Kalk question

Mcgeezer

Reef gardener
My ATO resevoir is built into the side of my berlin sump. Holds about 5 gallons. Question is....if i start mixing kalk in it, arent i gonna have a hard time removing the kalk paste that will accumulate? Obviously it wouldnt be as easy to clean out as a seperate container since its built into the sump. Could i use a wet vac to just suck it out when needed? Any suggestions?
 
Yes, you can. I actually, and many others, when they first started using kalk did the same thing. A stirrer is nicer and much more control, but yeah, you certainly can..
 
I'm not too familiar with kalkwasser, but don't you have to keep an almost air tight seal on the reservoir if it has kalk in it?
 
skip a stirrer: it's a pita and they break. Often.
Just put it in the ato reservoir. If you need to clean it, cut off the water supply and wipe it out with a paper towel.
 
I'm not too familiar with kalkwasser, but don't you have to keep an almost air tight seal on the reservoir if it has kalk in it?


I totally forgot about that. Guess I can forget using kalk unless I want to drip it separate which is a pain
 
A lid "helps" but is not mandatory. I have one on my ATO to limit evap from the ATO. Its not airtight as I have a RO supply hose going in the top, and airline tubing (for the the aqualifter) going out high on the back.

Been running Kalk ATO for 6mo or so and my Aqualifter seems unaffected. I do have the ATO tubing in the ATO reservoir 1.5 in off the bottom so it doesn't suck up the settled Kalk.



 
Don't mix kalkwasser in the ato container.
Mix it in a separate container and let it settle out for 24hrs.
Then siphon/drain off the clear liquid and add that to your top off container.
 
With kalk in the ATO you cannot control the amount going in your tank. Your evaporation rate is probably not constant so the rate of added Ca will not be. This could present an issue.
 
With kalk in the ATO you cannot control the amount going in your tank. Your evaporation rate is probably not constant so the rate of added Ca will not be. This could present an issue.



My rate of evaporation is constant enough and using this method has been working for me for several years.
Many others use this method as well.
 
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