ATO/Kalkwasser dosing with External bottles

[Hermie]

I am considering starting kalkwasser dosing however I don't like adding kalk to my ATO container since it can affect the pump and when I add new RODI the whole container gets mixed up, stirring up the sediment. So, I am considering using the ATO to push RODI into a bottle that pushes air into a second bottle containing the premixed kalkwasser solution. Once that first bottle is full of RODI, I can take it off and mix in some pure kalk/lime, empty the second bottle and then swap them.

This would prevent the ATO container/pump from clogging and allow me to monitor the kalk dosing in an easier to monitor container than my ATO reservoir. Have you all seen this implemented before? I doubt it's novel so I wanted to see if anyone else had advice on it... I have DIY CO2/2 litre bottle caps that will work. The only concern I can think is whether or not the ATO can push enough pressure, but I can always upgrade the ATO pump...

here's a diagram of what I am thinking:

 

[Iván Olalla]

The thing with kalk is that it shouldn´t be exposed to air or it looses potency with gas exchange. If you don{t want to use your ATO pump look into a single head persitaltic pump to dose it apart in a more precise way and without pump failure issues

 

[BeejReef]

+1

That was my experience as well. I really resisted "dosing," but the new single head dosers that need no controller finally brought me around. Now two buckets. One for RODI, one for fully saturated kalk. ATO pump sits in RODI. Dosing input tube stuck into kalkwater.

So long as you've calculated the volume of saturated kalk your tank's alkalinity consumption will demand AND that number is lower that your daily evap

 

[laverda]

You can just fill your second container with a couple inches of kalk and the rest of the way with RO/DI. Pump RO/DI into the long tube which should go to the bottom. The incoming water will mix the kalk and force saturated water out of the short tube at the very top of the container into your tank. Very simple and easy to make in what ever size you need for your tank.