Do you dose limewater with a pump??

[Green Thumb]

Im interested in knowing a little more about what sort of pump would do well for my purpose.

I plan to have a limewater reservoir in which I will submerge a small pump that would be hooked up to a ph controler that will turn off the pump when the ph is high. Also plugged into an auto top off. And plugged into a cycle stat to make sure not ALL my top off is done at once, rather that the pump dose for example 1 minute every 1/2 hour or something.

I would appreciate any kind info you can share on this subject. I plan a trip to mexico next month and need to give my SPS what they need while Im gone

Thanks

 

[twon8]

i use a maxijet 600 which sits in 15 gallon tall tank i have full of limwater. it is hooked up to a float switch and relay so it comes on every once in a while for few seconds. the pump has held up great for well over a year

 

[mpcart]

I don't think I'd dose limewater based on pH level - especially on a 75G. It's best to drip or pump it in small quantities since a small amount of limewater can have a significant effect on pH.

I drip mine but it takes constant adjustment to get the drip rate right and I'd hate to go on vacation only to find out the drip stopped.

How about an aqualifter pump and some sort of float valve? Or maybe a used peristaltic pump?

-Mike

 

[rklutt]

I have a 15g long in the basement that has top-off lime water with a mag7 hooked to a float switch. It runs through 3/8" fridge hard water line to my 29g sump under my 75g. So far no problems with the pump.... but it's only been running a couple weeks.

 

[MIKE NY]

ditto......I'm using a 25gal pail with a Gen-X1000 pump connected to a LifeReef float switch.....just keep everything clean.

 

[twon8]

i have tried using the aqualifter, but it only worked for a month or so before it clogged up with calcium. I agree that you should not dose limewater based on your tank's ph. if you wanted to only dose at night i could see that.

 

[jsweir]

I use a Masterflex 7520-25 peristaltic pump to dose mine 24/7 - about 4 gallons a day.

 

[dascharisma]

I use an aqua medic dosing pump. I think it costs around $80. I evaporate around 4 gallons a day, and the dosing pump is on a timer to dose 4 gallons per day. My salinity stays stable and so does everything else. There are no float valves to fail, which is a big plus. I fill the kalk reservior each day, so even if the pump sticks on, the system wouldn't be impacted very much. If the ph in my tank gets too high, my aquacontroller shuts down the dosing pump. Filling the kalk reservior takes me less that 3 minutes a day. It is a little bit more work, but it is very stable and extremely safe.



Brad

 

[ReeferMac]

Ditto the Dosing pumps. For a whole host of reasons, is the proper route.

- Mac

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6854598#post6854598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twon8
i have tried using the aqualifter, but it only worked for a month or so before it clogged up with calcium. I agree that you should not dose limewater based on your tank's ph. if you wanted to only dose at night i could see that.

Get a kalk reactor, and use the aqualifter to pump RO into the reactor, and it will force kalk-water out of the reactor into the sump. The aqualifter only deals with the RO.