Dosing pump

[rjn82291]

Anyone trying to sell off a dosing pump or kalk reactor? Or have any suggestions for a good brand/model?

Thanks
Ryan

 

[Dave VG]

Are you looking for a way to use kalk? If so you may want to consider adding it to your top off.

 

[pascal32]

I'm partial to keeping kalk separately dosed to maintain levels, then again I'm pretty retentive about keeping levels very stable.

A lot of folks top off via their ATO with great success. I would do the math to make sure your tank needs that amount via topoff.

 

[rjn82291]

i do not have an ATO currently hooked up..i was planning on adding a 5 gallon tank to top off my sump in my basement. If i supplemented some kalk in with the top off water is that sufficient or would i probably still need to dose calcium and alk?

 

[pascal32]

depending on demand - kalk provides alkalinity and calcium. The stuff is potent, so if you have a low demand tank it might be too much.

do you dose now? how much and what do you dose?

 

[IronMan72]

If fully saturated kalk is too much you can mix it up weaker. It doesn't have to be mixed full strength.

 

[Tonynlo]

I have an unused aqua lifter and Digital Aquatics float switch kit for ATO if you are interested. Send a PM if you want.

 

[jfl14609]

depending on how large the system is I currently use a tunze auto top off with their little inline kalk tank it seems to work fairly well if you had a larger system I wouldnt recommend it as you would be filling it every day

 

[rjn82291]

i do not dose anything now, just started testing, after the first few tests my params were around 400- calc 1160 mag 7.8- alk. A little on the lower side so i figured i could use a little dosing. The system is a 75 gallon reef, all lps besides a small frag of purple digi which is doing pretty well. The reasoning behind wanting to dose is to get my nose wet in some sps. As well as other inverts and what not.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[Gravesj1s]

I have a brs 1000 model kalkreactor if your interested.

I will be honest with you though,they can be more of a pita than there worth,ime.This is the reason mine has been shelved for the past year.

 

[rjn82291]

I think i am just going to dose kalk in my ATO water unless i find a 2 part doser. Thank for the inquiry though.

 

[tmz]

I dose it as top off but not ato via a still reservoir(brute gargabe can) and a peristaltic pump with a built in timer. Just kalk meets my systems demands for alk and calcium along with water changes and there is very good growth by lots of sps.Before I got the pump I dosed with gravity from a 5 gallon salt bucket. You just need to be sure not to dose too much at one time and spreading it out as long as possible is best.I'd be sureto give daily top off at lest a 5 hour spread,preferably 24.

 

[cuch]

I use GEO kalk reactor its the best! I have my ato going into it controled by my apex its fail safe because i only allow it to run for ten minutes at a time so i won't flood my tank.

 

[tmz]

Maintaining consistency with a kalk reactor can be difficult. I prefer a still resevoir for a constant supply of clear saturated kalk water. GEO may be fine but I don't agree it's the best way. A viable and relatively costly way but I am skeptical of any claim of the best.

 

[IronMan72]

I use the gravity feed from a 5 gallon bucket method. I have a section of airline tubing from the bucket to a high flow area of the sump. This is my makeup water and drips 24/7. I control the flow rate with a plastic air valve. I refill the bucket about every three days.

 

[victorcan]

I run with my ATO.. Pros : I have constant Ca levels of 490-500 Alk is deffinatly maintained as a result, I notice when I dont run Kalk daily via the ato my alk drops more and more frequently and I end up having top dose sodium bicarbonate more often..

Cons: I have to watch and cleran the float ball and backup float ball of all the calcium buildup on it otherwise it actually will sink down below the water line and keep pumping top off well after my setting to stop.. At least 1x p/month , probally could let it go 2 but then I wouldnt be a good husband now would I??

Currently using a 25Gallon Hex for my top off and add kalk directly to it with every refill.. IMO this is a key to successful reef keeping..