[Red Sea Reefer 250] Help Dosing Kalkwasser

MrTang13

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I have a really well built system and I’m looking to elevate my pH to fight Dino’s. The way I’d like to do that is through kalkwasser dosing.

I’m told I can’t put the solution into the factory supplied gravity ATO.

How should I set this up?
 

gfox

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I have a really well built system and I’m looking to elevate my pH to fight Dino’s. The way I’d like to do that is through kalkwasser dosing.

I’m told I can’t put the solution into the factory supplied gravity ATO.

How should I set this up?
I use a Kalk stirrer with my ATO
 
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MrTang13

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So are you saying I wouldn’t need an additional resovoir? Could I simply use the stirrer in conjunction with the ATO?

How would the plumbing work?

Or am I better dosing 2 part?
 

Butuz

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So are you saying I wouldn’t need an additional resovoir? Could I simply use the stirrer in conjunction with the ATO?

How would the plumbing work?

Or am I better dosing 2 part?

I simply add Kalk to my ATO reservoir. Details are in my build below, pages 8-10, including disc with Seachem re Kalk.
 

gfox

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So are you saying I wouldn’t need an additional resovoir? Could I simply use the stirrer in conjunction with the ATO?

How would the plumbing work?

Or am I better dosing 2 part?
I use a peristaltic pump to pump from my RO container to the Kalk Stirrer to the sump.
 
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MrTang13

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I simply add Kalk to my ATO reservoir. Details are in my build below, pages 8-10, including disc with Seachem re Kalk.

My god. I saw your build.

There’s nothing simple about it lol.

Did you ever hear back your algae issues? Sounds like we’re going through the same thing. Ironically, we also have very similar builds.

I’m thinking to just add a Neptune Doser instead. That and the new NYOS reactor.

Thoughts?
 

nereefpat

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Usually, folks don't recommend ATOs for kalk, because evaporation isn't constant.

Who told you that you can't, and why?

It could be that the supplied pump or the container can't handle kalk.

A doser or even a "drip" system works well.
 
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MrTang13

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Usually, folks don't recommend ATOs for kalk, because evaporation isn't constant.

Who told you that you can't, and why?

It could be that the supplied pump or the container can't handle kalk.

A doser or even a "drip" system works well.


Because the valve on the ATO is at the bottom; the kalk will cake and clog the valve.
 

nereefpat

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Ah, in that case...

You will have to avoid mixing the kalk in that container, but you can still mix it up somewhere else and transfer the clear liquid to the container.

Or a dosing system of some sort would be best, still.
 

Butuz

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My god. I saw your build.

There’s nothing simple about it lol.

Did you ever hear back your algae issues? Sounds like we’re going through the same thing. Ironically, we also have very similar builds.

I’m thinking to just add a Neptune Doser instead. That and the new NYOS reactor.

Thoughts?

Yep, took care of algea pretty quickly. A few things helped, I removed foam guards from my MP40s (best thing I have done), algea was clogging it, which was causing slow circulation and making it even worse. Then, added gfo mixed with carbon to the reactor, put skimmer on 24/7, did 20% water changes weekly for 3 weeks. Seemed to help, or maybe as simple as the tank getting over that cycle itself. For dosing, I have not installed the ekoral doser yet, but have it at home. In a few weeks will put it in place. Kalk is doing a great job keeping alk and calcium in check, so I only manually dose magnesium now until I install the doser. I also add Seachem Reef Plus and Reef Trace, one capful a day, alternating them.
 

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