Using RKL to dose Kalk

[bobssecrtsn]

HELLO reefers! i finally got my big 3 in check and now im trying to dose KALK through my TOP OFF. can you guys tell me if i got it right? im using my RKL to controll my top off and pH


so, this is what im using.
FLOAT switch( from autotopoff.com ) to control my AQUA lifter pump.
RKL to control pH


this is how i set up my RKL.


MODE = auto
Function = Controller
Device = pH
Setpoint = 8.25
Hysteresis = 0.05
On When = Below


Alarm = 01
Action = OFF


Alarm = 01/ Flash and BEEP
Device pH
Setpoint = 8.30
Trip = Above


is this right? i have a feeling that my return pump is going to fry if my ph rises to fast and will shut down my Aquatic lifter,


ATM i Evap. 1.5G of water 24hours
I've read what your Gma never told you.
I've read alot of thread about using Kalk.


Or, i can use a Timer for example, from 12AM start pump 12:01AM stop pump, run that till 1.5 g of evap water enters my system. and shut off if pH rises ABOVE 8.33.

 

[niftyjosh]

I have mine set with the rk dual switch ATO (one down for on other up for off) with an alarm set to turn off ATO if ph rises to 8.35.

With regular Kalk/RO replacement via ATO, my ph doesn't drop below 8.0 which I'm fine with.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

thats sounds like what im doing. pH will never drop below 8.0 but what im trying to put is if my pH rises to fast, and my RKL stops the ATO water from going into the system and drops the water level to fast and runs the pump dry. my float wont be working because my pH will be over 8.35

 

[mcarroll]

thats sounds like what im doing. pH will never drop below 8.0 but what im trying to put is if my pH rises to fast, and my RKL stops the ATO water from going into the system and drops the water level to fast and runs the pump dry. my float wont be working because my pH will be over 8.35

I like dosing kalk via ATO "passively" in my Tunze 5074....TLF Kalk reactor is a similar concept. I get about 100 ppm Calcium on 4 tsp of powder. I can (and have) run vinegar in the RO side to boost concentration past saturation (and removes a lot of the risk associated with kalk) Just run ATO with a float switch as usual and this reactor sits in-line with the Aqua Lifter (or whatever) output.

You could run a second pump that doses kalk according to pH if you really want to nail pH, but not have ATO tied to it. Could be useful at night time if your tank tends to run low pH. Maybe not worth the bother though. Depends.

If you're borderline on consumption, just make sure you're mixing "enough" kalk to meet known consumption. This may well mean a non-fully saturated solution. If your consumption isn't really very high you might consider infrequent manual additions instead of automated ones.

It's always best to play your dosing cards in the more conservative way if there's any question (and you've got a lot of good questions about your setup) - this gives you more time to make safe adjustments. IME.

Personally, I use kalk as a backup supplementation scheme to minimize (feels more like subsidize at my rate) two-part dosing. This way I just let the reactor run more or less at "maximum", dose the reactor in a consistent manner, evap already happens in a consistent manner...so it fits right into the background of a "regular" two part dosing routine. No worry at all. As such, I did not dose kalk at all until I was dosing a significant amount of two-part. Already had a complete testing-dosing rhythm established, so accounting for the kalk reactor was easy when the time came.

-Matt

 

[bobssecrtsn]

i thought kalk does not "boost" ca/alk. only stables them. i/e keeping them from fluctuations. so are you telling me if i add to much kalk my levels will have a probability of sky rocketing if i use to much kalk?
"

 

[mcarroll]

i thought kalk does not "boost" ca/alk. only stables them. i/e keeping them from fluctuations. so are you telling me if i add to much kalk my levels will have a probability of sky rocketing if i use to much kalk?
"

That's part of it!

Saturated limewater has a ca (and alk) of X. If your tank's consumption is <X then your numbers go high.

Ca and Alk are "balanced" in limewater and this may be what you are thinking of, but that doesn't excempt it from being able to throw your numbers off.

-Matt

 

[Dre59]

Im not a big fan of using the float switch with Kalk.. I control mine with a timer to turn on every hour for 1min & 20 seconds with an alert of PH at 8.4 to turn off my aqua lifter.

Also have for back up incase evaporation is to much is my 1gal slim container from BRS controlled with a float switch..

I go to sleep and my levels are checked.. Love it