Kalk dosing question

[alexwolf]

How do you that dose kalk do it? I know Steve uses the Tunze Osmolator with calcium dispenser. How does everyone else do it?

[scuba_steveo]

I use the Tunze Osmolator with calcium dispenser and I am very happy with it.

[alexwolf]

I know Steve uses the Tunze Osmolator with calcium dispenser. How does everyone else do it?


I already knew that ;)

[mkengr45]

I also have a kalk question. I recently mixed a 5 gallon jug of RO water with 5 tsp of the Kent's kalkwasser mix, I allowed the solution to set overnight, but the mixture remained a milky white. Isnt it supposed to form a crust on top, and have a clear liquid beneath that with maybe some white solid on the bottom? I thought it was supposed to be totally clear beneath the surface. Maybe I am wrong on this. Any input?

[GaryP]

The solids should all settle to the bottom. I've never heard of a crust on top. I suppose it could be reacting with CO2 in the air and forming a crust of Calcium Carbonate.

Gary

[CD]

We drip kalk at night - Use a Kangaroo 224 peristalic (sp?) pump that we purchased from TurboBrett (thanks again, Brett!) and have about a 4G Rubbermaid container (The Container Store has *many* different shapes and sizes - ours was like $6. bucks with lid) that the kalk mixture is drawn from. Chris punched a hole in the Rubbermaid about 1 and a half inches from the bottom (so the solids could collect without going into the tank) and glued in a small nipple that the hose attaches to. He also punched a small hole in the lid so the liquid would draw easier. So from the Rubbermaid, the tubing goes to the pump, and from the pump, the tubing was zip tied to one of the SCWD outlets so the mixture would spread throughout the tank easily. Chris mixes up a new batch of kalk about every three days...this is for a 75G display w/30G sump and 15G 'fuge. We are very happy with the way it's been working - all of our corals are showing marked improvment in growth and polyp extention....and best of all, it didn't cost an arm and a leg to accomplish. About $80 to $85 bucks total.

Wendy

[ratboy]

I use a Kalk reactor and peristaltic dosing pump. I made my reactor to use a magnetic stir bar instead of a pump. No clogging or leaks. When I had a clear acrylic reaction chamber the stir plate would light up and you could view the mixing if you wanted. Only problem is Kalk weakens acrylic and it started leaking.
You should only be dosing clear supernatant and not any particulates. My timers were messed up and dosed kalk once while mixing and if I wasnt home I surely would have nuked my tank
--Erik

[Ram_Puppy]

calc weakens acrylic? I have never heard this? every comercial stirrer I have seen uses an acrylic chamber.

[NaCl_H2O]

Alex, see This (http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=8725) thread - Kalk reactor design by JimD, copied by me. I've had it running about a week - still trying to get the dosing, timers, etc. just right! In general, very pleased with the results.

I'll be glad to sketch out what I did if you are interested. Total cost in materials was probably < $60, including the MaxiJet 1200.

[alexwolf]

i would love to get instructions

[falcam7]

Alex, see This (http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=8725) thread - Kalk reactor design by JimD, copied by me. I've had it running about a week - still trying to get the dosing, timers, etc. just right! In general, very pleased with the results.

I'll be glad to sketch out what I did if you are interested. Total cost in materials was probably < $60, including the MaxiJet 1200.

Steve,

Can I get some instructions too? :D :D :D :D :D


Thanks

[Jenn]

Steve, you probably knew this was gonna happen, but if you don't mind, I would like a sketch too.

Thanks,
Jenn

[Sunhutch]

Ditto on the DIY instructions.

My current method is mixing kalk in a bucket letting it sit/settle overnight and siphoning the solution into 3000cc IV bags. Then I slowly drip it in to the sump with IV tubing. Its can be a PITA, but its cheap.

Alex if you venture into constructing kalk reactors I would be interested.

Ken

[alexwolf]

I will! You know it :)

[NaCl_H2O]

Ok, Ok, Ok - I'll try to sketch what I did sometime in the next few days/weeks.

JimD - Any objection to me passing along your design idea?

Alex - If you go into mass production of this, you might want to offer Jim a frag or something ;)

[alexwolf]

of course. Im not greedy.