So, my tank needs a little calcium and alkalinity input. I have a plan I'd like everyone to consider and comment on...
I have a food grade 5 gallon bucket that I am going to use to make a redneck kalk reactor because I already have the stuff needed laying around. It will be fed from my ATO holding vessel via a Litremeter III. The design is simple. Water will enter the bucket from the Litremeter III via a 1/4" icemaker tubing QD near the bottom of the bucket and overflow to the sump via a 1/2" fitting near the top of the bucket. An MJ1200 on a lamp timer will stir the kalk for a very short period every once in a while. I'll set the timer so that water at the the top of the bucket doesn't have any undissolved kalk in it... I hope. I'm also hoping the water will get to a reasonable saturation level and a high-ish pH. I'm thinking about 1/2 gal per day will be a good place to start.
The ATO is a gravity fed, level switch controlled and solenoid operated system that delivers about 1 to 1.5 gallons per day to the sump depending on humidity in the house. Pumping kalkwasser into the sump will automatically reduce the ATO water delivered by the identical amount added.
The Litremeter III is higher than the top level of the redneck reactor and the ATO holding vessel. The sump water level is well below the top of the sump's water level. I don't think I have to worry about siphoning.
I'm really only using about 3-4 dKH of alk per week so the demand isn't great, but I still need to add a little to reduce swings. I also think if it were available, the corals & stuff would use a little more. So, what am I missing - will it work - Is there a better option for stirring - etc.?
I've posted this on a another forums in an effort to get the most feedback. Sorry if you have had to read it twice. Thanks in advance for your input.
I have a food grade 5 gallon bucket that I am going to use to make a redneck kalk reactor because I already have the stuff needed laying around. It will be fed from my ATO holding vessel via a Litremeter III. The design is simple. Water will enter the bucket from the Litremeter III via a 1/4" icemaker tubing QD near the bottom of the bucket and overflow to the sump via a 1/2" fitting near the top of the bucket. An MJ1200 on a lamp timer will stir the kalk for a very short period every once in a while. I'll set the timer so that water at the the top of the bucket doesn't have any undissolved kalk in it... I hope. I'm also hoping the water will get to a reasonable saturation level and a high-ish pH. I'm thinking about 1/2 gal per day will be a good place to start.
The ATO is a gravity fed, level switch controlled and solenoid operated system that delivers about 1 to 1.5 gallons per day to the sump depending on humidity in the house. Pumping kalkwasser into the sump will automatically reduce the ATO water delivered by the identical amount added.
The Litremeter III is higher than the top level of the redneck reactor and the ATO holding vessel. The sump water level is well below the top of the sump's water level. I don't think I have to worry about siphoning.
I'm really only using about 3-4 dKH of alk per week so the demand isn't great, but I still need to add a little to reduce swings. I also think if it were available, the corals & stuff would use a little more. So, what am I missing - will it work - Is there a better option for stirring - etc.?
I've posted this on a another forums in an effort to get the most feedback. Sorry if you have had to read it twice. Thanks in advance for your input.
