Figured I Would Share My DIY AutoTop Off/Kalk Dose

[cham]

Hello all. My tank has a pretty high level of evaporation so I am trying out a method to drip top off water and dose my kalkwasser. I spent a little time and about $30 at Aquatic Eco Systems today. Along with the solid wood pantry for about $100 I am under $150 on this project.


Kent Marine float valve

I ran two 5 gal buckets in tandem (thus the need for the Kent float valve) so I should have 1 1/2 to 2 weeks in between refills of the buckets.

These are air valves but work great for water too. I got three, two of them are closed but as soon as one gets clogged from the calcium in kalk water the one on the end slides right off and you use the next one in line. For a few cents each I dont think they are worth cleaning.

All done

Overall a simple system, all gravity fed with no pumps and limited liabilities

 

[waterfaller1]

Very cool. What do you have at the base of the bottom bucket, where the water comes out in the tube?

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8383283#post8383283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
Very cool. What do you have at the base of the bottom bucket, where the water comes out in the tube?

Same thing as the top bucket, a bulkhead with a 3/16 reducer.

The top bucket has the same thing, the float valve is in the bottom bucket and when the level drops it opens the valve allowing the top bucket to refill the bottom. The bottom in turn feeds the sump.

 

[reelfreak]

Looks like what I do, except I run mine off of a siphon instead of gravity.

Mine works pretty well, but the plastic guest valve will clog somtimes w/ Kalk and I need to clean it up a little.

Between my sump level staying pretty consistent and the dripping of the Kalk, my system has looked it's best ever. I started mine about 8 months ago and should have done it 4 years ago!

Nice idea on the second bucket w/ float. Would be good for those long vacations.

 

[thor32766]

great job!

 

[reelfreak]

Oh, and where did you get the bulkheads?? I spent hours at HD trying to come up w/ something....that's why I went w/ the siphon out of the top of the buckets.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8383344#post8383344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reelfreak
Oh, and where did you get the bulkheads?? I spent hours at HD trying to come up w/ something....that's why I went w/ the siphon out of the top of the buckets.

Everything seen was picked up this afternoon at Aquatic Eco system (except the buckets and pantry).

Those guys are great, very helpful. Just walk up to the counter and tell them what your doing. They will walk you through it.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8383333#post8383333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reelfreak
Looks like what I do, except I run mine off of a siphon instead of gravity.

Mine works pretty well, but the plastic guest valve will clog somtimes w/ Kalk and I need to clean it up a little.

Between my sump level staying pretty consistent and the dripping of the Kalk, my system has looked it's best ever. I started mine about 8 months ago and should have done it 4 years ago!

Nice idea on the second bucket w/ float. Would be good for those long vacations.

Hmmmm, I wondered about that valve clogging up. I need to think up a plan for mixing the Kalk in the bottom bucket.

 

[reelfreak]

Once the Kalk water has reached saturation, that's all it will hold. The excess winds up on the bottom as sediment. I honestly just toss mine when I refill, since I use Mrs. Wages it's so cheap to just dump it.

I add about 1-2 Tbsp per gallon to the ro/di water, mix for a few minutes....let it settle and then start the siphon. My siphon tube is rigid airline tubing that goes to about 2" from the bottom of the bucket in order to NOT pick up the settled Kalk...

After I clean the valves a few times, I just replace the airline tubing and vavle. The valves are about a buck at HD, so no big expense.

Nice and easy top off system, good work.

 

[waterfaller1]

I thought it was supposed to be 1-2 teaspoons per gallon?

 

[wardworld]

If possible, could I see how you've mounted the float valve in your sump? I really like the gravity-feed option if I could see how it all worked in tandem.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8393494#post8393494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wardworld
If possible, could I see how you've mounted the float valve in your sump? I really like the gravity-feed option if I could see how it all worked in tandem.

I didn't put a float valve in my sump. Look at the sump picture above. I am using an airline valve to control the drip level and allowing gravity to supply the pressure and the valve to control how much goes into my tank.

The only float valve I have in the system is in the bottom bucket and thats to allow the top bucket to refill the bottom one giving me more volume. If I did just a 5 gallon top off system I wouldnt need the valve. Just the bulkhead, air line and drip valve.

At this point I have found about 2 drips per second closely matches my evaporation rate.

 

[wardworld]

got it, thanks...

 

[t-bone2]

sweet set up

 

[orb]

yes it's 1-2 TEAspoons per gallon. not tablespoon

 

[reelfreak]

OOPss... yes teaspoon. Luckily I suppose, it has a saturation point anyways so as long as it's settled before dripping, you won't overdose.

For those looking for the guest valve dripper, HD has them in their irrigation dept. FYI.

Good job again, I think I need a cabinet to hide mine too!