JBJ ATO...Pump, and Kalk questions

Reef Newb11 · 10/28/2008, 07:30 PM

Hi all I hope this is the right forum to ask this, if not mods please move.

In my current tank which is a 29 gallon Biocube with a 150w MH I have setup a JBJ ATO. I kind of threw this together since I didnâ€™t realize how much water I would really evaporate with the metal halide light. So it is set up using a 5 gallon glass tank in the stand with the original Biocube return pump (about 306 gallons an hour) which I think is a bit overkill and the reason my salinity is low right now. (forgot to unplug while doing a water change) but that is besides the point. Basically I was wondering what pump should I get for use with this ATO? Also I would like to start dosing Kalkwasser. I see that some people just add the Kalk powder to their reservoir and dose it that way and some people buy a really expensive stirrer/reactor. Basically I am just looking to see it anyone can tell me a good way to set this up.

Thank you all for your time in reading this.

Keith P · 10/28/2008, 07:53 PM

I use a Tom's Aqualifter. Cheap and works well.

downhillbiker · 10/28/2008, 08:14 PM

i dose kalk in saturation in ATO with a aqualifter as well. it works great. i also have a small pump that comes on in the bucket to stir it when dosing. many people say ONLY dose the liquid/clear, but anthony calfo, a well respected reefer/author, doses kalk in a shot glass, in a SUPER saturation. for this reason i feel comfortable with my method.

Reef Newb11 · 10/28/2008, 08:35 PM

so. if I get one of the aqualifter pumps I could mix up 2 gallons of water with some kalk powder and just use that to make up all of my evaporation correct?

Also would this pump be strong enough to go from the resivoir in the stand all the way into the tank...about 3.5 feet?

downhillbiker · 10/28/2008, 08:51 PM

yes. you just mix kalk and it pumps to replace evap. i replace 100% of my evap with kalk water. probably not strong enough to overcome that much head. dont know for sure though. i use on a minimal/none incline. maybe someone else knows, or the pump has a "head" spec you can look up?

Reef Newb11 · 10/28/2008, 08:59 PM

I just looked and found that the pump can do 60 inches total head, 30 for the intake side and 30 for the outake. Thanks for your help I think i will buy this pump and try it out.

10/28/2008, 07:30 PM	#1
Reef Newb11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 280	JBJ ATO...Pump, and Kalk questions Hi all I hope this is the right forum to ask this, if not mods please move. In my current tank which is a 29 gallon Biocube with a 150w MH I have setup a JBJ ATO. I kind of threw this together since I didnâ€™t realize how much water I would really evaporate with the metal halide light. So it is set up using a 5 gallon glass tank in the stand with the original Biocube return pump (about 306 gallons an hour) which I think is a bit overkill and the reason my salinity is low right now. (forgot to unplug while doing a water change) but that is besides the point. Basically I was wondering what pump should I get for use with this ATO? Also I would like to start dosing Kalkwasser. I see that some people just add the Kalk powder to their reservoir and dose it that way and some people buy a really expensive stirrer/reactor. Basically I am just looking to see it anyone can tell me a good way to set this up. Thank you all for your time in reading this.

10/28/2008, 08:14 PM	#3
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i dose kalk in saturation in ATO with a aqualifter as well. it works great. i also have a small pump that comes on in the bucket to stir it when dosing. many people say ONLY dose the liquid/clear, but anthony calfo, a well respected reefer/author, doses kalk in a shot glass, in a SUPER saturation. for this reason i feel comfortable with my method. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

10/28/2008, 08:51 PM	#5
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	yes. you just mix kalk and it pumps to replace evap. i replace 100% of my evap with kalk water. probably not strong enough to overcome that much head. dont know for sure though. i use on a minimal/none incline. maybe someone else knows, or the pump has a "head" spec you can look up? __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

10/28/2008, 07:53 PM	#2
Keith P Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 101	I use a Tom's Aqualifter. Cheap and works well.

10/28/2008, 08:35 PM	#4
Reef Newb11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 280	so. if I get one of the aqualifter pumps I could mix up 2 gallons of water with some kalk powder and just use that to make up all of my evaporation correct? Also would this pump be strong enough to go from the resivoir in the stand all the way into the tank...about 3.5 feet?

10/28/2008, 08:59 PM	#6
Reef Newb11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 280	I just looked and found that the pump can do 60 inches total head, 30 for the intake side and 30 for the outake. Thanks for your help I think i will buy this pump and try it out.