Kalk Dossing???

[Jnicho]

So in a different thread they are discussing ATO options...one suggestion was an aqualifter pump and a digital timer...My current Kalk is gravity/air pump driven, but seems to get clogged a lot where the adjusting valve is. I have had a timer/pump setup in the back of my mind for a while like what is suggested for the ATO...What are everyones thoughts about doing something like that but for Kalk...I've seen digital timers that have 12-14 on/off cycle per day and can set for a low as 1 min...Do you guys think dosing with a low flow pump numerous times (for a min or 2 each time) a day like this would work...or would you be worried about PH fluctuations??? My thoughts are like 5G bucket with the pump pickup somehow a little above the bottom so it would not suck up the "kalk sludge"

BTW...It's a 125G tank with a 55G sump and 10G fuge, so I have a failry large amount of water to buffer the small amount of high PH water being added.

[Jnicho]

Bump...I'm starting to test the idea...Any thoughts or suggestions???

[wharyat]

I have not messed with an aqualifter, so I am not sure to their pressure abilities. If you put the intake to where it doesn't pick up any paste as you planned; I think you would be fine.

You could also look into using float switches to control when the pump turns on and off, you just have to be careful that there are fail-safes since kalk can be a massive problem.

I know that a peristaltic pump will definitely work, but they are a bit more costly than an aqualifter.

[Elegance Coral]

This is how I dose kalk in one of my systems. The large PVC pipe on the right holds about 5gl of kalk and is dispensed through a small hole in the bottom as the water evaporates. There is a 1/2 inch pipe that extends up inside the 6 inch pipe so that it doesn't pick up the sludge off the bottom.