Kalk Dosing Options

[PugsAndFish]

I run a 20 gallon AIO tank with LPS and softies. I had two separate ATO containers, one with kalk and one without kalk. The one without kalk was used as a regular topoff. The one with kalk had a doser that delivered kalk to the tank. The doser unfortunately died recently.

I've since added kalk to the main ATO and delivered kalk during the topoff. I found that the levels weren't keeping up so I added a pump to the ATO container to stir the kalk once a minute every hour.

I've been considering what the best way to add kalk is...what do you think is the best?

1) Kalk stirrer/reactor - Never used one before. Would it work with an AIO tank?
2) A separate container with mixed kalk and dose it with a doser
3) Add kalk to the topoff water and mix it up every hour to keep it highly concentrated

 

[KStatefan]

2) A separate container with mixed kalk and dose it with a doser

This option and If that does not meet your demand supplement with an additional method to add calk.

 

[InvaderJim]

A kalk reactor would last longer because the doser is not coming in contact with the kalk, just water from your ato. Your doser just pumps water from your ato into the reactor and the excess overflows out of the kalk reactor. That being said it's not necessary to run a reactor and if you're worried about cost #2 is also a viable option that a lot of people use with success. You must keep up with maintenance on your lines otherwise they will clog, and fast.

 

[fish farmer]

Number 2. I use a peristaltic type pump, there are several affordable brands, make sure to have a spare piece of surgical tubing for the pump part. They can wear out and not pull like they should.

I started with a less than saturated solution, my doser hooked to a light timer, dosing every 15 minutes, take it slow, test often. If kalk doesn't do it for you, you can use the pump to dose something different.