Dosing Pump for Kalk - set up?

[gnashty]

I just ordered a dosing pump from BRS (1.1 ml/min) and Im trying to decide how to set it up to dose kalk. The way I see it I have 2 options to use with my RKE

1. Set a timer on my controller and have it kick on X number of times per day....but then i have to do math..

or

2. Set a PH alert and kick on around 8.15 and off at 8.3?

 

[dan3949]

Second method sounds much too risky. Use the first method with pH as an alarm/kalk shut-off trigger. You should never have a single point failure able to nuke your tank.

 

[jaustin]

Set it up as ATO with a float switch...or two....or four like me, then use the PH as a backup to shut it down.

I use an aqualifter pump though....cheaper.

IMO, it would be a waste to use the BRS dosing pump for Kalk. It's more suited for CA, MG, or ALK. Not saying it won't work...cause it sure will, but the Aqualifter pump is sooo much cheaper.

 

[huttongd]

Method 1

 

[gnashty]

I want to stay away from the ATO method, I put some in my ATO yesterday and watched it top off about a half gallon of saturated kalk at once shooting my PH to 8.6 from 7.9.

Ultimately I will get another and set it up to do 2 part. I figured I would use kalk until that day comes, now trying to figure out how much kalk to use day to keep things stable. I guess I will go with method 1 and set a high PH alarm to kick it off if needed..

 

[grouper therapy]

I let my kalkwasser drip 24/7. In a system as large as yours that should be easily done.

 

[gnashty]

grouper therapy;565661 wrote: I let my kalkwasser drip 24/7. In a system as large as yours that should be easily done.

about how many gallons is that a day? 1? 2?

 

[grouper therapy]

gnashty;565668 wrote: about how many gallons is that a day? 1? 2?

Not sure but I will figure it out and post it

 

[corigan]

I need to change mine over to a drip method. ATO has just been so sketchy this summer with the lack of evaporation that my parameters on on a roller coaster ride. How did you set up your drip method dave?

 

[rbredding]

Corigan;565683 wrote: with the lack of evaporation...

how'd you manage that?

 

[weaglereefer]

Gary, you can still use it in a sort of ATO fashion. Figure out how much you evap a day. Divide by 4, 6, or 8. Round down to the nearest minute. Then set up an Aqualifter to dose 4, 6, or 8 times a day for a minute or two (an Aqualifter does 3gph, so 8 2min "top offs" is still less than one gallon per day). Set it up as a multi timer and make a pH alarm. Set up another pump as your ATO that comes on 5min after the kalk top off and let it be a multi timer for a minute or two and have a float switch alarm for that one. The result is that you will still have an ATO keeping the water level up, and you will have a kalk doser that won't spike the pH.

 

[brianjfinn]

weaglereefer;565778 wrote: Gary, you can still use it in a sort of ATO fashion. Figure out how much you evap a day. Divide by 4, 6, or 8. Round down to the nearest minute. Then set up an Aqualifter to dose 4, 6, or 8 times a day for a minute or two (an Aqualifter does 3gph, so 8 2min "top offs" is still less than one gallon per day). Set it up as a multi timer and make a pH alarm. Set up another pump as your ATO that comes on 5min after the kalk top off and let it be a multi timer for a minute or two and have a float switch alarm for that one. The result is that you will still have an ATO keeping the water level up, and you will have a kalk doser that won't spike the pH.

I think this sounds like the best option. That way you can start with your Kalk concentration a little on the low side and add more as needed, and you'll also be able to adjust the drip timing to find the perfect mix to keep things the most stable.

Great setup, Jeff!

 

[grouper therapy]

gnashty;565668 wrote: about how many gallons is that a day? 1? 2?

about 1 gallon a day(24hrs)

Corigan;565683 wrote: I need to change mine over to a drip method. ATO has just been so sketchy this summer with the lack of evaporation that my parameters on on a roller coaster ride. How did you set up your drip method dave?

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36253&highlight=standpipe">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36253&highlight=standpipe</a>
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[corigan]

Rbredding;565732 wrote: how'd you manage that?

Like in daves post that he linked below me, evaporation rate goes down in the summer months. I don't have to top-off half as much water during the summer months. I assume it has something to do with the humidity of the air.

grouper therapy;565823 wrote: about 1 gallon a day(24hrs)

 

[brianjfinn]

Corigan;565933 wrote: Like in daves post that he linked below me, evaporation rate goes down in the summer months. I don't have to top-off half as much water during the summer months. I assume it has something to do with the humidity of the air.

Exactly. If you're topping off more in the summer, then it's a good possibility you're having temp issues. Or you could just be running your a/c a whole bunch, which would dry out your air.