Does Apex & Ph Probe actually prevent Kalk ATO disaster???

[duganderson]

I'm thinking about using Kalk in my ATO. If I add the Ph probe to my Apex Jr., would it really respond fast enough to shut down the ATO if the PH was going too high?

For example, if the ATO accidentally got stuck on OR if I was accidentally pumping Kalk slurry, does the PH raise fast enough for the probe and Apex to shut down the Kalk addition to prevent a PH spike that kills things?

Do you need to make sure you are using a slow ATO pump? If so, how slow?

Also, where do you want to put the PH probe? Does it go in the same compartment or different area from where the Kalk water would dump into the tank? I have a 34 G. Red Sea cube with no sump so both would likely go in the back compartment. Do I want the PH probe downstream from the Kalc water hose or upstream?

Big picture question....does the PH rise immediately when Kalk is added OR does it take a while?

 

[ca1ore]

If not had it happen, but I'd imagine it would help, and I do have my apex setup that way. I have my pH probe located 'downstream' of the Kalk addition point, though not too close as the probe is quite sensitive.

 

[tkeracer619]

Simply put maybe but it depends why it is stuck on.

Using a slow peristaltic pump is ideal when dosing kalk.

If a float valve controls the dosing, the float valve is stuck, and your Apex is just used as a backup to turn the ato off then sure, it will catch it before anything bad happens.

If you are using the apex to dose it and the apex is messed up causing the pump to stay on than it likely will NOT stop it before damage.



I have a RSM130D as well and was running kalk on it for a while. Dosing to the back chamber will likely cause precipitation and create havoc on your pumps. I dosed directly above the return pump in the main body of water. All tanks are different but I was always having to deal with some type of precipitation on hot surfaces. It definitely was one of the higher maintenance tanks I have ever had when using kalkwasser. It could simply have been my demand but it was a never ending battle until I switched over to a calcium reactor. I was able to muscle into the stand a small reactor, masterflex feed pump, two stage reg w/parker needle valve, an old reefkeeper2, and a litermeter3 ato w/5gal bucket. It's been rock solid since then.

It wouldn't hurt to give kalk a try, it certainly is a cheap and excellent way to go but I would use the slowest dosing pump you can find, dual float valves, and use the controller as a backup. It won't take long in that tank to mess things up if using a fast pump.

If you are interested I know a good source for a masterflex constant speed dosing pump for your ATO. A little noisy, not the cheapest setup, but slow, and reliable. Shoot me a pm if you want a link.

 

[jml1149]

Yes absolutely. I used kalk in a 29g tank, and on at least one occasion I screwed up and the pH tripped the system before something really bad happened. I dose into the return area of my sump, and the rise in pH is really quick, fast enough to prevent a catastrophe.

Kalk helped me turn the corner in the tank from good to great, but I would say having a controller is a must.

You can set the threshold a bit below catastrophe to allow lag do the response of the probe, i.e. I set my email alarm to come on at 8.35 so I can check, and then off at 8.45 to prevent an issue.