Getting kalk to ato container

[Chiefmaster30]

I mix mine right in my ato container. I let it settle before plugging the pump back in.

I don’t see how y’all are doing that without getting tons of powder I bottom.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

That's a lot of kalk for a mixed reef.
I do about 1 tsp. Per gallon on 100 gallon volume mixed reef. About 6/7 gallons per week. Never used vinegar in the mix so I can't comment on that.

And the only reason I’m using vinegar is to dissolve more kalk bc 2 teaspoons couldn’t keep up with my tanks demands.

 

[reefndude]

When I was using kalk I would mix in a 5 gallon bucket. Let it settle and then syphon into ato reservoir. Worked very well for me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t see how y’all are doing that without getting tons of powder I bottom.

I certainly collected solids (calcium carbonate, undissolved calcium hydroxide, precipitated magnesium hydroxide, etc.) but if you are getting excessive amounts in short periods of time, it might be because you are allowing too much CO2 to mix into the limewater, or are starting with material with a lot of calcium carbonate to begin with.

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

Figure 5. A view of my limewater reservoir showing a thin calcium carbonate crust on part of the liquid surface, and heavy deposits of calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and other materials on the bottom. I clean out the bottom of the reservoir only once a year or so.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

https://www.marinedepot.com/Tunze_O...uto_Top_Off_Units-Tunze-TZ4113-FIDPAT-vi.html

This works very well if you have an ATO. The pump sends the pure RO water into the bottom of the bottle with RO water and kalk, then it is forced up to the tank. So every time the ATO tops off it also slightly stirs up the "gunk" on the bottom of the container. and the pumps are safe from the effects of the kalk. Yes a bit pricey for a plastic bottle but what in this hobby isn't?

That is neat... any way to control how much kalk is delivered to the tank or is it pretty much full concentration.

 

[Ferrell]

I have two kalk mixing containers holding 2.5 g of kalk mix each. Each have a dispenser on the bottom like the ones you have on you drinking water fountains or water coolers. I swap in a new jug at night (has a big lid in top pump fits through)and then what clear Kalkwasser is left in the “old” jug I just drain off with the spigot and add to the ato the next day, rinse container and mix a new batch. Let settle each day.
Only problem I have is that evaporation is not constant with changing seasons so I don’t feel I’m getting a steady and uniform addition. Still have to make .3-.5 Alk adjustments every 3-5 days. May be looking into making a 1 gallon per day dripper outside the ato that can dose the same amount of known concentrate daily. I think this would provide a more accurate way of dosing kalk and just run a rodi ato.
Any thoughts?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have two kalk mixing containers holding 2.5 g of kalk mix each. Each have a dispenser on the bottom like the ones you have on you drinking water fountains or water coolers. I swap in a new jug at night (has a big lid in top pump fits through)and then what clear Kalkwasser is left in the “old” jug I just drain off with the spigot and add to the ato the next day, rinse container and mix a new batch. Let settle each day.
Only problem I have is that evaporation is not constant with changing seasons so I don’t feel I’m getting a steady and uniform addition. Still have to make .3-.5 Alk adjustments every 3-5 days. May be looking into making a 1 gallon per day dripper outside the ato that can dose the same amount of known concentrate daily. I think this would provide a more accurate way of dosing kalk and just run a rodi ato.
Any thoughts?

Limewater on a dosing pump or other timed pump will be more consistent than on an ATO, if that is a concern. Then use the ATO to pick up any remaining need for water.

 

[DanConnor]

I have a dosing pump delivering RO to a 5 gallon bucket, which has a gravity overflow into the sump. At the bottom of the bucket is a small propellor pump running full time, and I add a tablespoon of kalk about every 3 days. So, everything goes into the sump. Been doing it for years, so seems to work for me.

CA reactor running also.

 

[Ferrell]

Limewater on a dosing pump or other timed pump will be more consistent than on an ATO, if that is a concern. Then use the ATO to pick up any remaining need for water.

Good idea. I was just thinking a little simpler with a gallon (or whatever is needed) full strength slow drip over the course of a day but I like the dosing pump idea too .Right now just hand dosing to make up .3 or .4 per day the mall didn't deliver .

 

[Brett S]

I have a 5 gallon ro jug for mixing. I’m putting 15 teaspoons of kalk and 225 ml of vinegar. It looks to be ssettling good. I believe I’m stirring it up trying to pour out the last half of the jug. I go through this 5 gallons once a week on my 125 gallon mixed reef with a 30 gallon sump.

Are you talking about a jug like this?

If so, then I think that’s the problem. You’ll need to nearly turn the thing upside down to get the last half of the liquid out. If you use a 5 gallon bucket instead you should be able to decant off nearly all of the liquid without disturbing what’s settled on the bottom.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Are you talking about a jug like this?

If so, then I think that’s the problem. You’ll need to nearly turn the thing upside down to get the last half of the liquid out. If you use a 5 gallon bucket instead you should be able to decant off nearly all of the liquid without disturbing what’s settled on the bottom.

Yes a jug like that!

 

[Brett S]

Yes a jug like that!

I think that’s definitely the problem then. Your wife’s siphoning idea might work, but otherwise I think it will be all but impossible to avoid disturbing what’s settled when trying to dump out the liquid.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Another problem with that type of jug is they are often polycarbonate, which will eventually fail due to the high pH of limewater. A number of people have had that happen.

 

[McArcher]

Another problem with that type of jug is they are often polycarbonate, which will eventually fail due to the high pH of limewater. A number of people have had that happen.

When say ‘fail’, does it turn brittle and crack? Do you think that will eventually happen to a container made with 1/4” thick polycarbonate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, It will get brittle and crack open. It happened to Larry Jackson years ago with that type of water bottle. The high pH actually chemically reacts with the bonds in that type of plastic.

 

[McArcher]

Yes, It will get brittle and crack open. It happened to Larry Jackson years ago with that type of water bottle. The high pH actually chemically reacts with the bonds in that type of plastic.

I'm glad I saw your post. I recently built an ato container out of some polycarb sheet I had and have been mixing kalk in it. I guess I'll have to figure something else out for my kalk dosing.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Thanks for all the great responses and info!

 

[Ferrell]

Yes thanks because I think mine is similar except it's one of those that you set in the fridge with a spigot on it about 1\2" above the bottom . Hmmm time to start looking again .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes thanks because I think mine is similar except it's one of those that you set in the fridge with a spigot on it about 1\2" above the bottom . Hmmm time to start looking again .

Check the bottom to see if it is polycarbonate before rejecting it. It will be a 7 (and that might still be other things).

If you google kalkwasser and polycarbonate, you can see some stories:

"I use two 2 liter bottles for kalkwasser (1 stored, 1 in use) and the kalkwasser has eaten through the bottom. While I was on vacation, it ate through and spilled kalk inside my stand. "
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1035501

"The high pH must break down the plastic in these ubiquitous water cooler jugs. The first 3 to leak, no problem. I was there when they started. No mess. Not so with the last 2. Had about half of two (read 5 gals.) leak out overnight. What a mess.
The first two or three jugs I thought was a fluke, not anymore; they were also two different brands.
Just as nothing good happens fast in reefing, there are no coincidences in reefing. Beware.."
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119198