How do you make a diy slow drip for Kalk?

[glb]

Happy Easter to you too! Off to check the batteries!

 

[glb]

I had my batteries low In the monitor and gives low PH readings ,when Is the last time you put new batteries In the monitor ?

Changed the batteries and it made about a .05 difference, so it was negligible.

 

[Alabamareef]

Have read through your thread and looks like your new to the reef setup, I've seen lots of people be sucesful with very little equipment, a few things I'd be careful with is dripping Kalk into your tank, to many things could go wrong, I like the advice miamiangler has give you about using an auto top off, I know you said you don't have one but that's what I'd invest in before trying to rig something to dose Kalk with, you can get an ATO very cheep, I've even got a set up I'll give you and all you'll have to get is a container and a small pump. The ATO will help your salinity, and if you dose Kalk it's almost full proof and you'll not have to worry about overdosing. Do you have a skimmer? If so a good way to elevate pH on a system, when you don't have open windows, is a CO2 scrubber. Lot of DIY ideas out there. If you don't have a skimmer a small pump and air stone could help. Good luck and be careful with dripping Kalk. I just had a major mistake with Kalk, my falt, but I've lost a lot of coral and some livestock.

 

[glb]

Have read through your thread and looks like your new to the reef setup, I've seen lots of people be sucesful with very little equipment, a few things I'd be careful with is dripping Kalk into your tank, to many things could go wrong, I like the advice miamiangler has give you about using an auto top off, I know you said you don't have one but that's what I'd invest in before trying to rig something to dose Kalk with, you can get an ATO very cheep, I've even got a set up I'll give you and all you'll have to get is a container and a small pump. The ATO will help your salinity, and if you dose Kalk it's almost full proof and you'll not have to worry about overdosing. Do you have a skimmer? If so a good way to elevate pH on a system, when you don't have open windows, is a CO2 scrubber. Lot of DIY ideas out there. If you don't have a skimmer a small pump and air stone could help. Good luck and be careful with dripping Kalk. I just had a major mistake with Kalk, my falt, but I've lost a lot of coral and some livestock.

Thanks for the info. I've been doing saltwater for about 5 years but all this work is to recover from a crash due to a temp spike last year due to AC going out and wiping out everything. I'm working harder to make the system better. The problem with kalk as ATO is that it will dump in too much at once and I'm trying to keep the ph from fluctuating too much. I need a slow drip for a tank this size to keep spikes from happening. I am looking to get an ATO for topoff too. I'm just tinkering like crazy now before I put much in the tank again. Now is the time to experiment until I get a handle on things. The kalk has actually worked beautifully without raising Alk or ca too much. It's the best thing I've done yet, and I'm being very careful. I'm also going to add a skimmer to introduce more air into the system and I've looked at scrubbers too. I'm trying one thing at a time. I'll keep you posted! [emoji4]

 

[Alabamareef]

Try a air stone and see how it helps. Sorry to hear about your crash. I know the feeling. I also dose Kalk via a stirrer and ato. Was trying to purge the pump and accidently left the pump on and walked in to see my tqnking looking like it was full of milk and pH of 10. Quickly did a big water change and dosed vingar and got the pH down to 8.5. Lost a few fish and some very nice acros....So I know the feeling...

 

[glb]

Try a air stone and see how it helps. Sorry to hear about your crash. I know the feeling. I also dose Kalk via a stirrer and ato. Was trying to purge the pump and accidently left the pump on and walked in to see my tqnking looking like it was full of milk and pH of 10. Quickly did a big water change and dosed vingar and got the pH down to 8.5. Lost a few fish and some very nice acros....So I know the feeling...

We think alike. I added an airstone this morning. I'll check it when we get home and see if it helped.

 

[glb]

A Simple DIY Kalk Dripper by Agu Lukk - ReefKeeping.com

So I made this and now I'm trying to get the dripping rate right, which is no small feat. Too much gravity and it goes too fast. Right now I'm playing with it using water. Latest test has the tubing actually below the drip to slow it down even more. I probably need about a 1/3 cup every 45 minutes or so. I may not be able to get it to go slow enough but I'm having a lot of fun experimenting!

 

[glb]

I have it down to 1/3 c in 30 min, which isn't bad.

 

[Alabamareef]

that idea seems great. My only concern is with that small tubing id be worried about it clogging up.

 

[glb]

that idea seems great. My only concern is with that small tubing id be worried about it clogging up.

You're right. I'd have to flush it out regularly.

 

[puffer420]

I use an I v dripper works great have mine set for a drip every 5 seconds of my kalk solution

 

[DFW]

I use an I v dripper works great have mine set for a drip every 5 seconds of my kalk solution

Where can I get one of these?

 

[puffer420]

I got mine from a nurse but sure you can find on online

 

[puffer420]

I just rigged it to a 5gallon bucket works great