Help Me Dose Kalkwasser

[kelley_mc]

OK, I'm a lazy reefer and pretty proud of it. Lights on timers, auto-topoff, automatic fish feeder, automatic vitamin c doser (in progress).

But one thing I am having trouble with dosing Kalk. Currently I mix it daily, let is settle and start a drip. A royal PITA! I would like to automate this process but I am having trouble figuring out the best way. I would like to work it with my ATO.

My ATO is setup as follows:
JBJ ATO unit with 2 float switches, both in the sump. The lower one controls the water level and the upper one is mounted upside down to prevent floods. If the water lever raises to the high float, it shut the pump off. The reservoir of RO/DI is located in the basement and pumped up through the floor with a Mag 9. The water pressure is scaled way back with a ball valve and it uses half inch piping. General evaporation rate is about 3/4 to 1 gallon per day.

Anyone have any idea on how I can get the Kalk to dose using this setup? My feeling is I will need a Kalk stirrer of some kind but I can't figure out an easy DIY or how to install it. I'm tired of mixing Kalk and dripping it all the time.

Thanks!
Kelley

 

[yerboy]

Just put the Kalk into your topoff water. It will not be a slow drip but im sure your ATO adds a small enough amount of water each time it kicks on that you shouldn't see any large PH swings.

I dose my kalk this way and my ATO pumps roughly about 1 or 2 cups of water each time it kicks on. That's 1/960th of kalkwater vs tankwater in my 60gallon tank not counting my sump. pretty small amount in comparison.

 

[kelley_mc]

How do you keep the topoff water stirred? Also, are you concerned about it ruining your ATO pump?

 

[yerboy]

I haven't had to stir it once i mix it and it dissolves then i pretty much stays that way. I'm only using a 2 gallon container and my tank uses that a day so it doesn't sit long.

Haven't had any problems with the pump yet but i will keep an eye on it.

 

[kelley_mc]

OK. My container holds about 30 gallons.

I'm tired of mixing Kalk daily so I was looking for a long term solution. Thanks!

 

[yerboy]

you could do what a kalkreactor does and put a small pump in your 30gallon container on a timer to come on for a few mins 2 or 3 times a day to keep it stired.

 

[Jah2707]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14385577#post14385577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yerboy
you could do what a kalkreactor does and put a small pump in your 30gallon container on a timer to come on for a few mins 2 or 3 times a day to keep it stired.

Most people will tell you not to do this because what if your ato messes up and dumps to much in.

I have been doing it the same way mentioned above for over year and only had to much dump in my sump once. The ato some how got stuck on. All and all it is easy and works for me.

 

[Wetline]

I like this DIY set-up

The one that Esquare posts.

Reefersaquariums Sells pretty cheap DIY acrylic tubing and flanges. I'm planning on ordering some supplies for a DIY kalk reactor in a couple of weeks.

Seems to me that your ATO would have to be set-up differently for a kalk reactor to work. I would think with pretty much any of the mag drive pumps you would be adding too much at one time and would cause your PH to be up and down between additions. Especially in a tank less thank 50 gallons.

What I'd suggest is maybe just have your ATO and kalk reactor be independent. Like have an aqualifter (on a timer) pump half a gallon of water from another reservoir over the course of a day though the reactor and into the sump.

 

[hyperfocal]

I'm running my ATO water through a kalk reactor now, and it works well for me. It's controlled by a float switch monitored by my ACjr, and will be cut-off if the pH rises too high. I'd *never* run a kalk reactor with out some kind of pH monitoring and control -- it'd be too easy to nuke the tank.

 

[Bamm Bamm]

I just add it to my 20g topoff container and it is pumped in with a small powerhead to my sump controlled via a dual float switch control..Ive used it like this for years with no problems.. I do clean the powerhead every few months or so...I don't have a powerhead or anything to stir it with in there either.Im I['m averaging about 2-3 gallons evap a day

 

[kelley_mc]

Thanks for the responses. My 2 concerns about running Kalk directly through my ATO are:

1. Damage to the pump and piping. Kalk is pretty aggressive and seems to do some damage. I guess if I don't run it too concentrated like in a stirrer I should be OK.

2. My bigger concern is oxygen contact. Deltec says on their kalkmixer the following, "The solution is highly reactive with co2 in the air and must be produced and stored in airtight conditions to prevent a reaction forming insoluble calcium carbonate. The reaction with co2 significantly reduced the free calcium ions from 900 mg/l in fresh solution at ph 12.4 to 5-6 mg/l at ph 10."

Wouldn't making 25 gallons of kalk cause it to react too much with air in the container causing the chemical reaction that drops calcium levels from 900 to 5-6 mg/l?

 

[hyperfocal]

It's time to direct you to the expert: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[kelley_mc]

Great article, thanks!

I guess there isn't much need for the stirrer. Thanks again, that answered a lot of questions.

 

[hllywd]

Here's from another expert!

Tim

 

[ScottL4619]

No need for a stirrer or reactor...just make RO/DI water and add lime (Mrs Wages), stir for about 20 seconds until it looks like milk. Keep it covered, let it settle overnight, and then take the clear solution out of the middle of the container (about an inch or two off the bottom, but below the crust at the top) and add it to your topoff reservoir.

I make mine in the basement in a 32 gallon Rubbermade, let it settle overnight and then use that to fill my reservoir under my tank when needed. I keep both containers covered and use the Tunze ATO system. I clean the pump about once every 4-6 months. No problems...

 

[kelley_mc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14409180#post14409180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScottL4619
No need for a stirrer or reactor...just make RO/DI water and add lime (Mrs Wages), stir for about 20 seconds until it looks like milk. Keep it covered, let it settle overnight, and then take the clear solution out of the middle of the container (about an inch or two off the bottom, but below the crust at the top) and add it to your topoff reservoir.

I make mine in the basement in a 32 gallon Rubbermade, let it settle overnight and then use that to fill my reservoir under my tank when needed. I keep both containers covered and use the Tunze ATO system. I clean the pump about once every 4-6 months. No problems...

Can't you just add the kalk powder to the topoff container? Obviously let it settle before turning to ATO back on. I was going to prop my pump so it doesn't pull the crap that settles. Would that be OK?

 

[ScottL4619]

You could. I'm just too lazy to turn my ATO off and on. I would probably forget half the time too. My reservoir holds 11 gallons, so I can fill it about 3 times from one Brute. This way, I only have to mix the limewater 1/3 as often.