Limewater with topoff question

Devildoc · Mar 6, 2015

I have a 5 gallon bucket for my top off water with a pump in it that's got a 3/4 outlet but no name or output. I have been using it with my ato switch and floats has worked great I'm going to start dosing limewater or kalk tomorrow using pickling lime. Will this pump be OK an I just add new water like I would regular rodi?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2015

It looks like it would pump way too fast. You want an addition rate that is close to a drip.

Devildoc · Mar 6, 2015

Hmm so a gallon jug dripped instead of the ato? I had the feeling it would be to much. My original plan was a gallon milk jug dripped with airline hose and a valve. Dripped all night and turn off during the day but would I leave the ato? Your article on kalk in advanced aquarists was a nice read if I may add

timmylucas · Mar 6, 2015

I know a lot of people drip it but I use my auto top off and during the summer I put less in the auto top off reservoir at a time. It seems to work fine for me

chefjpaul · Mar 7, 2015

Why not just get a slower pump?

ruppertb · Mar 7, 2015

I used to use an aqualifter pump which worked well

Devildoc · Mar 7, 2015

chefjpaul said:
Why not just get a slower pump?

Moneys tight at the moment

mfinn · Mar 7, 2015

I use a aqualifter pump on my topoff container that I add kalk to.
A fairly cheap pump.
Here it is at marine depot. It can be found cheaper.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aqua...flow_Boxes-Tom_Aquatics-OE1137-FIOFOA-vi.html

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2015

Slow pumps for an ATO or drippers both work fine.

If you use a dripper, drip somewhat less than the daily evaporation and let the ATO maintain the level up to normal with normal water.

Thanks about the article.

Devildoc · Mar 8, 2015

I will try the drip at night. I just need to figure out how much will be testing all/cal levels today and tomorrow. How many drops per sec. would I need? I only evaporate about a gallon and half a day in a 210display and 75 gallon sump and ro xp-5000 sss cone skimmer that I empty every other day

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 9, 2015

The idea of the drip is to spread out the addition over several hours or longer. So slower is better as long as you get it all in.

Devildoc · Mar 9, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The idea of the drip is to spread out the addition over several hours or longer. So slower is better as long as you get it all in.

I will give it a try tonight when ph is at 8.1 mixed some up this morning and letting it settle.