tygger March 20, 2006 March 20, 2006 I have limited space and was wondering what's the easiest way to start dosing kalk? Do any of you dose directly from your top-off reservoir? This seems like it would be the easiest solution, but I wouldn't know where/how the easiest way would be to pre-mix the kalk before putting it into my top-off. If I put kalk powder directly into the top-off, how do I keep the powder from getting sucked up into the top-off pump? This is all new to me... any suggestions? Thanks!
Larry Grenier March 20, 2006 March 20, 2006 Easiest and cheapest aren't always the same. I'm in the cheap category so here's what I did. I got an old plastic pretzel barrel and drilled a hole in the side about 1 inch from the bottom just big enough for an air line to fit thru. I then siliconed a piece of airline in the hole and put an air flow controller you can buy at most pet stores on the end. I fill the jug with filtered water and a spoon of Kalk, mix it up and let it sit for an hour. I then let it slowly drip into my sump. The hole is 1 inch from th bottom so only the clear liquid enters the tank rather that the kalk powder. That's cheap and easy!
tygger March 20, 2006 Author March 20, 2006 That sounds like a good idea. How do you know how much to drip?? Do you think a constant drip is better than mixing it into the entire top-off container? I have no room underneath the stand and my top-off container is already going to have to sit next to the tank. Maybe there's a way I can put a small container on top of the topoff container without it looking too ugly :D
Caribbean Jake March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 you want to drip it slowly with RO/DI water. Never mix your Kalk with saltwater before dosing, only mix with RO/DI water. My experience has taught me that pouring the Kalk into the tank will elevate PH and Alk and can be harmful to your inverts, specially corals that depend on water filtering like Lobophyllia and others.
steveoutlaw March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 In my opinion (which might not be worth much) there are only 2 ways to dose kalk if you want to make sure your tank gets the same amount all the time. Either use a dosing pump or your ATO through a kalk reactor.
Larry Grenier March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 My top-off IS my kalk drip container. A dosing pump and a level sensor are the way to go but my budget hasn't reached that level :bigcry:
flowerseller March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 Hey Larry, your kit couldn't have been that cheap..... One large container of pretzels, and how much beer to empty it with?
luceneck March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 Hey Larry, your kit couldn't have been that cheap..... One large container of pretzels, and how much beer to empty it with? LOL ... that was good!
Gatortailale March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 Hey Larry, your kit couldn't have been that cheap..... One large container of pretzels, and how much beer to empty it with? At least he has his priorities right . . . cold one before toy for tank. Sounds like a few more folks need to build a chipinator kalk reactor
Gatortailale March 21, 2006 March 21, 2006 Forgot to mention that chip bought a chiller so he can keep his beer cold :77:
JMsAquarium March 22, 2006 March 22, 2006 LMAO... Now here's the perfect excuse. Next time I want to go out with the guys for some "quality beer time", I'll tell my wife: "See you later Honey, I am going out to dose some kalk" :idea2:
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