Hi I'm trying to figure out the best way to set up a limewater auto top off system. A link to an appropriate page or a little bit of advice would be very helpfull. I'm not sure if it is possible to top off all the lost water with limewater, is there concern for overdosing? Or do I figure out how much water I lose on a weekly or daily basis and add a weeks or days worth of kalk or lime to that amount of water?
Limewater auto top off
- Thread starter hunter57
- Start date
If you want to set up a limewater ato you really should have it connected to a ph controller. I use a paristalic pump that is connected to a float valve and my acjr. The float valves turns the pump on when it falls below the water line, but the acjr. turns it off when the ph reaches a certain level. I would not recomend a limewater ato w/o a controller. btw I dose 4 gallons of saturated limewater into my 200 gallon system each day. The main reason I does limewater is to maintain ph.
As long as you add it slowly, and only add an amount equal to your evaporation, I don;t think you'll have to worry much about ph. Many thousands of aquariums have used KW for replacing all the evaporated water to great results without a ph controller.
IMO the best way to add KW is with a peristaltic (or airlift/diaphragm, I guess) dosing pump. Simply estimate the amount of water you're evaporating and set the pump to dose that amount in a 24 hr period. You can put a piece of tape or use a sharpie to indicate your sump level, and check it every day for a while to get the correct amount dialed in. You might have to adjust it periodically, but that's no big deal.
Lots of other people have successfully used a tunze osmolator or other reliable sensor to push water through a KW reactor; my understanding is that submerging the osmolator pump in a tub of KW is pretty tough on the pump.
The problem of overdosing would be most likely encountered if you use a powerhead and float switch; the float switch can easily stick on, and the powerhead will deliver KW too quickly to your sump. This is the big advantage of the dosing pump IMO.
IMO the best way to add KW is with a peristaltic (or airlift/diaphragm, I guess) dosing pump. Simply estimate the amount of water you're evaporating and set the pump to dose that amount in a 24 hr period. You can put a piece of tape or use a sharpie to indicate your sump level, and check it every day for a while to get the correct amount dialed in. You might have to adjust it periodically, but that's no big deal.
Lots of other people have successfully used a tunze osmolator or other reliable sensor to push water through a KW reactor; my understanding is that submerging the osmolator pump in a tub of KW is pretty tough on the pump.
The problem of overdosing would be most likely encountered if you use a powerhead and float switch; the float switch can easily stick on, and the powerhead will deliver KW too quickly to your sump. This is the big advantage of the dosing pump IMO.
Mike O'Brien
New member
Don't be scared off too easy. Done right it's very safe.
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm
The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm
Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm
How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm
The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm
Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm
How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
Mike O'Brien
New member
Matt, I agree. I used an aqualifter dripping 24/7 for year's without a problem . Nice and slow to match evaporation and you're all good.
It is quite rare to have a limewater overdose that kills things. You just need to set up a system that even if you overdose, does not catastrophically overdose the tank.
I use a Reef Filler pump on a float switch, which together cannot allow a big overdosing of the tank.
This section of the first article above is a good place to start:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php#5
I use a Reef Filler pump on a float switch, which together cannot allow a big overdosing of the tank.
This section of the first article above is a good place to start:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php#5
rick s
Premium Member
Hunter,
There is absolutely no need to have a controller to use kalk. There are many ways to do it. Many of us use a simple storage container filled with kalk (mixed with water) and then let gravity feed it to a simple, manual float valve. I can tell you more if you're interested.
You can set it up to use it to replace all of your evaporated water. You simply only mix-in as much kalk as you need to maintain your calcium and alkalinity. That may be .5 tsp per gallon; May be 1tsp per gallon; may be 2 tsp per gallon. You start out with 1tsp per gallon and then test your parameters with a reputable test kit daily for awhile, and adjust your "tsp's per gallon mixture" until your levels maintain where you want them.
As stated, kalk should be added somewhat slowly. Whatever means you use to top-off, you want to make sure it won't add "a lot" all at once.
There is absolutely no need to have a controller to use kalk. There are many ways to do it. Many of us use a simple storage container filled with kalk (mixed with water) and then let gravity feed it to a simple, manual float valve. I can tell you more if you're interested.
You can set it up to use it to replace all of your evaporated water. You simply only mix-in as much kalk as you need to maintain your calcium and alkalinity. That may be .5 tsp per gallon; May be 1tsp per gallon; may be 2 tsp per gallon. You start out with 1tsp per gallon and then test your parameters with a reputable test kit daily for awhile, and adjust your "tsp's per gallon mixture" until your levels maintain where you want them.
As stated, kalk should be added somewhat slowly. Whatever means you use to top-off, you want to make sure it won't add "a lot" all at once.
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