kalk dosing and auto top off
- Thread starter tcmfish
- Start date
jmait769
-CSHFLW
tcmfish - I’m using a Tunze Osmolator, a <a href=http://www.reeftek.com target="_blank">ReefTek</a> Kalk stirrer and an acrylic tank I made. Blue line is intake and the red line discharges into the skimmer area of the sump. The tank holds a little more than 5 gallons. Here is a picture:
HTH
Jay
HTH
Jay
jmait769 - with the tunze osmolator do you need to have a holding tank of freshwater and does that have to be below the water level of the tank your filling?
I looked at the link you attached and was looking at the kalk stirrer and the mixing pump that comes with it that just recirculates the water in the reactor correct?
Stasher - where did you get your solenoid valve and float switch? and about how much was it?
I looked at the link you attached and was looking at the kalk stirrer and the mixing pump that comes with it that just recirculates the water in the reactor correct?
Stasher - where did you get your solenoid valve and float switch? and about how much was it?
schneijt
Premium Member
The mixing pump that comes with the kalk reactor is just for stirring up the water/kalk within the reactor. You need to use the pump on the reactor to stir up the kalk slurry every few hours as the kalk will slowly settle out of the water over time. The pump does nothing to get the water out of the kalk reactor and into your sump.
-Joe
-Joe
schneijt
Premium Member
Oh, I guess I'll also throw in my setup. It's not done yet, but I'll try to remember to post a picture once it's all set up. I'll be using two dosing pumps. One will be dialed in to do 24/7 topping off of the tank as water evaporates out. The other will be used for a 24/7 drip into my kalk reactor, which then will dose kalk 24/7 into the sump. I know lots of people run their topoff systems through the kalk reactor, but I want to be 100% sure of the amount of kalk going into the tank. So, for me that involves two pumps. Not quite as "pretty" as a setup using a sensor to control topoff, but I hope that doing 24/7 drips will help to make the water parameters rock solid and give me the peace of mind knowing exactly what's going into the tank and how often.
Once again, I'll try to post a picture when it's set up. I've got all the pumps and supplies in my basement, I just need to find the couple hours to set everything up and make sure it's running properly.
-Joe
Once again, I'll try to post a picture when it's set up. I've got all the pumps and supplies in my basement, I just need to find the couple hours to set everything up and make sure it's running properly.
-Joe
jmait769
-CSHFLW
Tcmfish â€"œ Yes you will need a separate freshwater (RO/DI) tank for the osmolator and it does not have to be below tank. If it was above the tank, when the pump shuts off, you may create a siphon which would drain your holding tank so take that into consideration if you plan to do that. Also it does not have to be right next to the sump like mine if you do not have the room. Here is a better picture of the tank I made:
The Solenoid Valve is the 12V model from www.mcmaster.com part number: 7877K5 and I used it to prevent the water from siphoning from the ReefTek back into the holding tank. Since that pic was taken I have added a check valve as a mechanical backup from McMaster’s part number: 5492K51. Here is a quick picture I took kind of dark but you should be able to see it right above the blue pump:
Schneijt is correct. The pump (a MaxiJet) just stirs the kalk solution and I’m using an AC Jr. to control that. I worried that the using the osmolator with the ReefTek would add to much Kalk but so far the osmolator only adds a small amount of water at a time so it does not spike the PH.
I believe http://www.autotopoff.com/ has the float switches or something similar as to what Stasher is using.
Jay
The Solenoid Valve is the 12V model from www.mcmaster.com part number: 7877K5 and I used it to prevent the water from siphoning from the ReefTek back into the holding tank. Since that pic was taken I have added a check valve as a mechanical backup from McMaster’s part number: 5492K51. Here is a quick picture I took kind of dark but you should be able to see it right above the blue pump:
Schneijt is correct. The pump (a MaxiJet) just stirs the kalk solution and I’m using an AC Jr. to control that. I worried that the using the osmolator with the ReefTek would add to much Kalk but so far the osmolator only adds a small amount of water at a time so it does not spike the PH.
I believe http://www.autotopoff.com/ has the float switches or something similar as to what Stasher is using.
Jay
ok so its been a while but jmait796 I had a question. I just got the reeftek kalk reactor you have in your setup and it is hooked up to the rodi unit and every time water goes through it my tank gets very cloudy what would be the reason for this. I notice I don't have as much kalk in there as you. Also what is the AC jr reeftek said to pick up a digital timer and use that and I did but I don't know if it is doing the job the programing instructions werent very helpful and I need something to control the mixing pump (I wonder if I have it going on too much throughout the day which would cause the cloudy water, 4 times a day at 3 min. each if its working). I don't think it has added too much kalk because my pH is always around 8.25
Also does anyone use the kent marine shut off valve for there ro/di and how do they have it setup because I seem to be having some problems with that as well. I just tried hooking that up today and everytime the water will start to go through it then I get this pretty loud vibrating noise coming from the pipe from the house which it is tapped into like it can't handle the backpressure or something. I dont really know whats going on there.
Also does anyone use the kent marine shut off valve for there ro/di and how do they have it setup because I seem to be having some problems with that as well. I just tried hooking that up today and everytime the water will start to go through it then I get this pretty loud vibrating noise coming from the pipe from the house which it is tapped into like it can't handle the backpressure or something. I dont really know whats going on there.
baja_hammer2003
New member
I have a geo kalkwasser hooked direct to my oceanus top off keeps my ph at a steady 8.2 plug and play system
baja_hammer2003
New member
I have mine on a once a day timer for 10 min and no it never clouds my water i did shorten the down tube were it is half in the reactor not all the way on the bottom. i have it set where the timer comes on for stir way before the top off comes on evaporation is the same day to day. my combo is flawless.
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