Kalkalator, well it's installed and running.

[atoll]

Just set mine up and running. If I can do it anybody can, so simple using the App. Set it to add 3000ml 24/7. My total evaporation in winter almost 6 litres.

I made a stand for it out of egg crate and 4x20mm plastic conduit connectors. I had to get the outlet over the glass ATU water partition. I positioned the Kalkalator in my ATU reservoir and extended the outlet for the drips to drop close to the return pump.

I also did a little mod. The stirer is revolving at a rate of 5X a minute which is the recommended rate but you can increase or reduce the speed. The stirrer sits about 13mm off the bottom so I figured we could help the very bottom layer of kalk to be stirred as well. I added 4 X black plastic tie wraps to the stirrer that reach approximately 12mm below the stirring rod. Is it necessary? I don't know I just figured the mod would help ensure all kalknis stirred.

A few photos of my mods and the setting.

 

[KrisReef]

I had to look it up

Marine Spectra - Reef Aquarium Automation

www.marinespectra.com

I can’t figure out how this replaces water and Kalk as it operates? Do you have to top it off or?

 

[atoll]

I had to look it up

Marine Spectra - Reef Aquarium Automation

www.marinespectra.com

I can’t figure out how this replaces water and Kalk as it operates? Do you have to top it off or?

The Kalkalator does not replace water, nothing is removed.
The Kalkalator has it's own built in peristaltic pump that draws water from, in my case my ATU reservoir it is sitting in. The screen tells you the strength of the kalk as it depleates.

On my photo taken soon after installation it shows my kalk at 100% saturation.the Kalkalator last has an inbuilt conductivity meter constantly monitoring the strength of kalk within. When the kalk is spent you simply top it up or replace with new kalk.

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you for the detailed explanation! Looks like a great solution for keeping the tank stable.

 

[atoll]

I emailed Layton about cleaning the probe suggesting citric acid and a soft brush or cotton bud. I got a reply within an hour or two. Here is his reply.

Quote "
And there is more.
I wrote to Layton about the conductivity probe and got a reply within an hour or 2. Here is his reply.

Quote "Hi Les

Happy New Year!

Yes, citric acid (or any dilute acid, such as vinegar) can be used to clean the probe, along with a non abrasive cloth or cotton wool bud as you suggest. The gold plated electrodes are very inert chemically, so the biggest risk in damaging is scratching the plating with something strongly abrasive.

Regarding calibration, each probe comes individually calibrated. Unlike pH probes, conductivity probes tend not to drift significantly over many years (especially for the accuracy requirements of this application). Most drift will be related to build up on them, which can be removed as above, restoring them to essentially factory accuracy. We’ve had units running for near two years continuously now, and after cleaning, found them to be within +/- 1% of their original calibration. So we’ve made the decision that user calibration is unnecessary. If we find that changes in the future, we could expose the calibration ability in the user interface.

Thanks,
Layton"

 

[garias]

Okay I Think i am probably better turning my 40 gallon ato into kalk doser what do you guys think was thinking of adding a pump to turn on for like 10m minutes a day to stir thinks up

 

[atoll]

Okay I Think i am probably better turning my 40 gallon ato into kalk doser what do you guys think was thinking of adding a pump to turn on for like 10m minutes a day to stir thinks up

Risky. Your ATU may dose too much in one go esp if the pump to stir the kalk has not long run and the ATU doses the milky liquid into the tank or sump.
It would be safer to use a seperate container for the kalk with a controllable peri pump dispensing the kalk.
Before I bought the Kalkalator that is how I dosed kalk. A simple DIY setup l.

 

[garias]

I only use dosers for ato currently using the hydros Sole

 

[atoll]

Two little mods I have done
First one, it be a little difficult to see if the stirring rod is actually stirring. To make it more visible to the eye. I attached a small zip tie to the rod a few inches down from the head and trimmed it. Now I can see it from across the room at the rod turns.
Second mod was I noticed the stirring rod T is about 13mm off the bottom so the lowest level of kalk might not be getting stirred. I attached a few zip ties to the tee piece that finish just 1mm off the bottom ensuring the bottom layer also gets stirred.

 

[atoll]

My Kalkalator has been running for over 7 weeks now and am very satisfied with it performance to date. VGVFM when you consider it has a built in peri pump with Stepper motor and a conductivity probe and meter to infirm you of the kalkwasser strength. Very easy to operate either on the head unit or via the App.
There is currently a 10% discount running as well.
Compared to the likes of the Deltec its something of a bargain.

 

[atoll]

Just posted an overview on YouTube after running the Kalkalator for around 2 months. Bit naff, bit amateurish and a good few slip ups