Kalk and 2 part dosing which is better in ATO

[reefstarter]

So My original plan was to dose kalk in ato and run a calcium reactor . but the calcium reactor I got leaks and doesn't offer much control ( noob purchase ) so now since my alk and calcium are all over the place , though I am manually dosing some liquid calcium and supperbuffer for now till the levels are correct . I want to automate this process as cheaply as possible with the possible addition of a calc reactor later . I feel I have at least some understanding of how this all works but now just to be sure I am looking for some advice / tips on ways to do this that won't cost me an arm and a leg and still be effective at maintaining stability . I don't have a problem with some manual additions but I think that this is a bit too sporatic and my levels will rise and fall too much daily . system info ,..... 90 gallon display with about 130 Lbs live rock , 30 gallon sump/fuge running roughly 20 gallons full . reef octopus skimmer ( don't know model ) RKL controlling temp only so far . I want to eventually set that up to run PH . thanks in advance and hope you can help

 

[jason401]

Check out last weeks "Reef Threads" podcast with Mr. Craig Bingman.

He explains all this rather well.

Podcast #180

http://www.reefthreads.com/?p=2570

 

[reefstarter]

I was at the meeting where he spoke , thought I got most of what he said that day , then listened to the pod cast from that link and it all made better sense .thank you very much for posting that . I know what I have to do , now just to make it happen and fast .

 

[jason401]

I was at the meeting where he spoke , thought I got most of what he said that day , then listened to the pod cast from that link and it all made better sense .thank you very much for posting that . I know what I have to do , now just to make it happen and fast .

Awesome!

 

[JohnK]

What do you plan to keep in this system? Unless you plan on a SPS focused system, chances are any single approach will be adequate.

 

[dannyp02908]

kalkwasser is cheaper than 2 part and can be dosed in a few ways, one of which is your ATO. Go to tractor supply and get Mrs. Wages pickling lime. That is about 3 dollars a bag and should last you a while.

 

[Platehead]

What is the best way to dose Kalcwasser in an ATO without damaging the pump?

Thx

 

[JohnK]

What is the best way to dose Kalcwasser in an ATO without damaging the pump?

Thx

And that's a good question.

Good quality peristaltic dosing pumps (cole parmer, or similar) generally don't have any problem moving kalk water without clogging or becoming damaged. Another way is to use a kalk reactor, and feed fresh RODI water into the reactor which in turn pushes mixed kalk water out without the mixed kalk ever going through the pump.

Kalk through a float valve WILL clog frequently so don't even try that. Using a simple gravity doser like the kent aquadoser (or whatever it's called??) is iffy as whatever pinch or valve you use WILL frequently clog and probably won't deliver in a steady rate unless cleaned and adjusted constantly.

Just about anyway you dose kalk, the output (usually the end of a tube) will cake up and need occasional cleaning.

As far as pumps in general, although I'm sure kalk can increase wear some, I've used mag drives and maxi jets to stir kalk reactors for years without issue. The problem is everything clogging up where the kalk water meets the air.

 

[dz6t]

I use three Tunze auto top off with full strength kalk solution, the TUnze pumps doesn't seem to be effected by the kalk, they are running for years.

 

[reefstarter]

peristalic pumps or "hose pumps " I was suprised to see being used in this hobby . they definitely will have no problem moving kalk because I have used larget versions of these pumps with 4- 6 inch diameter hoses to move sludge in wastewater plants . And I've decided to use a calcium reactor after all . i feel like it will provide me with the flexability to keep just about anything , and keeps the ATO open for additional kalk dosing if ever needed . I purchased a PH probe and module for my reefkeeper which will control the calc reactor , and just because I got a net module lol from what I have read and gathered from Dr. Bingmans pod cast a PH of around 6.5 - 7.5 inside the reactor is what I am shooting for .

 

[dz6t]

you need kalk dosing to balance out the acidity from calcium reactor, or the pH will drop in between water change.

 

[reefstarter]

agreed , i will monitor the PH and start the calc reactor slow at maybe 20-30 drips per minute and see what that does and increase till I see a drop in PH of tank . once I see that I will start dosing kalk ( I'll have some mixed and ready for that ) Right now I have mostly soft and LPS but will be lining the top areas of my tank with sps . making a sort of floral garden under all the branching of sps . I hope )

 

[reefstarter]

sorry by drips I mean bubbles

 

[dannyp02908]

im a little late to this party, but I will throw in that I was dosing full strength kalk using the toms aqualifter on my ATO. never clogged. I used it for about a year solid.