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View Full Version : Dosing pump for kalk?


HiddenClown
05/10/2008, 08:30 PM
I want to be able to set up a small tank, that will be filled with kalkwasser. To do this, I think my best way to dose it is with a dosing pump.

I just wanted some opinions on a pump that would work for this and wouldn't cost be a whole lot (around $100 would be good).

Also, how do I decide how much kalk is needed by the 65 gal. tank? I run a calcium reactor and I need something to bump it up another 50-75 ppm. Is there a set amount that I should start out with and just continue testing my calcium? And how much per day?

HiddenClown
05/10/2008, 08:37 PM
this is the only pump I have found so far that sounds like it will work and is in my price range- Aqua Medic Dosing Pumps - SP 3000 & Reefdoser

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 09:53 PM
i've used the same one for dosing kalk, the only thing i just found out was to let the tube sit in warm water to soften it, other wis it will break the plastic part that the tube runs around.
just a word of advise. it happened to me.

HiddenClown
05/10/2008, 10:00 PM
can you explain to me how it works, because I can't find anything online as to what I am suppose to do with it? Like how do you set it up to put an amount of kalk into the tank water?

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 10:08 PM
i use my kalk reactor as my top off, it runs on a digital timer that doses once every for 10 min when the lights are off, the ph drops at night and before the lights come on, your ph will stay up when the lights are on, you would have to figure out how much evoporation you have from your tank and set the timer from there. i have about 3 gallons a day with my basement sump...make sence

HiddenClown
05/10/2008, 10:19 PM
so to use the aqua medic dosing pump, you have to also use a kalk reactor? Which one do you use

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 10:26 PM
i like using a kalk reactor so when it turns on it automatically mixes the kalk, i do have the Aquamedic SP3000 dosing pump, bacically any kalk reactor will work well, i paid about $100.00 for mine. works great for me, i add kalk about every 7 days.

sjm817
05/10/2008, 10:29 PM
Do you have an auto topoff now? Kalk addition doesn't need to be expensive nor complex. You can simply mix it in your auto topoff container. I use a $12 Aqualifter to add it controlled by float switch.

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 10:32 PM
my kalk reactor does my top off for me, that is the 3 gallons that i lose in evoporation a day the the kalk re replaces, that keep the ph constant at 8.2 - 8.3 .

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 10:34 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12515726#post12515726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Do you have an auto topoff now? Kalk addition doesn't need to be expensive nor complex. You can simply mix it in your auto topoff container. I use a $12 Aqualifter to add it controlled by float switch.

that will work just as well..to keep your ph up anyway

HiddenClown
05/10/2008, 10:36 PM
i like that idea, I will get the pre-filter for the aqualifter and see how well that works. I will put it on a timer depending on my evaporation.

MplsMan
05/10/2008, 10:41 PM
figuring out my evoporation was kinda a guessing game at 1st, after that it has worked well, your evoporation will change in the summer as well.

sjm817
05/10/2008, 10:42 PM
Dont use a prefilter. Its not needed and will only cause problems.

You can mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon. This will give you full saturation. When you mix it up, just give it a good stir, cover it, let it settle and use it up. Dont remix it. Be sure you pull it from an inch or so off the bottom so that you dont pull up the stuff that settles there.

chris4869
05/11/2008, 08:05 PM
I use an Aqualifter with a float switch too.

I recently added a kalk reactor, so I don't have to manually mix the kalk in the water storage container, but the Aqualifter and float switch are still being used.