Using ATO with Kalkwasser

[Ramon Estevez]

I just set up my Tunze Osmolator I did a 3/4 tsp. Per gallon in a 5 gallon reservoir. My Alkalinity was sitting around 7.8-8.2 dropping 7.4-7.5 each day with manual dosing. Now it is rising tested today 8.6 alk, should allow it to keep dosing and it will find an equalizing point or do I need to do water change to bring numbers back into a comfortable range. So PH and Calcium don’t skyrocket? Calcium was 450 yesterday

 

[theMeat]

You need to pull ro/ saturated with kalk water from no lower than a couple of inches from bottom of storage container. So you don’t add the slurry mess at bottom of storage tank into display
Does tunze pump pull from very bottom?

You also need to add kalk to water, stir, then waits a few hours for water to clear, and slurry to sink to bottom, before you start using/adding it to tank

If you’re not doing both these things, then can’t say if you’re adding to much kalk or not

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would test alk every day till the ato water runs out. See if it stays at the 8.5. (Assuming that’s where you want it )
Then add the same amount of kalk and do it again till the water runs out , confirm the alk again , then do the normal water change size you would normally do.
Test and see where it is. Then test a week later and or when the kalk/ato runs out again.

I don’t think you’ll see much change unless you do a large WC with a very high alk. (Like 30%_40% w RCSP or IO)

 

[Gray]

If you don't already have the Tunze pump elevated on a platform I would make sure to do that. You can use just regular egg crate to make one if need be. As for the concentration of the Kalkwasser I would definitely dilute it. Just dump half the container and fill with RO, then watch where the numbers go. If they start to fall you can adjust them as needed, plus you will have a range of how much Kalk to work with then.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Definitly test everyday for awhile and dial it in. Once you go through that process you get really in tune with your tank and you figure out exactly how much kalk does what in your ato.

And definitely build a little eggcrate platform for the pump.

When I put to much kalk in my ato I normally top off the tank from a jug I filled with RODI water once in awhile so it dosent use the kalk in the ato. Then when I make a new batch next week I drop the concentration down a hair.

 

[Ramon Estevez]

I’ve got the pump sitting In a container to keep it from pulling off the bottom. I will continue to test and see how it goes. Seems to add about half a gallon a day maybe a little more evaporates each day. Wondering if now is a good time to add more Frags

 

[Ramon Estevez]

So I tested my tank today and it’s gone up to 9.1 reservoir down to about a gallon left. I figure I’ll let it run then do 15% water change and refill Kalk at 1/2 tsp per gallon. See if that’s better with demand from the tank.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

So I tested my tank today and it’s gone up to 9.1 reservoir down to about a gallon left. I figure I’ll let it run then do 15% water change and refill Kalk at 1/2 tsp per gallon. See if that’s better with demand from the tank.

Yup thats the right idea. Just keep tweaking and it will lock in for weeks at a time sometimes months.

 

[Cory]

I wouldnt use it with an ato. Its better to use a doser with it.

 

[FranklinDattein]

I also wouldn't use Kalk directly in the ATO reservoir.
The Calcium build up will wear out the ATO pump very quickly. It can be mitigated with a Kalk dispenser, but I wouldn't recommend that either.

Also, the amount dosed will be directly related to evaporation, which increases the changes of a pH or Alk spike on dry days.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I've had kalk in my ato for almost a year without any problems. I have run the pump through vinegar twice but that's it.

Your daily evaporation rate is pretty standard. It does change season to season but you have plenty of time to account for that.

The fear of kalk in the ato is overstated imo

 

[theMeat]

Have been using kalk in reservoir for years. An aqua lifter will need more frequent cleaning, but a rugular type water pump won’t and haven’t cleaned mine in at least a couple of years now. Still working fine

Adjust amount of kalk, with amount of evap. Not rocket science. Not complicated. Too hi, add less. Too low, add more. Add as much as you can and still not enough?, then you must use more expensive two part instead or in conjunction with

Once set up and you get a feel for your needs, simple, easy, effective, and cheap. A rarity in the hobby

 

[Wirat]

I started with 1tsp/5gal in my ATO and observed changes in alk/pH until the water was depleted then adjusted to more concentrated as I needed to. Its better to start with only a little then to make a big jump. It does wear down on your pumps and if possible you should clean them frequently or they will die. Good luck.

 

[gorgoniansfever]

sorry what is ATO ?

 

[dantimdad]

Automatic Top Off

 

[Borsalino]

Have tried everything via ato to saturated lime water in separate reservoir.

Best is what I now use osmose via dosing pump from 10 pm to 10 am.

Every day same quantity to take a forward-looking approach to lime stirrer goes, now every 2 weeks 12gr calcium hydroxide in the lime stirrer..

I made my lime stirrer itself for little money.

 

[Dburr1014]

Somewhere I read that the tunze pumps don't handle Kalk so well and makes them fail quicker. If I find it, I will post it.
I set mine up on a reactor and it's been working out great. Same principle but the pump itself never hits the Kalk.

 

[Ferrell]

I wouldnt use it with an ato. Its better to use a doser with it.

I’m with @Cory

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While I used limewater on an ATO for 20 years as my only source of calcium and alkalinity, and I think the tank did fine, I agree that using a dosing pump on a timer and an ATO to finish off a small amount of top off needed daily is likely to lead to better alk stability.