Dosing pumps

[DrMark]

While my new tank is doing well, I contnue to struggle keeping pH up. Always seems to be between 7.7 and 7.9.
I run a geo calcium reactor.

I have just bought (not here yet), the Geo kalk reactor. I plan to not use it in a topoff scenario, but instead dose small amounts at night via a dosing pump.

I thought about running a seperate line from the topoff resevoir to a dosing pump, then to Kalk reactor, then from reactor to sump. Maybe add 250cc per night. Does this sound reasonable??

Also, in terms of dosing pumps, what are reccomendations??

I have spent much time researching them. A two channel would be good as could use other channel to dose a supplement.

How good is the 2 channel Aqua-medic?? or the Reef-Filler?? or ??

Thanks for help!!

mark

[Bill S]

Why don't you want to use top off water for this? Biggest problem is kalk is not very soluble in sea water - or in water, for that matter. It's hard to get any volume into the tank without doing it via top off.

[Texreefer]

I have always dosed kalk continuously through a kalk reactor.. much simpler.. what you want to do should work though

[glennr1978]

From what I've read, LitermeterIII's are very good.

[glennr1978]

Why don't you want to use top off water for this? Biggest problem is kalk is not very soluble in sea water - or in water, for that matter. It's hard to get any volume into the tank without doing it via top off.

Am I wrong for assuming that when dosing kalk via top off that it would actually cause a larger Ph spike? I mean, my tank does the majority of its' topping off during the day when the display lights are on. This is also the time when the Ph in my tank gets to its' highest point. So if the tank uses more top off water that is loaded with kalk, wouldn't this cause the Ph to rise much higher, and drop lower at night when Ph is already falling, and top off is used less?

does that make sense, lol?

sorry for the thread jacking, Mark!!

[DrMark]

I just dont want to put that much Kalkwasser into the system, it has a pretty good size topoff requirement having the frag tank, sump, refugium, main tank to evaporate from

[glennr1978]

I just dont want to put that much Kalkwasser into the system, it has a pretty good size topoff requirement having the frag tank, sump, refugium, main tank to evaporate from

Dillute it more?

[DrMark]

I am learning more about the Kalk. Dosing at night is better, from what I have read.
I want to start off with small amounts daily at night and see how it goes. I want it to be a seperate system than the topoff.
May not be the best way, but if it will work as above, I would like to try it.

What you said, Glenn, makes sense to me.........right or wrong.

[Jonthefishguy]

Yes it is best to add kalkwasser during the night time if your going to simply add a small batch to counteract the effect of pH dropping during the night due to non-photosynthesis. During the night the corals start releasing CO2 in the water which in turn lowers the pH in the aquarium. This is why you will get a different reading for pH if you check for it right before the lights go on and again right before the lights go off. If you are going to use kalkwasser in your make up water for top off, be sure to make it for no more than 1 weeks supply as it become unstable as time passes. Kalkwasser has a ph of 14 once it is supersaturated and slowly decreases over time. The issue of having your pH sky rocket is due to too much kalkwasser water being added in at one time. Be sure to keep an eye on your alkalinity as any time you add anything to raise your calcium level, your alkalinity reduces and vice versa. This is why the two part A B solution is used the way it is sold. There are products on the market that compliment each other so that you get both levels to not effect each other too dramatically.

[LoneStar]

From what I've read, LitermeterIII's are very good.

I second that...

[swjim]

I would go with Litermeter too.

That said, I am also a fan of using kalk for all topoff needs. If I recall correctly, you recently added a very nice controller to your system. If that's the case you could always program it to turn off the dosing pump when the PH rises to 8.4 or whatever you want to use as your maximum.

[chark]

I like the simple Drew's Doser from Bulkreefsupply.com. I plan on buying two next month form my 2 part dosing. It does also seems that with your controller you could dose based on pH and that would be safest.

[DrMark]

How about the profilux stand alone dosers (1-4pumps)?
Lonestar.........any knowledge on these?
mark

[LoneStar]

How about the profilux stand alone dosers (1-4pumps)?
Lonestar.........any knowledge on these?
mark

They are pretty nice....although I haven't bought one yet. I will sometime next year once my funds and reef demand gets there.

I like the fact they have a unit thats stand alone. GHL equipment is very stable, and very well built. I can only imagine thats how it is with their dosing units. I know they have spent lots of time to make sure the equipment is ready for the market before they throw it out there.

On the standard doser's, you can buy a smaller unit, with the option to upgrade it to 4 pumps if need be. I would think the stand alone unit has the same capability.

http://cherrycorals.com/equipment/home.php?cat=35

[Kristy]

I understand that pH drops at night and therefore the recommendation to add kalk at night, especially given the explanation that jonthefishguy offered. And that is why we run our fuge lights on a reverse cycle, etc.

BUT, if you are adding kalk in order to bring up pH that is continually low, such as dr.Mark describes, does it matter when you add the kalk? Do you still need to try to add it at night?

And... while we are on the subject, can anyone explain why you want to add the kalk to the topoff or would it be just as good to add to the sump that our topoff feeds into, or directly into the display tank?

Anyone kind enough to attempt to answer, please remember to phrase your explantions at about a kindergarten level. I did pass college chemistry but it was a LOT of years ago. Thanks much!

[Jonthefishguy]

The reason for adding kalkwasser water to your top off reserv is that as your water evaporates, the reserv gradually releases kalk water back into your aquarium as apposed to a seperate bucket releasing kalk water into your tank. By doing this, you allow kalk water to be released at the rate that your aquarium loses water thru evaporation.

[swjim]

I understand that pH drops at night and therefore the recommendation to add kalk at night, especially given the explanation that jonthefishguy offered. And that is why we run our fuge lights on a reverse cycle, etc.

BUT, if you are adding kalk in order to bring up pH that is continually low, such as dr.Mark describes, does it matter when you add the kalk? Do you still need to try to add it at night?

You have it right, as long as your PH isn't too high you can add it at any time. The primary benefit of adding at night is that normally a tank's PH drops when the lights are out and the high PH of the kalk can help to limit how much of a change there is in PH between day and night. With a controller that monitors the water level and PH you can set programming to turn off the kalk drip when either the PH or water level gets too high.


And... while we are on the subject, can anyone explain why you want to add the kalk to the topoff or would it be just as good to add to the sump that our topoff feeds into, or directly into the display tank?

You're not actually adding it to the topoff, you would be using it in place of some or all of the freshwater topoff. Kalk is a good way of adding calcium and alkalinity in a balanced fashion but in a system with normal evaporation and relatively high calcium needs from SPS, LPS, clams, coralline, etc it's usually not enough to meet a full system's demands. Dr. Mark's calcium reactor will meet these higher demands but the CO2 from the calcium reactor has the reverse effect in that it lowers PH. With this in mind one possible way of adjusting the system while meeting the same calcium/alkalinity demands would be to lower the effluent drip rate from the calcium reactor so that less CO2 gets into the system and making up for the reduced calcium reactor production with kalk.

Hope this helps.

[DrMark]

Well, i was tempted by the aquamedic and by some other pumps you would have to run timers with.

But, after all that I ended up buying a stand alone 3 channel profilux doser.

More money than I wanted to spend, but that is always the case with this hobby.

mark

[jpond83]

what is a dosing pump

[swjim]

Dosing (aka peristaltic) pumps are used to introduce a controlled amount of liquid into the aquarium. You can set them to pump slowly or quickly depending on the need, but the important distinction is that you know exactly how much you are adding in a way that you can't reliably do with a normal pump.

[wesheltonj]

Dr Mark,
I was tempted in buying just the GHL Light Control II, but when the Beginner pack went on sale, I end up with the Profilux II Controller, then added the eX upgrade. In short order, you will be selling your controller and the Pinpoint that you just bought, when you see what theses babies can do to match your pumps.

[DrMark]

Dr Mark,
I was tempted in buying just the GHL Light Control II, but when the Beginner pack went on sale, I end up with the Profilux II Controller, then added the eX upgrade. In short order, you will be selling your controller and the Pinpoint that you just bought, when you see what theses babies can do to match your pumps.


possible, but not likely.....I just love this Lighthouse pro XLS.
So easy to set up and run via the ethernet in my house.
The service from MCU Research is also above and beyond.
I like the idea of having all the same brand stuff, but I dont see myself selling the Lighthouse. Plus, with all the extra stuff I have some big $$ in it.
I spent weeks deciding on the controller.
I can monitor/control: salinity, pH, effluent pH, ORP, temp x2, topoff, etc, etc.
To make changes to settings it is simple windows based application on my computer. Internet and text messaging/email is next.
mark