best doser for kalkwasser

[cardiffgiant]

I've used tom aquatics lift pumps for a few years. The key is the plural "pumps". They stop working after about 18 months or so. You replace the diaphram for $5, but I'm probably going to get the BRS 50ml during the group buy.

I've used the drews dosers for 2 part for a few years and they're awesome. Definitely too slow for top off. There was some discussion about MJ's and they're reliability with kalk. I agree with the maintenance issues, but also don't like adding kalk as quickly as a MJ can.

I've not used a timer for kalk before. Just curious, is there an advantage to the time or is there any reason that you don't want to use a float switch?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

floats are subject to outside physical forces: ie: snail jam, kalk seize up, etc.

in my quick thinking this early morning hour (still need coffee here!) nothing beats that BRS topoff unit. I think the more expensive Litermeter device (which is held in high regards) even relies on those tubes...

 

[Gravesj1s]

Steve - for the reefiller is there an issue with KALK affecting the diaphragm or the valves? I get worried about valves and kalk in the same sentence

As far as I can tell the valves are in place just to drain the lines ,restrict flow and allows for basic connections.Theres no contact with the mechanical workings that I can see.
In the back of the unit sits a roller type gear that I greased once in the past 1.5 years ,thtas pretty much it haven't touched it since.

One reason I suspect maxijets and similar pumps dont last in kalk reserviors is the heat they give of whitch is likely one main cause of the buildup leading to pump failures.The reefiller doesn't use the water as a coolant so this is also not an issue.
Its worth noting I soft plumbed mine through the floor and crawl space so the added feature of running vinegar through the line in reverse without having to dismante anything,if the lines ever became clogged,is a plus.

Its been along time since I used a peristalic type doser,but the last one I had the tubing didnt actually break it stretched whitch led to inconsistient dosing messing with the siphon from air getting in the line.Just my experience and thought .

FWIW- Randy H. has the same setup ,also drawing from a brute can,I believe his has been running well over 10 maybe 12 years.

-Steve

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

One reason I suspect maxijets and similar pumps dont last in kalk reserviors is the heat they give of whitch is likely one main cause of the buildup leading to pump failures.

x2

I wonder if Randy HF uses his Reefiller with kalk or RO?

 

[Gravesj1s]

x2

I wonder if Randy HF uses his Reefiller with kalk or RO?

Kalk.

Just another option ,wish you the best with whatever you decide to do.

-Steve

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks!

thanks!

options are a good thing

 

[pascal32]

As far as I can tell the valves are in place just to drain the lines ,restrict flow and allows for basic connections.Theres no contact with the mechanical workings that I can see.
In the back of the unit sits a roller type gear that I greased once in the past 1.5 years ,thtas pretty much it haven't touched it since.

I'm getting more and more interested in touching one of these pumps.

One reason I suspect maxijets and similar pumps dont last in kalk reserviors is the heat they give of whitch is likely one main cause of the buildup leading to pump failures.The reefiller doesn't use the water as a coolant so this is also not an issue.

that makes sense

Its worth noting I soft plumbed mine through the floor and crawl space so the added feature of running vinegar through the line in reverse without having to dismante anything,if the lines ever became clogged,is a plus.

does the pump run backwards? how did you do this?

Its been along time since I used a peristalic type doser,but the last one I had the tubing didnt actually break it stretched whitch led to inconsistient dosing

That was my experience also, and ultimately nothing went out the other end.

FWIW- Randy H. has the same setup ,also drawing from a brute can,I believe his has been running well over 10 maybe 12 years.

-Steve

Randy who ? :spin3:

 

[rezaktp]

+1 I am in Gary's camp on this one!
BRS 50 ML dosing pump on a timer or controller running hourly to match evap rate, checking salinity monthly, change my timers twice a year may & oct, 6 min per hour in winter and 4 min per hour in summer...works great!

 

[Gravesj1s]

Originally Posted by Gravesj1s
Its worth noting I soft plumbed mine through the floor and crawl space so the added feature of running vinegar through the line in reverse without having to dismante anything,if the lines ever became clogged,is a plus.

does the pump run backwards? how did you do this?

Yeah pretty much.The pump is capable of either adding or drawing from both ends. Where the tubing normaly trickles limewater in to the DT I could just stick a jug of vinegar and have it draw from it instead,so yep pretty much in reverse.Theres a T located at the pump output you'd close one valve and open the other and this allows you to cleanse the line without it going back into the limewater reservior.
Hope that makes sense.


Randy who ? :spin3:

Randy Holmes Farley ,has his own forum here on RC. (chemistry)

-Steve

 

[pascal32]

Randy Holmes Farley ,has his own forum here on RC. (chemistry)

-Steve

I was messing with you on Randy - I've read a lot of his work

I like the sounds of this pump, I might have to watch for a used one to show up just to play with!

 

[Ellery]

Gary -

I just recently setup the TLF Kalkdoser since it was cheap and has been working pretty well on my 230 gallon system so far for the last 3 months.

I'm using the Auto Top Off controller with a MJ1200 in the fresh water sump since I tried to do a pressurized system directly from my RO system using float valves but I couldn't make anything that mixed the kalk and held the pressure without small leaks.

The only down side is I need to add kalk maybe 1 cup/week.

 

[octopus737]

Aqualifter pump on a float switch. That's what I like. Cheap and reliable. You can actually get rebuild kits for them too.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

update / my solution

update / my solution

50ml BRS dosing pump and all is well. Thanks for all that have helped with suggestions :thumbsup: