dosing kalk

[DevilBoy]

Once i get things going with my tank i want to start dosing kalk or limewater. I have read up on various ways of doing this. The most simpliest way that i have decided to do it would be to add it to my ATO resevoir. How would i accomplish doing it this way? My ATO is a 5 gallon resevoir would i add enough kalk for 5 gallons? I am sorta stumped on how to achive this any input would help

[Hendersonracing]

add 2 teaspoons of pickling lime & 3 teaspoons of kalk...I run mine in a 5 gallon container and drip it 24/7 and mix the container 1-2 times a day...Im planning on getting a KALK srtir to help!

[DevilBoy]

you drip yours? your kalk isnt mixed in your ATO resevoir?

[Loverotties]

Have to read on the container how much for 5 gallons,don't think all brands are the same.I mix up 1 gallon at a time and pour into a 5 gallon bucket for my topoff.I add a gallon every day or two,I don't let it run down to low.I also raised the powerhead off the bottom so It's not taking the sedelment off the bottom.

[Deuter]

Originally Posted by Hendersonracing

add 2 teaspoons of pickling lime & 3 teaspoons of kalk...I run mine in a 5 gallon container and drip it 24/7 and mix the container 1-2 times a day...Im planning on getting a KALK srtir to help!

what's a kalk stir!!! lol my kalk always settles at the bottom after about 6 hours!

[holyscoly]

Ok Not To Jack Your Thread Or Anything But Isnt It Kind Of Dangerous To Top Of With A Ato System I Would Sort Of Wory It Get Stuck And Kill My Whole Tank I Manually Top Of Every Night 2 Gallons Or So.

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by Hendersonracing

add 2 teaspoons of pickling lime & 3 teaspoons of kalk...I run mine in a 5 gallon container and drip it 24/7 and mix the container 1-2 times a day...Im planning on getting a KALK srtir to help!

pickling lime and kalk power are the same thing...2teaspoons is all that will dissolve into water. You can dose some vinegar to increase the saturation of it but if you're just starting out, I'd recommend not doing this cause you CAN make the limewater TOO potent

[crvz]

Originally Posted by holyscoly

Ok Not To Jack Your Thread Or Anything But Isnt It Kind Of Dangerous To Top Of With A Ato System I Would Sort Of Wory It Get Stuck And Kill My Whole Tank I Manually Top Of Every Night 2 Gallons Or So.

No, it's not dangerous, you just have to make sure that the resevoir can't overflow the sump. Adding 5 gallons of fresh water (or even kalk in the recommended dosage) to a 100 gallon tank is not going to affect much of anything as long as the sump has room to contain it.

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by holyscoly

Ok Not To Jack Your Thread Or Anything But Isnt It Kind Of Dangerous To Top Of With A Ato System I Would Sort Of Wory It Get Stuck And Kill My Whole Tank I Manually Top Of Every Night 2 Gallons Or So.

You're right. There is always a chance of overdosing due to a failed switch but that's why you should only have so much available to be pumped in...I had a 6 gallon container on my 80 gallon ( total water volume ) system. If all 6 gallons got pumped in, I wasn't too afraid of anything bad happening.

[Hendersonracing]

I have about 300 gallons of water volume so 5 gallons isn't going to effect anything. I mixed 5 teaspoons into a 5 gallon bucket & ran a pump in it for 24 hrs then added it to my 5 gallon topoff and withing a few hrs the KALK all settled on the bottom!

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by Hendersonracing

I have about 300 gallons of water volume so 5 gallons isn't going to effect anything. I mixed 5 teaspoons into a 5 gallon bucket & ran a pump in it for 24 hrs then added it to my 5 gallon topoff and withing a few hrs the KALK all settled on the bottom!

that's a big tank!

you're right, 5 gallons of limewater shouldnt affect the whole system.

[hng]

Originally Posted by holyscoly

Ok Not To Jack Your Thread Or Anything But Isnt It Kind Of Dangerous To Top Of With A Ato System I Would Sort Of Wory It Get Stuck And Kill My Whole Tank I Manually Top Of Every Night 2 Gallons Or So.

I'm with Chris and Darth - an ATO is a good thing and pretty safe depending on how you have it set up. I wouldn't recommend hooking it up directly with an ro/di though. ATO will help maintain a stable salinity throughout the day, and when you are on vacation. How big is your setup?

[DarthOcellaris]

also, the smaller the system volume, the more noticeable a change in salinity evaporation makes. I feel that small tanks NEED ATO units.

[saltysupply]

I prefer 2 part systems over that method..