looking for some automation in kalk dosing

[dheinze]

I have been looking for a way to automate kalk dosing (not entirely, but atleast so it could run for a while without intervention). I looked into dosing pumps, but I'm afraid they might cause a large pH swing since the slowest pump I could find feeds at 0.8g/h, which is a lot faster than the drip I do presently, which already pushes my pH to the high side. Any thoughts? I notice a lot of people dose kalk at night..Any reason for this?

I would like the automation to allow me to take short vacations, etc...So maybe I should bite the bullet and buy a ca reactor(?). Any thoughts? My total system volume is only 70g which is very small for a ca reactor...Are there small ones out there I'm not aware of?

If possible, I would really appreciate suggestions as to which route would be better (in your opinion)....

Anyone selling a good ca reactor cheaply? haha..

Thanks!

[Abengochea]

kalk dosing done at night is to compensate for ph drop that occurs when the lights go out

[sjm817]

If you have an ATO, mix it in the auto topoff water.

[eddie c]

just what sjm817 said, i've been doing it that way for years

[mc-cro]

Tunze osmolator, run in conjuction with a kalk reactor.

[generalee]

Also to prevent your kalk from having a high Ph, you could add 45 ml of vinegar to each gallon of kalk made (assuming you use 1 teaspoon per gallon) to help bring the Ph back down.
Of course your mileage may vary so testing would be key. The above is just a starting point.

[dheinze]

thanks for the input. does vinegar have any negative effects over the long term?

[DarG]

Dosing pumps are readily available that will feed as low as 1 ml/h. Check with innovativeaquatics.com for a doser starting at about 100 bucks. They sell refurbed hospital units. Also ebay. I picked up a fantastic labaratory doser built like a tank for $25.00 It doesnt have the led readout but it is a great unit. Point being, you can find them cheap on ebay or you can grab one for a little over 100 bucks at innovative.

[55Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9746222#post9746222 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
If you have an ATO, mix it in the auto topoff water.

That's how I do it. Works Great!