Kalk Drip vs Kalk in ATO in a sumpless system

[ReefTeacher]

I love kalk. I threw out my 2 part after years of struggle with dosing pumps that failed...and creeping salinity issues. I use an AVAST marine K1 Kalk stirrer and have it hooked up to my Tunze Osmolator. If left to its own devices, my system drives my KH up to the 12-13 dKH with my evaporation rate. So I invested in a KH Monitor and 2 solenoids. When my KH gets below 7.4, the Osmolator pumps into the Kalk Stirrer. If the KH is above that, then only RO water goes in the tank. My KH is rock solid and my tank has improved dramatically. Don't ask me what my pH is...I don't know!

 

[ReefTeacher]

I love kalk. I threw out my 2 part after years of struggle with dosing pumps that failed...and creeping salinity issues. I use an AVAST marine K1 Kalk stirrer and have it hooked up to my Tunze Osmolator. If left to its own devices, my system drives my KH up to the 12-13 dKH with my evaporation rate. So I invested in a KH Monitor and 2 solenoids. When my KH gets below 7.4, the Osmolator pumps into the Kalk Stirrer. If the KH is above that, then only RO water goes in the tank. My KH is rock solid and my tank has improved dramatically. Don't ask me what my pH is...I don't know!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do like the idea of the new 2 part and the pH bump. I do believe that Kalk gives a bigger pH bump for the change in Alk than the new 2 part does though. Might make Kalk better for lower demand systems. I'll need to dig into that.

Hart, is right. Both dose hydroxide so are identical in pH boost per unit of alk added.

FWIW, this is also the highest that is theoretically possible. There won't be an improved version in 2 years with an even higher pH boost.

 

[Brew12]

Hart, is right. Both dose hydroxide so are identical in pH boost per unit of alk added.

FWIW, this is also the highest that is theoretically possible. There won't be an improved version in 2 years with an even higher pH boost.

Yup, I just didn't understand what he was saying and we had a nice conversation behind the scenes that cleared it up.

In my minds eye you can't dose hydroxide. You have to dose something like sodium hydroxide. Strictly a communication issue on my end.

 

[SMB]

Funny, my results are a bit different. Have the same JBJ 40. I have a Tunze ATO using a 5 gal. (old salt container) reservoir under the tank.
The Tunze pump has no problem getting water to the top of the tank and its run time is adjustable for a "nano" tank. I have the ATO water directed into the back sump. I also use a constant pH monitor. I have been running Kalk in the ATO water for almost three years, never changed the pump and clean it rarely.
The pH in my tank runs 8.0-8.1 with a dKh of 10.5. Even when ATO water is being added I do not see a change in Ph and the probe is in the next chamber over from the pump outflow. Seems like a pretty stable way to maintain alkalinity and pH.

 

[Jason_1990]

Not the best set up or most accurate. But if your on a budget an you want to dose kalk. it can cost you under 30$ and can be your ATO. Just putting it out there.
Now im not having problems with evaporation, or elements being taken out of the tank at diffrent rates. Some people have problems so understanding they cant do this.
But This 5 gallon mix last me a week. On my 36gal bowfront.
I make sure i change the hose once in awhile an keep the float clean every week. But it hasnt failed me.

 

[Hitman]

If you are thinking long term, you may want to go this route. It is what I use. 1 head for Kalk, the others for Alk, Calc, and Mg.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/doser-2-1-sa-4-pump-ghl.html

I use the GHL Profilux controller but you can do it stand alone with this unit. I also like the interface. Kalk is good for many things, but it won't keep up with much demand unless you have a lot of evaporation. In my 180ish total water volume I dose 1400mL of saturated kalk per day but then have to dose another 26mL of each 2 part. I don't even have very high demand yet.

Are you dosing your kalk as well as your 2 part with your ghl? Im dosing 24 ml of each of my kids part and was thinking about hooking up my kalk to mine as well as our last power outage my kalk was still dripped my from my jug into the old sump. Thankfully I caught it before the power came back on but 4 hours of dripping caused me to drain my sump and seeing your comment sparked my interest.

 

[Brew12]

Are you dosing your kalk as well as your 2 part with your ghl? Im dosing 24 ml of each of my kids part and was thinking about hooking up my kalk to mine as well as our last power outage my kalk was still dripped my from my jug into the old sump. Thankfully I caught it before the power came back on but 4 hours of dripping caused me to drain my sump and seeing your comment sparked my interest.

Yup, still dosing 1400mL per day spread out over 70 doses. The only thing I will say is you should keep a spare head and wear parts if you do this. That pump gets a lot of run time and will only last a few months.

 

[Hitman]

I have a Coral Box doser so I can only dose 24 times a day. I wonder if I can dose say 5 ml every hour or more.

 

[hbrochs]

I set up the Litermeter III a couple months ago, and I believe that it will pump to head pressure of 60 feet.
I’ve got a Kalkwasser stirrer in the basement and I pump a liter a day up to my display tank in many small doses.
With the stirrer and the peristaltic pump, no mechanical parts touch the Kalkwasser.