Kalkwasser / Limewater

[ckusnierek]

With money a lil tight and a seahorse tank in the works I'm putting the CA reactor on the back burrner (for now). I'm thinking about dosing Kalk. What is the best / safest mothod? Drip, dose or use it in ATO?
any suggestions would help.

The Kent dosing pump seem the safest method, I just fear walking up to a cloudy white tank one day...

[Sand $]

Chris, check with Todd (1-900-reef) he made one out of a pretzel jar that he said works really well.

[Jnicho]

There are tons of designs out there for simple Kalk dripers...I personally never had good luck getting a stable drip rate (the calcium always seems to build up and block the tube) so I built a simple dosing system with a little pump and a digital timer. It pumps a small amount of Kalk several times a day from a reservoir. Lots of people use Kalk in their ATO...I had trouble with this too...again because of the calcium build up on it.

[grallster]

I've dosed with my ATO for years with no problems. I've tried the Kent Aquadose and all it does is clog.

[ckusnierek]

Originally Posted by grallster

I've dosed with my ATO for years with no problems. I've tried the Kent Aquadose and all it does is clog.

Dave could you describe your setup in detail for me?
Any pics you have would be great.
I just vaugely remember it...

[lostwhirley]

I've used this DIY setup for years.

http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/nilsen.html

Cheap, easy to use, and doesn't clog up.

You can buy Mrs. Wages Pickling lime at Walmart.

I had to refill the reactor once every 2 1/2 weeks.

whirley

[grallster]

All I do is mix up 8 gals worth (the size of my top off container) put a pump in there to mix it up real well, let it settle and turn on the ATO--pretty basic.
My ATO only pumps in about a pint or so at a time.

[ckusnierek]

Originally Posted by grallster

All I do is mix up 8 gals worth (the size of my top off container) put a pump in there to mix it up real well, let it settle and turn on the ATO--pretty basic.
My ATO only pumps in about a pint or so at a time.

Do you have a "stirring" pump in there too?
Are you sing Kalk or pickeling lime?
what mixing ratio are u using for 8g?

right now I'm using a float valve off the rodi.

I have been wanting to get a more reliable ato...

[grallster]

I use pickling lime--about 1 1/2 teaspoons per gal. I use the discharge pump to stir the mix up initially and then let it settle for an hour or so before I hook the pump back into the ATO--so there is no stirrer pump--although it would make a stronger mix with one (my tank evaporates alot so I'm afraid it would be too strong if I used a stirrer pump--although I could make a weaker mix and use one I suppose). The way the aquaclear pump is made (and most other small pumps too) the intake is off centered so if it lays on its side the intake is raised off the bottom of the container and keeps it from sucking up solids.
The kalk isn't enough for all of my Ca/alk demands so I have to use the homemade 3 part too (although it keeps my pH around 8.4)