Kalkwasser Dosing

[PatMayo]

Can someone tell me how they dose kalkwasser? What I am looking for is the equipment you use and how you do it. Pictures would be great. I have limited space in the stand for a system and my wife has restrictions on what I can have in the family room. Although maybe I can buy some piece of "furniture" to hide the device.

Can someone help me or point me in the right direction?

Regards,

Pat

 

[supertech3]

I use a electronic medical dosing pump, there is a non-electric dosing system by Kent Marine Aquadose this looks like the medical container but is just gravity feed. Some also use special pumps for low volume flow for dosing.

 

[Bandsaw]

I use Lime Water as my top off water. I have a float switch that activates a MaxiJet 1200 when the water in my sump (8g) drops by a 1/8" inch. The water from the MaxiJet is restricted by a small ball valve so the lime water is added (to raise the water level by an 1/8") over a 30 second period.

What ever method you use, the key is a little at a time. To much is not good. The following links may help.....

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[sjm817]

Adding Limewater is really best done with an auto topoff system.

 

[mpcart]

I use a 2.5G Kent aquadoser. It sits on a piece of wood above my sump and drips in. I have to refill it every two days.

-Mike

 

[PatMayo]

That really is not my question. I understand the reasons for the lime, that is not in question. What is in question is the mechanics of the addition of the limewater. With limited space do you guys add the limewater from a gallon jug, a 5 gallon jug, garbage can etc. That is my issue. I have no place to put such a container. About the largest container I could get in the area of the tank is maybe a 2 gallon container.

Does that make sense. I will have to do water/kalkwasser top offs by hand. So based on that what is the best way to dose kalkwasser or is that not an option and it would be best done with 2 part dosing etc.

Regards,

Pat

 

[PatMayo]

mpcart, that's what I am looking for. The mechanics of it. Where did you get that device?

Pat

 

[mpcart]

Here is a shot of it under my tank. I have a 5 gallon jug that I use for Kalkwasser - I fill it with RO and add pickling lime. It settles overnight and then every two days I use it to refill my dosing container.

I suppose you could add pickling lime straight to the dosing container since it would likely settle out before too much dripped in the tank.

I know there are lots of better ways to dose limewater, but with my small system, little space under the tank, and a wife who doesn't want equipment visible (the tank is in the living room) - I find this way works just fine.

-Mike

 

[Bandsaw]

Some dosing pumps can pump over a long distance. Some as far far as 300 feet. Is there a possibility of putting your top off in another room/basement and just running the feed line to your display?

From experience, when I mix up a batch of line water of 48L at a time, I fix it up Monday and don't look at it again until the next Monday. Really saves time for me.

 

[PatMayo]

Mpcart-Bandsaw,

perfect that is what I needed. I have the same problem, the wife doesn't't want all that equipment outside the stand. My sump is large, I probably went too large, I don't think I could even fit a 2.5 gallon jug. I was thinking of maybe getting a piece of furniture (my wife would have to pick that out) that would hold a 5 gallon jug inside it. Some kind of cabinet and then I could use a dosing pump. But Bandsaw has an idea. I could cut a hole to my crawlspace run the hose to the garage and then into a tank out there and use a dosing pump. It would be a hassle installing it but in the long run it would be great. Heck I could mix a 44 gallon brute container with that stuff and not look at it for a month.

Not a bad idea. We'll you both helped me with some ideas. What is the alternative to dosing with kalkwasser? Is it simply a two part system like B-Ionic. Are there any other choices?

I have lots of time to devise a solution. The tank has only been up for 4 days now. It will be a long time before any corals go in, but I will have to dose for a while manually I guess once the coralline starts growing.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Bandsaw]

Chech out the links in the Chemistry Forum. Some good homemade solutions there.

A Homemade Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Additive System
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...il2004/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Glad to be of help