I have two 44 gallon Brute cans in my mixing station. I use the R/O can for auto top off and also transfer that water to my second can where I mix it with salt (Reef Crystals) for auto water changes. I want to add kalk to the first can for dosing via auto top off, but I am told that this makes the R/O water unsuitable for subsequently mixing with salt in the second can, which implies that a third can is necessary to accomplish kalk dosing. Three 44 gallon cans will take up too much space. Any thoughts on how to avoid the need for an additional can?
Are Three Reservoirs Required?
- Thread starter ubiq
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NeonRabbit221B
2500 Club Member
If you are using 1 can for top off with kalk and 1 can for mixing SW why do you need a third? Also I wouldn't feed kalk through a standard ATO pump, the sludge can cause issues.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
I'm assuming your using the RO/DI bin as a top off also?
How big of a tank are we talking here, and why the large container of topoff? I would just use a smaller container as an ATO, and leave the RO/DI bin as RO/DI.
How big of a tank are we talking here, and why the large container of topoff? I would just use a smaller container as an ATO, and leave the RO/DI bin as RO/DI.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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My Tank Thread
I used three different reservoirs for this purpose consisting of 2 cans for new salt water, three for limewater (kalkwasser) and two for RO/DI.
CollectOyster04
Active Member
Refractometers are great tools to be able to measure salinity in water. With one you could be able to add salt in increments and check levels until it's where you want it. Without the need for a third container.
JGT
5000 Club Member
I have the 2 cans, 1 for RODi and 1 for SW. but I also have a smaller 20 gal tank for RODI/top-off. I have a tee coming off my RODI that goes to the 20 gal and the RODI. So I keep the RODI containers separate and for specific functions.
You could install a sight glass on the outside of the brute. Add the gallon marks on it then you'd know how many gallons of new water you added, and how much salt to add. Post 20 here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1485257
Reefs and Geeks
Well-Known Member
If you scoop salt into your SW bin, you can take a starting salinity reading...add 1 scoop of salt and allow to mix...then measure salinity again. Then if that scoop raises salinity by say 2 PPT, than you can quickly and easily determine how many scoops you need to raise a full container by X ppt salinity. That's how I do it and it works great.
TheDuude
Active Member
I get your hesitation about just using two. I also hate adding bits of salt, waiting for it to mix properly, and checking with my refractometer only to find that in undershoot or overshoot EVERYTIME.
1 easy solution would be to add an inline kalk stirrer which would allow you to keep only RO in your FW bin and still use it like you currently do to make SW.
Other solution would be to add a smaller ATO reservoir like others have mentioned above and just kalk that up. This also has the added advantage of isolating your tank from the full 40 gallons of FW that could be pumped into your tank in the even of an ATO failure in the ON position. ( Less of an issue depending on what ATO system you have ).
1 easy solution would be to add an inline kalk stirrer which would allow you to keep only RO in your FW bin and still use it like you currently do to make SW.
Other solution would be to add a smaller ATO reservoir like others have mentioned above and just kalk that up. This also has the added advantage of isolating your tank from the full 40 gallons of FW that could be pumped into your tank in the even of an ATO failure in the ON position. ( Less of an issue depending on what ATO system you have ).
Montiman
Valuable Member
As a big kalk fan I would consider a kalk reactor. This will allow you to use 2 containers while making sure all top off water has kalk added this is my preferred method of adding kalk.
