ATO with Kalk

[fixedpoint]

My sump has three compartments. I originally had my ATO put water into my return compartment. However, the kalk in the ATO would periodically cause a failure in the optical ATO sensor in the same compartment. I then tried putting the ATO outflow into the first compartment, but I have my heaters there and it caused buildup on the heaters. Now, I have the ATO empty into my second compartment but I think this may be causing die off in my chaeto.

First: Water comes from display through a filter sock, heaters, skimmer
Second: Refugium, ATO (with kalk)
Third: Return pump, ATO sensor, temperature sensor, ph sensor

What compartment do you have the ATO outflow empty into? Does kalk cause damage to chaeto or other macros?

 

[Molly1414]

My ATO pumps into the first compartment where I have my skimmer. This gives the Kalk lots of water to mix with.

 

[shifty51008]

My kalk goes into my fuge, never an issue with my cheato

 

[DDon]

My ato with kalk is discharged into my return section. Never had an issue there but I use 2 float switches not optical sensors.
If i try to discharge into skimmer section or center section where reactor pump takes a suction I end up with increased pump maintenence or plugged media reactors.

 

[kinnadian]

You can't put the heaters into the 2nd or 3rd compartment?

 

[eddiereefs]

I put the kalk in the third chamber with an airstone to aerate and mix the kalk. Works great. Also using a float valves, works great just clean often

 

[Spectral_Ranger]

My ATO return w/ kalk goes in first chamber w/ skimmer and temp & pH probes. My heaters are in the return chamber. Seems to work fine. I actually like having the ATO return near the pH probe as I can see in the Apex log little pH spikes so I have an idea of how often the ATO runs.

 

[baitrunner]

sorry for hitching - for those who run the Kalk mix ATO to the skimmer chamber - do you notice your skimmers effectiveness go down when it tops off? Mine seems to, so i put the ATO in the return chamber, which caused some cloudiness in my DT, so i moved it back to the drain section.