Help me figure this out

Cory · Apr 28, 2016

I got an avast ato with a peristatic pump. It pumps 25ml a minute. Its on 4 minutes and off 4 minutes. I expect it will deliver .5liters per day, due to evaporation.

Im using it to top off evaporated water with fully saturated limewater.

Is this going to add too much fully saturated limewater at once? The tank has 23 net gallons. Its entering a small compartment "sump" with 2 gallons of water and 300gph entering into it. The top off pump activates and runs for an hour or so with 4 minutes on 4 minutes off.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 28, 2016

4 min on 4 min off means on 50% of the time.
At 25 mL per min for half of the 1440 min per day = 18 L per day.

So how is it being turned on and off? That will determine if it is dosing too fast.

Cory · Apr 28, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
4 min on 4 min off means on 50% of the time.
At 25 mL per min for half of the 1440 min per day = 18 L per day.

So how is it being turned on and off? That will determine if it is dosing too fast.

Its being turned off and on by a pressure switch. Its something like 1/4" sensitivity. But could be 1/2".

Cory · Apr 28, 2016

Cory · Apr 28, 2016

Another question: is an instant ocean bucket limewater safe? Ive already got it filled with limewater but im concered about it degrading, and i cant look on the bottom for the plastic code because its full of limewater already. Do you know if its safe? Apparently its 5, polypropylene, did a little research.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 29, 2016

Yes, an IO bucket will be safe.

25 mL per min added to 300 gph (18,925 mL per min) flow is only 0.1% of the volume moving through, so the pH rise will be fine in the small addition area, and this should work out.

Cory · Apr 29, 2016

Okay thanks!

Question, if i change the 4 minutes on 4 minutes off to a different time, will it be a problem?

Reason: the rate of dosing is because my gyre powerhead switches wave mode causing the water to fill up quicker in the overflow or slower. This changes the "sump" height by 1/2" every 4 minutes up or down. This then activates the pump and pressure switch. And this rate can be changed based on if i change my wavemaker settings. I can do 2minutes on 2 off. 8min on 8off. Etc.

What sort of ph rise?