Kalk in ATO

[R@ck78]

I have been using a slow drip system (gatorade bottle) for dripping my Kalk but was wondering if I could dose it with my ATO. My topoff reservoir is a 5 gallon tank using a aqualifter on my RKL and float switch. Can I just add the kalk to the reservoir instead of having the slow drip? Hope that makes sense.

Thanks
Mark-

 

[sjm817]

Yes, that is how most people do it. Add up to 2 teaspoons/G to your topoff, mix and let settle. Have your topoff pickup set so that it doesn't pickup anything that settles to the bottom.

 

[ant1k]

Yes, that is how most people do it. Add up to 2 teaspoons/G to your topoff, mix and let settle. Have your topoff pickup set so that it doesn't pickup anything that settles to the bottom.

im just about to hook mine up with an aqua lifter, how to you put the hose in the resevior so you dont pick up any of the stuff that settled. and how often does the mixture need to be stirred?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The mixture should not be stirred after you first make it if this is dosing from a settled reservoir (which I prefer over reactors).

Mark:

How much water does your ATO add at once? That's the usual concern. Adding it too fast can boost pH too high.

 

[R@ck78]

The mixture should not be stirred after you first make it if this is dosing from a settled reservoir (which I prefer over reactors).

Mark:

How much water does your ATO add at once? That's the usual concern. Adding it too fast can boost pH too high.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Randy,
The ATO only stays on for about 12 seconds at a time but comes on throughout the day/night. I would say it only adds about a cup at a time? Do you think this would be ok?

Thanks
Mark-

 

[bertoni]

How big is the tank and the area receiving the topoff?

 

[R@ck78]

How big is the tank and the area receiving the topoff?

The main tank is a 60g cube. The sump is around 35g including a fuge. The ATO container is an 5g aquarium.

Thanks
Mark-

 

[tmz]

For a 60 gallon water volume, I would limit the dose of fully saturated limewater to about 16/17ozs r less in any given hour to limit any ph spike and use it for all top off( in your case I'd guess that's less than a gallon per day).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Adding 1.25% of the tank volume (or sump volume if you dose into a sump) will boost pH by around 0.6 to 0.7 pH units. Too much, IMO, unless that is 1.25% of a sump with a very high flow rate.

Adding half that at a time is probably OK, and a quarter of that is definitely OK.

 

[R@ck78]

So in your expertise what is the best way to to add my kalk in my situation? Would going back to the drip method be better than using it in my ATO so my PH will not spike?

Thanks
Mark-

 

[sjm817]

The ATO float switch is the key. If the float is sensitive, it will only allow a very small amount to be added at once. It will match evaporation. The type of pump you use doesn't make much difference. On my setup, I cant even see any change in the sump level. The Aqualifter runs for maybe 15 - 20 sec and adds a very small amount many times throughout the day.

 

[R@ck78]

The ATO float switch is the key. If the float is sensitive, it will only allow a very small amount to be added at once. It will match evaporation. The type of pump you use doesn't make much difference. On my setup, I cant even see any change in the sump level. The Aqualifter runs for maybe 15 - 20 sec and adds a very small amount many times throughout the day.

that is exactly how my setup is. do you use Kalk in your ATO?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do. I dose limewater frm a settled reservoir using a slow pump and a float switch.

 

[sjm817]

Yes, I topoff out of a 44G Brute. I mix @ full saturation.

 

[tmz]

I use a settled reservoir and a peristaltic pump with a set quantity for 24 hours which the built in timer breaks into 150 small doses per day. I haven't used a float switch but do make slight seasonal adjustments to the quantity dosed to account for variations in evaporation.