plenty of mixing/dillution before hitting the tank.