Dosing Alk newbie question

[smcquary]

I am dosing Alk and have my tubing running into the tank ending below the water surface. Problem is the line keeps getting plugged up with the alk crystallizing. How do you prevent this? Should it not be in the water? Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Additives from dosing pumps should drip through the air, not enter the water directly, for the reason you are finding. You are precipitating calcium carbonate in the tip.

 

[smcquary]

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Another important reason to „drip“ is that you avoid a possible outflowing water (reverse) through your tubing.

In extreme this could partially empty your tank and flood other areas.
Not as extreme, this generates a certain pressure against your dosing pumps resulting in reduced dosing quantities