kalkwasser setups.

mystery_reef

mystery_reef

New member
im sure it's been talked about before but curious to see your set ups and what you like/dislike, would do differentley.
tank is a 180, will eventually be stocked full of mostly sps but still mixed with everything.
i have a deltec stirrer and have some time to think about how i would like to eventually have it set up when the demand is there.
im still not sure what peristilatic pump to use. im also thinking about adding a ph probe to go with my RKL and turn of the dosing if the ph spikes. thoughts or suggestions welcome. thanks.
 
I used a Master-Flex pump, but there are a number of decent alternatives now. A pH probe and controller for preventing overdoses might be a very handy safety net. I'd definitely consider a setup like that.

I prefer to dose from a reservoir that I stir by hand, but I kept small tanks. That might not be practical for a 180g system, though. :) A stirrer should be fine.
 
bertoni said:
I used a Master-Flex pump, but there are a number of decent alternatives now. A pH probe and controller for preventing overdoses might be a very handy safety net. I'd definitely consider a setup like that.

I prefer to dose from a reservoir that I stir by hand, but I kept small tanks. That might not be practical for a 180g system, though. :) A stirrer should be fine.
Click to expand...

^^^This is what I'll be doing for my 29, using an Aqualifter and timing my kalk drip via my RKL controller. I don't have a pH probe, so initially I'll be timing the aqualifter to dose a very small, predetermined volume of limewater to avoid overdosing (the controller can run a device in increments to the second resolution).
 
I have my stirrer fed by two solenoids which are controlled by a ReefKeeper and multiple float switches....I use a couple of floats, 2 solinoids, a timer and a pH probe to ensure I don't overdose.
 
Thx guys. Ive always used the cheap aqualifters with my 5 gal reservoir but the set up is a bit Better now. 20 to 30 gal reservoir next the sump of course. Any suggestions on a pump or container for reservoir? I need something on wheels and not so wide that will not leach and be ok with the lime. I like the idea of timing the pump with the reef keeper and maybe eliminating the ph probe. I didn't kno you could do that with the rkl.
 
Any food-grade plastic should be fine, at least for starters. I'd probably get some sort of RubberMaid, and make some sort of dolly for it. That's what I've done in the past for RO/DI water storage. The lime might affect the plastic over time, so I'd watch for signs of weakening.

The reservoir doesn't need and should have a pump. Circulation turns the kalk into sand.
 
I regulate my drip with a ¢ medical pinch type regulator; its what is used to dose intravenous fluids, and I run it 24/7. It requires wee bit more tweaking than someone relying on automation might like, but I like that it is fail safe. A float type device could be added so that a slightly higher drip rate could be used, thus requiring less adjustments yet still having a strong fail safe so that should the float stick, or something happens so the tank losses water the ato doesn't make a big water dump.

I also enjoy that with an aqualifter pump it cost me under $15 to set up.
 
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32 Gal Brute on the left is Kalk. Its supplied to display tank (30ft away) via Litermeter III. I love this setup because i only have to add kalk/rodi water once every 3 weeks or so to that Brute. I mix the Kalk in the orange bucket on the left and then dump it in the Brute...let it settle for a little while, then turn the Litermeter back on.

100_7120.jpg
 
sweet set up. thats what i want to use but i want the container to fit in a certain spot and i believe those 32s are a little to wide for the spot. i will double check tho. actually only R/O will be sitting in the resevoir since i have the stirrer :spin1: didnt think of that when i was writing as my old one was not like that.
the first aqualifter i had for almost 3 years and then it died. since that one i have had some bad luck and broken the nipples on them. they just cracked a little bit but then suck a lot of air and dont work right. i was think about dropping some extra $$$ on a brs doser or brs drews doser. i wont be getting a litermeter anytime soon tho.
 
I use a still reservoir, 32 gallon brute can for a 550 gallon system. I stir by hand with the pump(liter meter 3) off and let it settle for 2 hours before restarting the pump. Refill is about 1x per week.
Dosing newly stirred water can be problematic since undissolved calcium hydroxide and impurities that will settle out of the water are dosed when the war is still cloudy and can cause uneven alkalinity as well as the influx of precipitated impurities.
 
Yeah i wouldnt use a stirrer, and as said above after mixing let it settle back down before dosing again. This method works great for me!
 
I dose via my top off in a brute trash can. As stated above, mix by hand, let is sit for a couple of hours, then drop the hose back in.
 
Tunze Osmolator

Tunze Osmolator

Failsafe way for me has been with my Tunze Osmolator. Only adds water that is evaporated and has never overdosed. It's connected to a 32 gallon brute trash can behind the tank (out of view) and I fill it about once a month. I'm currently keeping several SPS colonies with nice growth and colors.

It's great because I don't have to worry about overdosing, or measuring anything. I just turn it on and check on the water level weekly. Once I notice it's running low I simply fill the container up again and I'm set for another month.

I just to drip daily (or more accurately nightly) with a pinch valve. I had a ton of fluctuations, not to mention a couple of accidents when it opened up all the way and dumped the entire kalk in 5 minutes instead of 5 hours.

Best investment I've made in a while.

If you're interested in pics, let me know I can probably post some if you're interested.
 
oscar.millan said:
Failsafe way for me has been with my Tunze Osmolator.
Click to expand...

Out of my price range, but definitely the ATO I'll invest in when I upgrade to a bigger system down the line. I'm particularly impressed by the electronic eye taking the place of float switches (which have always made me nervous).
 
To oscar.millan...

I just ordered a Tunze Osmolator and Aquamedic Kalk Stirrer 1000 so I can add Kalk from the Tunze ATO. It looks in you post like you do something similar to this? I am wordering...if I run my Tunze through the Kalk Stirrer and into my tank, how do I ensure I add the correct amount of kalk water when it's the ATO that decides how much water to add??

Thanks!
Jason
 
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im glad this thread got revived. im actually having problems with my ato and kalk stirrer. actually i think its more of a ato and pump choice problem. i am using the 50ml BRS dosing pump from resevoire through stirrer and in sump. and it does not pump fast enough through the lines to fill the tank back to the float. it doesnt need much water to refill but the JBJ ato must have a safety pump turn off if it stays on for more than 1-2 mins. idk the manuals for all these things are not very good. i like the BRS doser but it is pretty slow and is not working well with the jbj ato safety thing. any advice welcome. thx.
 
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