ATO w/ Kalk Help Please

[Sk8r]

My system just uses a maxijet 1200 in a big tub of ro/di water laced with kalk. I reduced the outflow line from 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch with a little plug/adapter stuck in the 1/2 inch hose, and it feeds slowly, about 2-3 tsp at a time, driven by an autotopoff.com dual float switch...works like a charm. FYI, ro/di always dissolves the 'perfect' solution of kalk, so having a ro/di flowing into an area with more kalk than you need is ok, but you don't want your pump down in the slurry that results at the mix point: keep it set high in the ro/di tub and you're always golden.

 

[96p993]

I think we need to come up with a better location to drop the kalk water...Skimmer will not like this

Ok all this is under your tank so tell me this....The section on the far right of the stand, why not put your top off water there and get the entire thing under the tank. I know you have some equipment in your basement but I see room to do the entire thing in your stand saving you a ton of time and work...

Other then that the setup looks good

 

[sjm817]

Dont be concerned with the pump. The amount added is really dependant of the float switch setup, not the pump. It will turn the pump on and off as needed. A small return section is actually good for ATO since changes are more readily seen.

I would be careful about topping off near the skimmer. It may lead to more of a calcium build up in the skimmer pump. In between the first two baffles would work good.

 

[96p993]

Looking at it even more, this would be really easy to do inside the stand!!

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Mrs. Wages mixes up just like the name brand kalkwasser -- 2 tsp per gallon for full saturation. You can use less if your aquarium needs less, but I have never seen negative results from using full saturation even when the tank isn't demanding it -- a little flaky deposit off the heater is about it, easy to remove. No need to heat it, mix it and forget it. I literally dump a can of Mrs. Wages into a 55 gallon Brute, fill it most of the way, mix it with a pump for a couple minutes, and set my dosing input just near the bottom. Then, after it's empty in a couple weeks, fill it up again, mix the remaining kalk in, and do it all over again. 1 can of Mrs. Wages is 88 gallons of fully saturated kalk -- so somewhere around 44 gallons per mix is perfect for my system, which fits well in that big trash can. It is important to drip or otherwise slowly dose to eliminate pH spikes. I use the Litermeter III, which yes is pricey, but yes is worth it. Doses a little squirt into the tank every few minutes, and you dial in the daily amount -- for me on a 125g it's 10.00L this time of year.

I've never been a fan of sensors or float switches, but they do work too. To me, a quality peristaltic pump that basically can't foul itself and can't overdose is worth the price of admission.

 

[96p993]

Alright tell when why this wont work...

legend

blue-topoff water/kalk solution
red-aqualifter pump
yellow-lines into the solution and into the sump
purple-float switches

The upside is this will work very easily...
downside is the holding tank is going to be a bit smaller so refilling will happen more, but I think you will get the idea.

 

[96p993]

If you want to go bigger on the reservoir Im sure you could easily find a cabinet the same color as your stand to sit next to it....House 5-20 gallons and look good

 

[stricknine]

Sk8r, I am honored to be Mr.16,000!
I am using a large pump only because I am all full under the tank and have to start the rest in the basement with 15' head! (ATO and hopefully kalk). I plan to dial my JBJ ATO unit in within an inch or two, and dial the pump pressure to a decent level. Is the pump on a 6" riser enough to keep it from the sediment? Thanks a ton, and congrats on a whopping 16,000.00!

96, thanks again,
The side to the right is about 6". I have no room under (hence the ATO in the basement) and by the sounds of things, may be starting a basement sump build and sump changeover. For now, the only way to get volume is to pump it. Am I still good?


Thanks AGAIN! RC folks are the only ones keeping me alive in this somewhat cumbersome hobby!

 

[Michael]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14769363#post14769363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by markob
Why is it important to drip kalkwasser? A lot of people, myself included, use kalkwasser as top-up with an ATO. Tunze even manufactures a very expensive version of a large Coke-bottle kalk mixer.

well the ph can sky rocket for a start, i dose kalk via a tunze ato as well, it works for me, so i see no problem doing it this way, but if its added too quickly the ph can get outta hand, i think kalk has a ph of around 11, so you can see the potential danger of adding it too quickly

 

[96p993]

I think you will be fine. Again I would relocate where you will be putting the topoff into the sump, dial in the pump output and you will be good to go...Test with water at first then run with it...

 

[stricknine]

Until tomorrow,
I need to post my tank pics. Custom stand built to fit every curve on the 72 bow, structured to fit the largest sump/fuge, so looking to fill the basement below with the equip needed.

Again, thanks, again!

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

If you're still thinking about the Litermeter III long term, I should add that you can use it to pump from damn near anywhere in your house, up, down, or sideways with no decreased effectiveness -- just need to snake a rigid tube line from wherever you start to your tank, including up to 50' higher than the pump. I top off from two rooms away in a partially finished area of my basement -- good place for the unsightly trash can.

 

[stricknine]

Again, thanks all.

 

[stricknine]

I post too slow:

Alaska, after a brief read about the litermeter i steered away because I can never predict the ATO per season. I could never set a schedule as it would fluctuate every few months.

Unfortunately, after reading the posts and thinking a bit, I think im in for a sump overhaul. Rip it all out, new sump and all associated goodies in the basement, heck I already have a return pump!

Typical to the hobby, an inch leads to a mile, but I'd rather have it right. Lots of thinking to do!

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Your point on seasonal differences in evaporation is well taken. I adjust my LMIII every 3 months with the seasons.

If you have room for a 100 gallon Rubbermaid in your basement, do it!!!