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How would I set up a diy kalkwasser top off system? (1 Viewer)

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Luman01

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What is confusing me, is the timing, what timer would I use to be able to dose a single minute at every hour?

I feel like I’m making this wayyy to complicated for myself lmao.

Any suggestions?
Oh and this would go on my 40br

Lucas
 

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Something to think about when trying to dose using Kalk in your top off water. At different times of the year, the evaporation rate of your tank is different. For instance, mine evaporates 3g a day in the summer, but only about 1g a day in the winter. If I was just dosing using my top off and set the concentration for the summer months, I would be under dosing in the winter months. If it were me, I would just figure our your depletion rate and dose manually every morning when you feed your fish. It just takes a squirt with a syringe. Quick, easy, and full proof.
 
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Luman01

Luman01

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Something to think about when trying to dose using Kalk in your top off water. At different times of the year, the evaporation rate of your tank is different. For instance, mine evaporates 3g a day in the summer, but only about 1g a day in the winter. If I was just dosing using my top off and set the concentration for the summer months, I would be under dosing in the winter months. If it were me, I would just figure our your depletion rate and dose manually every morning when you feed your fish. It just takes a squirt with a syringe. Quick, easy, and full proof.
That’s what I’m doing with caribsea 2 part. But I tend to forget to, or I’m out of town. I just want to try all the options, before I hook up a doser cuz that’s prob the easiest way in my book to dose.
 

Tstew32

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Something to think about when trying to dose using Kalk in your top off water. At different times of the year, the evaporation rate of your tank is different. For instance, mine evaporates 3g a day in the summer, but only about 1g a day in the winter. If I was just dosing using my top off and set the concentration for the summer months, I would be under dosing in the winter months. If it were me, I would just figure our your depletion rate and dose manually every morning when you feed your fish. It just takes a squirt with a syringe. Quick, easy, and full proof.

If your ambient temperature is the same and constant in both the summer and winter, wouldn’t the evaporation rate be the same? I try to keep my house temp constant throughout the year.


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Matyas

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Id say go the easy route. Diy kalk dripper above tank or sump, and drip in a constant amount every day. BRS makes a good DIY kit.
 

sneezebeetle

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I would reach out to @Raccoh and ask her about her set up. It is simple, but effective. Can't remember whose model she used, but he is a fairly well know hobbyist. I wanna say Randy Holmes Farley, but I could be completely off.

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Tstew32

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I would reach out to @Raccoh and ask her about her set up. It is simple, but effective. Can't remember whose model she used, but he is a fairly well know hobbyist. I wanna say Randy Holmes Farley, but I could be completely off.

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That sounds right he is the chemist on Reef2Reef


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Raccoh

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I would reach out to @Raccoh and ask her about her set up. It is simple, but effective. Can't remember whose model she used, but he is a fairly well know hobbyist. I wanna say Randy Holmes Farley, but I could be completely off.

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I had Kalk set up as a drip from a bucket. It’s much easier to mix in my RedSea ATO, which is 3 gallons.
I added a few links that I hope you find helpful. Kalkwasser is easy and effective. ;)



Julian Sprung good info: the Kalk/Reactor is great, it does not take up room, I’m guessing he had it hanging from the nano just for demo, but the DIY is just as effective.

 

sneezebeetle

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I had Kalk set up as a drip from a bucket. It’s much easier to mix in my RedSea ATO, which is 3 gallons.
I added a few links that I hope you find helpful. Kalkwasser is easy and effective. ;)



Julian Sprung good info: the Kalk/Reactor is great, it does not take up room, I’m guessing he had it hanging from the nano just for demo, but the DIY is just as effective.

Thank you Holly! Great info :)

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Luman01

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The second video helped a lot I understand it now! I’ll prob order the two little fishes reactor from MD and might as well use the same brand mix unless some recommends something else. Now with the reactor, in the video, was the water in the reactor ro/di or saltwater?
 

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The second video helped a lot I understand it now! I’ll prob order the two little fishes reactor from MD and might as well use the same brand mix unless some recommends something else. Now with the reactor, in the video, was the water in the reactor ro/di or saltwater?

RODI, here’s the set up manual: https://www.f3images.com/IMD/UserManuals/TL4613.pdf

another link to the Avast Kalk stirrer with reviews and set up
Kalk Stirrer

One more for you Lucas:
 
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sneezebeetle

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RR-MAN

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Lucas,

Use gravity fed to make this work - it's a very simple process. Sometimes we make things too complicated. Since your tank is 40/g breeder you don't even need a separate top off system. This 5/g jug will provide enough top off to last you many days. The only catch is to keep the jug above the sump water level.

1-Get one of the plastic jugs in raccoh's video 1 (most lfs sells them for $10)

2-Attached some ro di tubing with john guest fitting (the jug comes with a little spout for john guest fittings) - see pic for the JG fitting that you need.

3-on the other end (sump) attach a $5 float valve
 

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Tstew32

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How is the auto top off method performed? I know Cody used it with much success.


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sneezebeetle

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How is the auto top off method performed? I know Cody used it with much success.


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I tried that method initially. Jamal at TAP explained it to me. Basically I filled up a 5gl jug with RODI and put 1/2 tsp Kalk in it. Mixed really well and then let it settle. Any undisolved kalk will settle at the bottom. Then you pour the water into your ato, careful to not add the undisolved kalk at the bottom of your jug. Pretty simple.

The 1/2 tsp amount is just what I used based on what my load was, Lucas may only need to start with 1/4 tsp or he may elect to use more. But Im sure that there is a formula out there somewhere to help folks figure out how much they need.

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