ATO with Kalk

fixedpoint · 10/12/2015, 11:40 PM

My sump has three compartments. I originally had my ATO put water into my return compartment. However, the kalk in the ATO would periodically cause a failure in the optical ATO sensor in the same compartment. I then tried putting the ATO outflow into the first compartment, but I have my heaters there and it caused buildup on the heaters. Now, I have the ATO empty into my second compartment but I think this may be causing die off in my chaeto.

First: Water comes from display through a filter sock, heaters, skimmer
Second: Refugium, ATO (with kalk)
Third: Return pump, ATO sensor, temperature sensor, ph sensor

What compartment do you have the ATO outflow empty into? Does kalk cause damage to chaeto or other macros?

Molly1414 · 10/13/2015, 12:55 AM

My ATO pumps into the first compartment where I have my skimmer. This gives the Kalk lots of water to mix with.

shifty51008 · 10/13/2015, 01:45 AM

My kalk goes into my fuge, never an issue with my cheato

DDon · 10/13/2015, 12:42 PM

My ato with kalk is discharged into my return section. Never had an issue there but I use 2 float switches not optical sensors.
If i try to discharge into skimmer section or center section where reactor pump takes a suction I end up with increased pump maintenence or plugged media reactors.

kinnadian · 10/13/2015, 03:10 PM

You can't put the heaters into the 2nd or 3rd compartment?

eddiereefs · 10/13/2015, 04:29 PM

I put the kalk in the third chamber with an airstone to aerate and mix the kalk. Works great. Also using a float valves, works great just clean often

Spectral_Ranger · 10/14/2015, 08:05 AM

My ATO return w/ kalk goes in first chamber w/ skimmer and temp & pH probes. My heaters are in the return chamber. Seems to work fine. I actually like having the ATO return near the pH probe as I can see in the Apex log little pH spikes so I have an idea of how often the ATO runs.

baitrunner · 10/14/2015, 09:41 AM

sorry for hitching - for those who run the Kalk mix ATO to the skimmer chamber - do you notice your skimmers effectiveness go down when it tops off? Mine seems to, so i put the ATO in the return chamber, which caused some cloudiness in my DT, so i moved it back to the drain section.

10/12/2015, 11:40 PM	#1
fixedpoint Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 134	ATO with Kalk My sump has three compartments. I originally had my ATO put water into my return compartment. However, the kalk in the ATO would periodically cause a failure in the optical ATO sensor in the same compartment. I then tried putting the ATO outflow into the first compartment, but I have my heaters there and it caused buildup on the heaters. Now, I have the ATO empty into my second compartment but I think this may be causing die off in my chaeto. First: Water comes from display through a filter sock, heaters, skimmer Second: Refugium, ATO (with kalk) Third: Return pump, ATO sensor, temperature sensor, ph sensor What compartment do you have the ATO outflow empty into? Does kalk cause damage to chaeto or other macros?

10/13/2015, 01:45 AM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	My kalk goes into my fuge, never an issue with my cheato __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/13/2015, 12:55 AM	#2
Molly1414 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 130	My ATO pumps into the first compartment where I have my skimmer. This gives the Kalk lots of water to mix with.

10/13/2015, 12:42 PM	#4
DDon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Brentwood,CA Posts: 776	My ato with kalk is discharged into my return section. Never had an issue there but I use 2 float switches not optical sensors. If i try to discharge into skimmer section or center section where reactor pump takes a suction I end up with increased pump maintenence or plugged media reactors.

10/13/2015, 03:10 PM	#5
kinnadian Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 187	You can't put the heaters into the 2nd or 3rd compartment?

10/13/2015, 04:29 PM	#6
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	I put the kalk in the third chamber with an airstone to aerate and mix the kalk. Works great. Also using a float valves, works great just clean often

10/14/2015, 08:05 AM	#7
Spectral_Ranger Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 155	My ATO return w/ kalk goes in first chamber w/ skimmer and temp & pH probes. My heaters are in the return chamber. Seems to work fine. I actually like having the ATO return near the pH probe as I can see in the Apex log little pH spikes so I have an idea of how often the ATO runs.

10/14/2015, 09:41 AM	#8
baitrunner Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 19	sorry for hitching - for those who run the Kalk mix ATO to the skimmer chamber - do you notice your skimmers effectiveness go down when it tops off? Mine seems to, so i put the ATO in the return chamber, which caused some cloudiness in my DT, so i moved it back to the drain section.