Im am looking into getting a dosing pumps for the 2 part. I plan on adding kalk to a 13 gallon tub with my RODI and hooking up the tunze osmolator. Do you see any significant problems or issues with that. Is it common for an ato to malfunction and add too much water possibly causing overflow and elevated ph levels. I am also thinking about getting a second dosing pump instead of the ato. i am trying to make my system as automated as possible with as little possible failure. thoughts?
125 inwall REBUILD
- Thread starter vipjd39
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cee
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A gravity feed has never failed me nor has it ever overflowed. Your decision to go with 2-part is a good one. Having run both methods, I much prefer it over CaRX. A reactor lowers the tank pH and, if your biodemand for carbonate is too high, you end up turning your media to mush. Plus they occasionally plug up and require a fair amount of cleaning. I don't believe they are equivalent methods due to these problems and others. You'll have to watch the peristaltic pumps, but I run mine continuously and adjust the solution strength so I can do so. The pumps last much longer this way.
Dave
Dave
cee, so you gravity feed your tank topoff mixed with kalk? Did you just get a baseline of evaporation daily and then adjust the drip accordingly? when you say watch the peristaltic pumps what do you mean?
fishdoc, thank you very much for the info. I think i might just use the lm3 for 3 part and rig of the gravity feed topoff with kalk possibly similar to what cee has done.
fishdoc, thank you very much for the info. I think i might just use the lm3 for 3 part and rig of the gravity feed topoff with kalk possibly similar to what cee has done.
dave, i saw the other build. Hopefully we all can have a successful setup. his setup is just like my old one. Looks like he went with lifereef for his sump and skimmer.
Runner, consider yourself contracted! Thank you very much for the offer. That would be great. i can guarantee that the future will bring some very nice frags.
Runner, consider yourself contracted! Thank you very much for the offer. That would be great. i can guarantee that the future will bring some very nice frags.
cee
New member
I don't dose kalk at all. I found that the kalk precipitation caused the lines and float valve to require frequent cleaning. However, I used to dose supersaturated with a bit of vinegar, so it can be done. Now CaCl provides enough calcium and I bake the baking soda to give a bit of pH boost.
Peristaltic pumps need to be checked every so often as the hoses do fail in time. Mine's been running almost 2 years now w/o any problems, but it is a concern. Fortunately, the way mine is setup, back siphon or dumping a bunch of solution can't happen if they were to fail. You're more than welcome to come by if you have any questions or shoot me a PM.
Peristaltic pumps need to be checked every so often as the hoses do fail in time. Mine's been running almost 2 years now w/o any problems, but it is a concern. Fortunately, the way mine is setup, back siphon or dumping a bunch of solution can't happen if they were to fail. You're more than welcome to come by if you have any questions or shoot me a PM.
I just picked up an Innovative Aquatics Sentry 5 Dosing Pump for the 2 part. do you make your own 2part? i read a link earlier that was posted here that described doing your own 2 part, but i might just ge the B-ionic. I half heartedly read the thread and it seemed like one of the components was not satisfactory for long term use in the aquarium. I will have to go back and read it though before I make any final decisions. I would definitely love to see how you have your peristaltic pumps set up to avoid any back siphon or dumping.
Here's one of the links for making your own two part...
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
I'm thinking about doing the 2 part myself, however, Randy Holmes states that DOW is not suitable for long term aquaria use.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1271282&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
Am i misreading his thread or am I simply taking it out of context? or is he talking about a completely different product, lol.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1271282&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
Am i misreading his thread or am I simply taking it out of context? or is he talking about a completely different product, lol.
It is the higher bromide levels in the new DowFlake that makes it unsuitable... There are other calcium chloride sources you could use... You might try www.bulkreefsupply.com
randy, much appreciated. I have a question on the peristaltic pumps. I am looking at getting the Kangaroo which is essentially the Sentry 5. The only difference between the Sentry 5 and the Sentry is that the Sentry 5 can only be adjusted in 5ml increments and the Sentry can be adjusted in 1ml increments. Am in going to be upset if I get the sentry 5 and can only adjust in 5ml increments?
I would not think so... When you consider the volume of 4 mL in contrast with the 125g tank + X volume of your sump, and consider the dosing frequency, the difference should be negligable...
That being said, that is one of the reasons I like the LMIII you can adjust the dosing amount and frequency to be quite precise...
It is not entirely set and forget however... Chris cracked me up this summer when he checked his levels and found his Calcium at about 250 or so... His system had outgrown his demands and he did not increase the amount he dosed...
Having the problem of your system outpacing your dosing regiment is not necessarily a bad thing though...
That being said, that is one of the reasons I like the LMIII you can adjust the dosing amount and frequency to be quite precise...
It is not entirely set and forget however... Chris cracked me up this summer when he checked his levels and found his Calcium at about 250 or so... His system had outgrown his demands and he did not increase the amount he dosed...
Having the problem of your system outpacing your dosing regiment is not necessarily a bad thing though...
