Kalk with 1.1 ml dosing pump

[kevin_e]

Is dosing kalk with a peristaltic pump advisable? If so, what is the proper way of instituting this on my tank? I do not plan on adding this to my system for a month or 3, and I would start with the lowest recommended per gallon amount. I am not a fan of the top off addition. For one, my dosing will be heavily centered around my lighting period. My evap. is predominately when my 400 watt halide is on. Secondly, I don't want to gunk up my nice ATO container or pump. I have two peristaltic pumps installed in my stand already and an Apex old with available ports.

Thanks!

 

[kevin_e]

I found this calculator for calculating dosing amounts:

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/KalkContribution.php

Let's say that my pump runs 1 min on and 1 minute off, this means my pump is running 720 minutes a day. At a rate of 1.1 ml/min, this means I will dose 792 ml per day.

Let's say I add 1 tsp/gallon and dose 792 ml per day, the calculator estimates that I will:

raise my calcium by 1.68 ppm per day

and

raise my alk by 0.24 dKH per day

Does this sound right and reasonable? Also, do you foresee an issue running my peristaltic pump 1 min on, 1 min off all day, everyday? I know they aren't made for continuous dosing, but will 1 min on and off be okay?

 

[nereefpat]

As you are seeing 1.1 ml/min (about 0.2 gallons a day) just isn't a lot of kalk.

This will only work if the tank's demand for alk and Ca is really low, and the pump will be constantly running.

Since you have the two pumps, you might be better off with two-part.

 

[kevin_e]

Thanks for your input. Right now I don't have a lot of demand and to be frank, I'm toying with the idea as a means to help with low pH. My pH is consistently dipping into the 7.5 to 7.6 area. I've identified my issue as high CO2. With a window open and with lime spheres, my pH jumps up to 7.9-8.1. Living in Florida, I can't leave my window open and lime spheres will get too expensive long term. I'm thinking between kalk and a fuge, maybe I can bring my pH up to 7.7-7.8 on the low end.

So with that in mind, I feel that a rate of 2.2 would be good for my current application. Long term for growth, two part will be needed for growth. Agree 100%.

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[tmz]

I agree that a 1.1 ml per minute pump is too limited for most kalk applications. I use a spectraprue peristaltic pump with litermeter 3 contoller and have for ten yrs . I dose 20 liters per day which approximates top off for the 700gallon system from a still reservoir no ongoing stirring . The controller breaks the preset dialy dose into 150 equal increments over the course of 24 hours .

 

[Tripod1404]

I assume that 1.1ml/min pump is the BRS dosing pump right? If so that pump is not designed to work continuously for that long. You would need to change the internal rubber tube very month or so and still the pump might fail mechanically.

You might want to look at their ~50ml/min pump.

 

[kevin_e]

I agree that a 1.1 ml per minute pump is too limited for most kalk applications. I use a spectraprue peristaltic pump with litermeter 3 contoller and have for ten yrs . I dose 20 liters per day which approximates top off for the 700gallon system from a still reservoir no ongoing stirring . The controller breaks the preset dialy dose into 150 equal increments over the course of 24 hours .

Thanks. My demand isn't high right now. Long term I think I would do two part. But for pH, would this be suitable?

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[kevin_e]

I assume that 1.1ml/min pump is the BRS dosing pump right? If so that pump is not designed to work continuously for that long. You would need to change the internal rubber tube very month or so and still the pump might fail mechanically.

You might want to look at their ~50ml/min pump.

1 min on 1 min off is too hard on it?

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[Tripod1404]

1 min on 1 min off is too hard on it?

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It is a peristaltic pump, peristaltic pumps are not designed to work for 12 hours a day.

This is from BRS product sicription;

BRS 2 Part Dosers are intermittent duty pumps and not meant for continuous operation. We recommend on/off cycles under a few hours to maximize life span.

That is why 50ml pump might be better for your case

 

[kevin_e]

It is a peristaltic pump, peristaltic pumps are not designed to work for 12 hours a day.

This is from BRS product sicription;

BRS 2 Part Dosers are intermittent duty pumps and not meant for continuous operation. We recommend on/off cycles under a few hours to maximize life span.

That is why 50ml pump might be better for your case

Well that's too bad. I am mainly looking at slow additions for the sake of pH stability, not necessarily for stability of Alk./Calc. So in that regard, I am not sure the 50 ml is what I need either. If I can't maintain a slow drip and must use a 50 ml pump, I would rather just use my top off. The raplcement pump for my ATO is $23. I can replace it 4x for the price of the 50 ml BRS pump and get the same results. In both cases I will likely just gets spikes in pH, which is not what I am looking for.

Maybe a simple aqualifter w/ a valve or gravity drip is a better idea for my application.

 

[nereefpat]

Maybe a simple aqualifter w/ a valve or gravity drip is a better idea for my application.

Could be.

Many folks use an aqualifter to pump kalk, myself included.

 

[bertoni]

A MasterFlex pump might be a better choice, although they are pricey, if you want to dose more slowly.

 

[kevin_e]

A MasterFlex pump might be a better choice, although they are pricey, if you want to dose more slowly.

Yeah, I'm not sure it is worth that expense.

 

[Daddi0]

I use an aqua lifter in my ATO with Kalk. I have had no issues and no real mess in the ATO.
Cheers! Mark