Calcium Reactors -vs- Two Part Dosing

[giants4pc]

Tunze Osmolator with the pump sitting on about 2" of eggcrate on the bottom of a rubbermaid 32 gallon container. I add kalk to that, stir it up, wait a few hours, and let the osmolator take care of the rest. Easy, easy, easy

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15031336#post15031336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
This is a good article. Take a look and see it it helps.

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Thanks Scott. Great read!

 

[elecbzerk]

Appreciate all of the help/advice! Seems like most of the posters are in favor of just dosing Kalk, with different methods. the pollsters seem to prefer adding the reactor, not sure how that happened?

 

[drouner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15031009#post15031009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
I would start with an ATO using Kalk if it would fit into your system. This would eliminate the manual topoff work and also add the ca/alk in the process.

Great idea, but don't you need to stir the kalk up in the container to keep it from settling out?

 

[sjm817]

No. You want it to settle out.

 

[drouner]

Not to high jack elecbzerk thread, but I'm sort of in the same boat, except I took my CR off the tank and was considering dosing 2 part. I do weekly water changes so that should take care of most the Ca/alk needs, but I may still need to address some with kalk. The ATO is a great suggestion.

I'm guessing that as you fill the top off container with RO water, the kalk will get stired up again and to settles. You monitor that until you need to add more kalk. I don't think it could be any easier.

I'm still considering a dosing pump vs a ATO. Any over riding benefit to either one?

 

[sjm817]

You fill the topoff container and mix in up to 2 tsp/gallon of Kalk. Cover it, let it settle and leave it till its used up. Some stuff will settle out, but that's not a problem. Make sure your topoff intake is positioned not to pull in the settled stuff. When you refill, mix in more Kalk powder. Very easy.