Cleaning, maintaining a large ato with kalkwasser?
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gcrawford
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You might consider using a kalkwasser reactor. I use a GEO model and my ATO pumps RO/DI water through the reactor to the display. I never have to worry about cleaning out the ATO reservoir or the pump. There is some maintenance involved every 3-4 months to pour out the used residue and replace with 2 bags of Mrs. Wages. It's worked well for me for over 5 year.
mfinn
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You can do that with water changes alone.
There would be nothing to use up ca., alk, etc.
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cracker
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Good point & what I don't get . alk hangs around 4. Decent coraline & no sand hardening. Ca is good. Using Pro red sea & hanna test kits. But that's another story !
I do confess to not doing regular w/c in an effort to boost nutrients. this tank has had hardly any fish since setup almost 2 years. Just now added the 6th fish.
So I don't why Alk keeps droping I dose 75 mls a day & barely hit the high 6's . every body seems to do just fine But wanted to boost levels for a future gift nem I'd like to be ready for. That also is another story !
I do confess to not doing regular w/c in an effort to boost nutrients. this tank has had hardly any fish since setup almost 2 years. Just now added the 6th fish.
So I don't why Alk keeps droping I dose 75 mls a day & barely hit the high 6's . every body seems to do just fine But wanted to boost levels for a future gift nem I'd like to be ready for. That also is another story !
mfinn
likes zoanthids
IMO all the testing and dosing is wasted on a fish only tank.
Keep my 233 mixed reef tank very stable with just water changes.
I don't dose, I rarely test and everything does just fine.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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You sure that is dKH and not meq/l?
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cracker
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I'm using a Alk Hanna checker. Let me check my log. Ok so on 3/14 (about a month)I tested for Alk. Got a 3.5 ! Retested & got the same. Started dosing 100 mls Prt 2 until I got to 6.6 then went to 75 mls. Been there since.
Doing this to ready the tank for a possible nem. After all just how long does a Fo stay a Fo? LOL
If I could get away with such low numbers for a nem I'd not bother.
Duane Clark
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It may have been said already but you really don’t need a pump in an ato reservoir. Once the kalk is dissolved then it is dissolved. The sludge at the bottom is not an indication of the kalk coming out of a dissolved state. The reason reactors stir the water column is because fresh water is constantly being added. Anyway just trying to help simplify the processes.
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cracker
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Ok I" finally" filled the ato to 25 & added the recommended amount of Mrs Wages.stirred lightly & closed down the lid on this 30 gl brute. there are only 2 holes in the lid for the power & water line. Got the dkh to 7.7. so we shall see !
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cracker
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Checkingt in . so today I added another 20 gls to the Ato container . Added little over 2 cups of Mrs wages . I hadn't opened the lid since May 22. There was the film scum floating on the surface. As Mr Mr Randy predicted. Kinda freaked me out seeing that. ;Wideyed
It's not enough to keep alk levels up but I'm not dosing 50,60 mls of pricey 2 prt either.
Only 2o,25 mls daily. why so much I don't know. Seeing how there are no corals or such. Anyway seems to be working just fine . Thanks !
Oh Lord I think I Doubled the amount of mrs wages! We shall see! LOL
It's not enough to keep alk levels up but I'm not dosing 50,60 mls of pricey 2 prt either.
Only 2o,25 mls daily. why so much I don't know. Seeing how there are no corals or such. Anyway seems to be working just fine . Thanks !
Oh Lord I think I Doubled the amount of mrs wages! We shall see! LOL
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