Keep ATO pump off the bottom?

[DrBoxedWine]

I'm about to start dosing Kalk through my ATO, and i hear i need to keep the pump about 2" off the bottom to ensure it doesn't pump the slurry into the tank. I'm wondering what methods people use to achieve this. I could whip up a little stand with some egg crate, my dremel and some aquarium glue, but do other people have easier ways?

 

[billdogg]

I was going to suggest pvc, but eggcrate should work just fine

 

[cloak]

You could just flip over a glass bowl or a small tupperware container too.

 

[toothybugs]

Wrap your pump with felt and zip-tie it around the cable and tubing. Leave the felt loose if you can. Instant mini-filter sock.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Thanks everyone. How far exactly do people keep it off the bottom? Egg Crate is probably only 1/2" thick...

So, how far do i need to keep it up off the bottom to keep the slurry undisturbed?

 

[Indymann99]

I use an aqualifter pump as it adds the ATO "SLOW". This helps limit the pH rise when ATO (w/kalk) is being added.
Also I just have the input tubing (airline) about 1in off the bottom attached to the ATO res low float valve.

 

[shesacharmer]

I just stacked two pieces of egg crate to keep the pump off the bottom. It works well as long as I mix the kalk well before adding it to the ato container.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I use an aqualifter pump as it adds the ATO "SLOW". This helps limit the pH rise when ATO (w/kalk) is being added.
Also I just have the input tubing (airline) about 1in off the bottom attached to the ATO res low float valve.

Thanks! How big is that container?

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I just stacked two pieces of egg crate to keep the pump off the bottom. It works well as long as I mix the kalk well before adding it to the ato container.

So that means it's probably what, like an inch off the bottom? You find this to be enough?

 

[Indymann99]

Thanks! How big is that container?

Not big... 3gal I think. I have to refill every other day (but that is simple turn of valve to my RODI system so no biggie).

I also just dump the kalk in the ATO res, gently stir and turn off my ATO pump for 2hrs to let the solids settle to the bottom. Over the christmas time I am going to setup an APEX program (using feed mode) to disable the ATO pump for 2hrs then reset.

When I am gone on long trips, I add ATO res capacity by linking 5g buckets. They sit outside my stand but I am gone so don't care about the looks.

 

[shesacharmer]

So that means it's probably what, like an inch off the bottom? You find this to be enough?

Yes, just whenever you refill the container shut off the ato for a couple of hours so the stuff settles. Whatever manages to go through the ato hasn't bothered anything.

 

[Sk8r]

I use a shelf of eggcrate.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I use a shelf of eggcrate.

How did you "mount" the shelf to keep it off the bottom?

 

[4Hummer]

How did you "mount" the shelf to keep it off the bottom?

See the "shelf" I made for the Skimmer. Same Idea for the ATO Pump