Kent Gravity Doser

Stray32 · 02/12/2009, 03:16 PM

Efficient and inexpensive way to dose Kalk? Or don't waste my something?

seapug · 02/12/2009, 03:26 PM

It would work well for that, but you can also set up a drip line siphon from a water jug.

xJake · 02/12/2009, 03:48 PM

Don't bother with the Kent Dosers; They're a waste of money. I've used a few of them over the years, and they've all either clogged or leaked at one point or another. The tubing they use is just too thin, and the threaded fitting they use for drip line is flimsy.

It's much cheaper, and more durable to just buy a 5-gallon bucket, drill a hole toward the bottom, thread in a plastic (PVC, HDPE, etc.) NPT 1/4" or 3/8" valve to control the drip rate, and then run a hose from the valve into your sump to drip the kalkwasser. Better yet, you could attach it to a float valve and make yourself a gravity-feed automatic top-off system.

You could also do something like this: http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/po...sode-44-a.html

Stray32 · 02/12/2009, 05:20 PM

btw, I meant waste or money, not something haha, not sure where that came from.

Thanks guys

Jason Donohoe · 02/12/2009, 07:01 PM

I just posted this pic on another thread earlier today. It's my poor man's kalk dripper.

I used a 1 gallon jug and an iv drip set with most of the tubing cut off. I just punctured a hole with a small nail in the edge of the jug and pushed the spiked/tapered end of the drip set in. It hasn't leaked yet (2 months and counting) without any kind of sealant. I am sure that at some point the thin tubing will fail but at less than $10 in production costs I am willing to replace it.

Toddrtrex · 02/12/2009, 08:23 PM

I have been using them for many years now (( the oldest is well over 8 years old )), no leaking issues at all.

Stanley-Reefer · 02/12/2009, 09:27 PM

I use them on vacation. IV lines are NOT meant to last forever. The drop rates are accurate and easy to dial in.

Stray32 · 02/13/2009, 08:39 AM

Should I drip directly into my sump or into my ATO reservoir?

Toddrtrex · 02/13/2009, 10:32 AM

I drip into my sump -- into the baffles.

Jason Donohoe · 02/13/2009, 10:33 AM

Some people mix kalk directly in their ATO or use their ATO to add the premixed kalk to the sump.

I drip the kalk (directly into the sump) because I do not have an ATO.

02/12/2009, 03:16 PM	#1
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	Kent Gravity Doser Efficient and inexpensive way to dose Kalk? Or don't waste my something?

02/12/2009, 03:26 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	It would work well for that, but you can also set up a drip line siphon from a water jug. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

02/12/2009, 05:20 PM	#4
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	btw, I meant waste or money, not something haha, not sure where that came from. Thanks guys __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

02/12/2009, 07:01 PM	#5
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	I just posted this pic on another thread earlier today. It's my poor man's kalk dripper. I used a 1 gallon jug and an iv drip set with most of the tubing cut off. I just punctured a hole with a small nail in the edge of the jug and pushed the spiked/tapered end of the drip set in. It hasn't leaked yet (2 months and counting) without any kind of sealant. I am sure that at some point the thin tubing will fail but at less than $10 in production costs I am willing to replace it. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

02/12/2009, 08:23 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I have been using them for many years now (( the oldest is well over 8 years old )), no leaking issues at all. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/12/2009, 03:48 PM	#3
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	Don't bother with the Kent Dosers; They're a waste of money. I've used a few of them over the years, and they've all either clogged or leaked at one point or another. The tubing they use is just too thin, and the threaded fitting they use for drip line is flimsy. It's much cheaper, and more durable to just buy a 5-gallon bucket, drill a hole toward the bottom, thread in a plastic (PVC, HDPE, etc.) NPT 1/4" or 3/8" valve to control the drip rate, and then run a hose from the valve into your sump to drip the kalkwasser. Better yet, you could attach it to a float valve and make yourself a gravity-feed automatic top-off system. You could also do something like this: http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/po...sode-44-a.html

02/12/2009, 09:27 PM	#7
Stanley-Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stanley, NC Posts: 1,933	I use them on vacation. IV lines are NOT meant to last forever. The drop rates are accurate and easy to dial in.

02/13/2009, 08:39 AM	#8
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	Should I drip directly into my sump or into my ATO reservoir? __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

02/13/2009, 10:32 AM	#9
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I drip into my sump -- into the baffles. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/13/2009, 10:33 AM	#10
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	Some people mix kalk directly in their ATO or use their ATO to add the premixed kalk to the sump. I drip the kalk (directly into the sump) because I do not have an ATO. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank