Tunze Calcium Dispenser 5074

[VJV]

Hi there Roger,

Have a couple of questions on the Calcium dispenser.

1- instructions recommend you put the Kalk into the 5074, fill with water, shake to mix, wait 15min for the solution to clear out and than turn the osmolator on. However, in my case one hour later and the solution is still milky white. Is it ok to plug it in anyway or do I need to wait for the solution to clear out?

2- (potentially related to the previous question) I am using the 10g dosage. I am weighting with a digital scale and the 10g equal some 2-3 generously full teaspoons.... Is this correct? Am I dosing too much and hence the reason for it not to clarify?

As I saw in another post, you state that a saturated solution has 2 tsp per gallon, and I am putting that amount (probably more) into the Calcium dispenser at has a volume of around 0,5 gallons...?


Thanks!

 

[rvitko]

1) Personally, I do not shake it, the pump will mix it when it doses and the powder falling through the water seems to be enough mixing. I would wait at least 15 minutes after adding powder and it may stay cloudy for as long as a few hours but this is not too important as long as their is not a lot of suspended powder that could be dosed.

2) The saturation of kalkwasser in RO water that is not heated or acidified will be closer to 1/2 (0.5) tsp per gallon, maybe as much as 1 tsp depending on temperature and pH, the higher the temperature and the lower the pH the more it will dissolve. In this case we are adding enough for the volume of the reservoir, so this 10 grams would be for 3-6 gallons of water in the reservoir that will be pumped through to react with the power overtime. When you refill the reservoir, you refill the powder.

 

[VJV]

Thanks Roger! As always, extremely useful! Today it took me some 12 hours for the solution to clear after shaking. Next week I will follow your advice and not shake at all.

Kind regards

 

[nashorn]

Was wondering how it work.
Good info

 

[Christian J]

Related to the above, even after waiting 30 minutes I may still get a small initial sprinkle of undissolved calcium hydroxide into the aquarium. I suspect some powder floats on the water surface inside the Dispenser before sinking, and then gets trapped in the hose outlet. Any tips on avoiding this?

 

[rvitko]

While it could be calcium hydroxide, it is most likely insoluble calcium carbonate which always forms a floating film, this is formed by the reaction of the calcium hydroxide with the CO2 in the air in the container when first filled as well as CO2 dissolved in water, reducing this reaction is one of the reasons a dispenser or reactor is superior to just keeping mixed kalk in an open container where the CO2 is unlimited.

 

[smatter]

I have a 5074 from an old tank and was thinking of getting it going again on my 8.6g tank when my Osmolator Nano arrives. Do you think it will dose too much at a time and raise the pH too much?

 

[Christian J]

While it could be calcium hydroxide, it is most likely insoluble calcium carbonate which always forms a floating film

To clarify, lumps of newly added calcium hydroxide always floats for 1-5 seconds before sinking. My theory is that above-surface parts of these lumps may smear off on the hose outlet. Then when the osmolator is restarted after refilling, this powder is flushed into the aquarium.

This only happens when the Osmolator pump first restarts after a calcium hydroxide refill. If it was calcium carbonate I suppose it could happen at other times too.

 

[rvitko]

smatter,

In general the 3152 doesn't have enough power to run the calcium dispenser, the same pump but it is getting much less power.

Christian, unfortunately, I don't have any further input but I don't think a little bit of powder residue is likely a big issue for the aquarium.

 

[coxreefer]

I have the dispenser in use with the osmolator nano, and it pumps very well back up to my Nano cube 24 gallon tank. I think you just need to adjust the amount of kalk required for your tank and monitor your ph. Maybe it doesn't mix the kalk as well as the full size osmolator but the osmolator nano is the right size for my tank I think it works fine no pump problems for almost a year.

 

[curiouser]

Dosing kalk using 5074 with Tunze osmolator ATO

Dosing kalk using 5074 with Tunze osmolator ATO

Say I'm using the Tunze osmolator with the Tunze 5074 calcium dispenser and I refill the 5074 with RODI and kalk on Tuesdays. Then won't the tank get more kalk on Wednesdays than on the following Mondays?
Each time kalk is dispensed into the tank there is less kalk in the 5074 until it is refilled on a Tuesday.
Wed>Thurs>Fri>Sat>Sun>Mon.

 

[rvitko]

The 5074 is not recommended with the Nano Osmolator, it can work, but the issue tends to be the safety timer limits how long the pump can run and the Nano Osmolator runs the pump at a very low speed, combined these can cause issues with filling in time.

Each gallon of water that passes through the dispenser will only dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of kalkwasser. The first dosing may be stronger because of suspended powder but if you add enough for reservoir volume it will always have kalkwasser in the added water. I use one on my 215 in a 7 gallon reservoir, I add 4 teaspoons every time I refill the reservoir and I add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to my RO water to slightly boost how much is dissolved, I dose top off within a few inches of my pH probe and I can see the result in a small pH spike all the way to the end of the reservoir.

 

[curiouser]

I thought I'm not using a Nano (Osmolator). My device says Water Level controller 5017. Isn't that part of the standard Osmolator ? See http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...d=PLA_G_6194&gclid=CJv_-tearNMCFQcdaQodEQoA7g

What is the volume of the 5074?
Thanks

 

[curiouser]

Another question please. If there remains solid kalk powder in the 5074 will some of the powder keep dissolving each time water passes through?

 

[rvitko]

My apologies, I confused your post and the one above it.

Yes, that is exactly how it works, kalk is weakly soluble in water, very little will dissolve, so outside of what is lost to precipitate as Calcium Carbonate, the remaining powder will dissolve every time more water is pushed through, the first dose is the strongest because of powder still suspended so you are dosing some undissolved powder as well. Kalk will mainly be an alkalinity supplement so you will generally still need to use another form of Calcium supplementation. Depending on pH and temperature 1/2-1 teaspoon of talk will dissolve in each gallon of water that goes through the dispenser.

 

[rvitko]

The volume is roughly 1 liter, at most you would add 6 teaspoons of kalk powder at a time, the additional volume is to allow mixing and settling to occur.

 

[curiouser]

Thank you for the prompt responses and information.