Calcium Dispenser/Osmolator Top-Off System

[lyohemas]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anybody has a diagram better than the one in the booklet, on how to hook-up the calcium dispenser to the osmolator top-off system?

Thanks

 

[rvitko]

Do you have one? I do't have a diagram but maybe I can describe it. Basically it goes inside the reservoir, the hose from the pump loops up to the top and you zip tie it to the hose going from the top of the dispenser to the tank to prevent a siphon. In the line from the tank to the top of the dispenser you install the check valve. The hose from the pump plugs into the bottom but it is critical to loop it up.

 

[lyohemas]

Thanks for the reply. There is no diagram just a crappy picture. So let me know if I have this right.


Pump supply loops up higher than dispenser then back down to bottom nipple.

The top nipple goes directly to the sump.

Is it that simple?

 

[rvitko]

Well, the top supply really should go up to the tank unless you have a elevated sump. If the top of the water in your bucket is higher then the top of the water in the sump you will have a siphon and possibly big trouble if 5 gals of kalk siphon in.

 

[AlienSpawn]

What is the best thing to use to fill it up for calcium. Kalkwasser? Or does Tunze have a product that is better? Or does it matter? I am in the process of ordering one, probably through MarineDepot and I want to order the chemical at the same time so I can get it up and running right away.

 

[jsmith0193]

According to pages 10 and 11 of the calcium dispenser manual - the check valve goes between the dispenser and the pump - keeps the kalkwasser from running back into the bucket. Why would you want the check valve between the dispenser and the tank?

 

[lyohemas]

Alien the dispenser comes with a small jar of tunze brand kalk but I have been using brand x kalk and everything is fine.

jsmith when setting up the dispenser it occured to me that having the check valve between the dispenser and pump would be better. Then you have no worries with back siphoning when you open the dispenser to refill kalk.

 

[rvitko]

Guys, it will work perfectly if you just follow the directions, loop the pump line up over the top using the zip tie that comes with it and put the check valve between the dispenser and the line to the tank. The zip tie is where most people screw up.

 

[lyohemas]

But when you take the lid off the dispenser and if the fresh water reservoir level is low the kalk will back flow into the fresh water. By putting the check valve where I have it, you can take off the dispenser lid with no worries.

 

[rvitko]

That doesn't happen on mine, by doing it that way you reduce the pressure to mix kalk.

 

[AlienSpawn]

thanks

 

[dpantle]

Well, I just installed a dispenser to my osmolator, and have been experiencing airflow back into the dispenser from the tank (I don't have my output hose actually in the water, but just right over it). This was following the instructions on page 10-11 as jsmith0193 stated.

"Connect the dispenser to the water inflow, and in the process place the non-return valve (7) between the dispenser and the pump outlet." The illustration on page 10 clearly indicates that as well.

Well, I tried Rogers suggestion, and no more airflow back into the dispenser! It worked! Now if only Tunse would correct the instruction and illustration, there would be much less confusion.

 

[AlienSpawn]

Here is my problem. I installed everything the way roger said, not the instructions, and it seems to work fine, but I am pretty sure I am having Kalk getting into the resevoir. About a day after I put fresh kalk in the chamber I notice the water in the resevoir gets cloudy (kalk?). I also noticed the water level in the Kalk. chamber gets about an inch below the top. I have to assume the Kalk chamber is backflowing into the resevoir bucket. Right?? I have the return line going into the overflow, but not touching any water. No chance of siphon. The tank is above the resevoir in heighth. The top of the Kalk chamber is about two inches above the water level of the resevoir. I have a kent float valve hooked up to the resevoir and my RO/DI to keep the resevoir at a constant level. Could the Kalk chamber be back flowing through the pump into the resevoir???

 

[rvitko]

Sorry guys, I was wrong, the check valve does go into the line from the pump to the bottom nipple but is also zip tied to the top. Mine is hooked up this way. It has been so long since I installed one I had forgotten. However, I don't see why it wouldn't work the way I suggested if the check valve is working. Imagine it is like putting your finger on the top of a straw, the vacuum prevents the liquid from falling. In order for it to fall their has to be a leak somewhere, cap is missing the gasket or debris has clogged the check valve, you might try blowing through the check valve to displace any material holding it open.

 

[dpantle]

Well, from trial and error on my part, putting the check valve after the dispenser causes calc build up in the valve, and it eventually clogs. It has to be cleaned every 10 days or so. I'm going to try putting the valve between the pump and the dispenser. I only hope that there is enough flow to stir up the calc!

 

[rvitko]

Are you sure you are not adding to much powder or having an accumulation of precipitate in the reactor? No more than 6 teaspoons at the very upper limit should be in the dispenser and monthly it should be rinsed to remove any insoluable precipitate.

 

[AlienSpawn]

I have tried the check valve both before and after the reactor and both ways it backflows into the resevoir that the reactor sits in. Any other suggestion. I am pretty sure everything else is tight.

 

[rvitko]

The in feed line is looped up as shown in the manual? The hose to the aquarium is not touching the water in the aquarium?

 

[AlienSpawn]

Both of these are right. Could it be a bad check valve? Could I use a check valve designed for air pumps? I found one that looks the same.

 

[rvitko]

That is all it is. FWIW, when I was in Germany they had a new check valve, I am still waiting to get these. The old one was a stanard airline duckbill check valve, the new one is a ball and spring type valve.