Kalk Leftovers

[Radiata1]

Randy,

I make my Kalkwasser in a 55-gallon plastic drum. With wintertime's steam heat I go through a good 40 to 45 gallons a week. When I make up a new batch I use Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime (available from them over the internet) and 750 ml of white vinegar.

What should I be doing with all of the leftover residue at the bottom of the container? I think I must have two inches of the white stuff at the bottom of the drum now.

Many thanks for your fine articles on calcium and alkalinity,
Bob D.

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I toss the leftover solids out once in a while. Two iinches would trigger me to empty it. It will be a mixture of calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and a host of impurities that come in with the lime, including metal hydroxides, oxides, phosphates and carbonates. Sending this mud into the tank by mistake somehow might be big trouble that is fairly easily avoided by dumping it every few months.

Many thanks for your fine articles on calcium and alkalinity,

You're welcome!