Aquacontroller Jr adding kalk question

corman1313 · 09/20/2009, 11:47 AM

So I need some help with adding kalk. I have never used it but I want to start. I am running an ato from autotopoff.com but i was wondering if I should use a separate container with the kalk in it and have a small dosing pump hooked up to the controller to turn on and off when the ph drops or should i mix it in the top off water? I also want to add it very slow so what pump should I use if i do go with a seperate container? Any help would be great.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 02:28 PM

No one has any help?

herpboyben · 09/21/2009, 02:34 PM

i wouldnt hook the kalk reactor to recirculate the tank water if thats what youre asking. just hook the kalk reactor up to your ato. then plug the ato power supply into the controller so that it cuts the power to the ato when the ph rises above a certain point. hth
Ben

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 03:05 PM

Mix it in the topoff container, cover it, let it settle and use it as your topoff. Dont remix, and have your pump setup so that it doesn't pickup the settled stuff on the bottom. Your ATO should have sensitive enough floats so that it only tops off a very small amount many time throughout the day. Aqualifter makes a great ATO pump.

You can use the ACjr as an extra safety override. You can have it set that if the pH gets too high, it can shut off the ATO.

rezaktp · 09/21/2009, 04:04 PM

Also have the ACjr show a high PH alarm like a flashing light, so you know something needs attention.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 05:06 PM

ok so just mix it in the top off water, and make sure the pump isnt all the way down, so as is i dont have my ato hooked into the DC8 for the ACjr, so i would plug it into the DC8 and program it to say something like if ph is 8.6 then ato off and if its anything below then ato on?

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 05:11 PM

I would let the float switch determine on/off for the ATO. The ACjr just have a high PH cutoff if something went wrong. No need for a low PH statement.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 05:14 PM

Well how would the ACjr controll the cutoff if it wasn't plugged into it?

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 05:25 PM

It would. It would be on all the time as far as the ACjr is concerned. The ATO unit would turn it on and off. The ACjr would only turn it off if the pH got to high.

BTW, I run this same setup (ACIII).

ATO#-B06
If Time > 00:00 Then ATO ON
If pH > 08.30 Then ALM ON
If pH > 08.31 Then ATO OFF

The ACIII DC8 always has power to the ATO setup unless pH goes over 8.31 which will shut off the ATO controller/pump. Otherwise, the power is always applied to the ATO and the float switches control the topoff.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 07:38 PM

Oh I get it, Well ,my next question is would you recommend dosing kalkwasser? I have some lps and a few sps and will be adding more soon but wanted to look into this first.

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 07:42 PM

Yes. IMO, kalk in your ATO is a great way to supplement ca/alk and boost pH. Very easy and inexpensive way to go.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 08:03 PM

So would I need to dose anything else with it or will it be fine on it's own?

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 08:07 PM

That depends on your tanks requirements. You wont know till you try. Measure your ca and alk with the kalk ATO and see how it goes. You can start with 1 teaspoon/gallon. If the levels are still dropping, you can go to 2 teaspoons/gallon max.

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 09:42 PM

one more question sorry, what brand would you recommend?

sjm817 · 09/21/2009, 09:45 PM

I use the BRS
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calciu...1_3/index.html

corman1313 · 09/21/2009, 11:15 PM

Ok thank you for all your help, i appreciate it.

d0ughb0y · 09/22/2009, 10:09 AM

This is what I do,

RODI reservoir -> p1 -> kalk reactor -> sump
RODI reservoir -> p2 -> sump

so both pumps pull from the same reservoir, except p1 goes through the kalk reactor.

on AC jr, my program is (the float switch is connected to the AC jr input).

If Switch closed then p1 on
If Switch closed then p2 on
If ph > 8.40 then p1 off
if ph <8.41 then p2 off
If switch open then p1 off
If switch open the p2 off

What this does is top off with kalk solution if ph <= 8.4, otherwise just top off with freshwater.

This works perfect for me and is totally adaptive to the demand of your tank. e.g. if ph is high, then most of the top off will be freshwater, on days when ph is running low, most top off will be kalk solution. No stopping of top off when ph is too high.

(shameless plug, if you are using ac jr, check out my free program at http:sites.google.com/site/acserial2web)

Runfrumu · 09/22/2009, 11:24 AM

Be careful with kalk as it is easy to mess some stuff up using it.

I thought I was good to go with it until this past week when the power went off and then when it came back on my calcium reactor pump didnt start back up until 8 hours later because it was clogged. When it did come back on the tank had evaporated around a half gallon (125 with 20 gallon sump).

Luckily I had water going for a water change and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.3 in my 125 within 10 minutes of so so I lost nothing and nothing got stressed.

I took the kalk reactor off the tank that day, and though my PH is lower I would rather deal with that than nuking my tank.

corman1313 · 09/22/2009, 05:31 PM

well I won't be using a reactor just mixing it in the top off water like sjm817 said and I cant hook the float switch to the controller because i dont have the port for it. A family member is always home so if the power did go out i dont think it would be much of a problem. So it's ok to use in my top off as long as the power doesnt go out?

sjm817 · 09/22/2009, 06:15 PM

I dont see how a power outage could cause a problem.

corman1313 · 09/22/2009, 09:40 PM

I think they just mean that there will be no top off going into the sump because of power being out and a lot of water will evaporate and when the power turns back on the ato will top off more kalk then wanted

09/20/2009, 11:47 AM	#1
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	Aquacontroller Jr adding kalk question So I need some help with adding kalk. I have never used it but I want to start. I am running an ato from autotopoff.com but i was wondering if I should use a separate container with the kalk in it and have a small dosing pump hooked up to the controller to turn on and off when the ph drops or should i mix it in the top off water? I also want to add it very slow so what pump should I use if i do go with a seperate container? Any help would be great.

09/21/2009, 02:34 PM	#3
herpboyben Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 329	i wouldnt hook the kalk reactor to recirculate the tank water if thats what youre asking. just hook the kalk reactor up to your ato. then plug the ato power supply into the controller so that it cuts the power to the ato when the ph rises above a certain point. hth Ben __________________ Will work for frags PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 30g frag tank, 45 hex reef, 180g reef in the works

09/21/2009, 03:05 PM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Mix it in the topoff container, cover it, let it settle and use it as your topoff. Dont remix, and have your pump setup so that it doesn't pickup the settled stuff on the bottom. Your ATO should have sensitive enough floats so that it only tops off a very small amount many time throughout the day. Aqualifter makes a great ATO pump. You can use the ACjr as an extra safety override. You can have it set that if the pH gets too high, it can shut off the ATO. __________________ - Scott

09/21/2009, 04:04 PM	#5
rezaktp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 1,407	Also have the ACjr show a high PH alarm like a flashing light, so you know something needs attention. __________________ Happy Reefing! Current Tank Info: 180g. Reef w/8-80w t-5's, 70g. Rubbermaid basement sump w/10g. fuge, APEX, Reef Octopus SRO 2000 Skimmer, 1/3hp Aqualogic chiller, 57w Aqua Ultraviolet UV, BRS 2-part w/2-Drews Dosers, 4-MP40wES

09/21/2009, 05:11 PM	#7
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I would let the float switch determine on/off for the ATO. The ACjr just have a high PH cutoff if something went wrong. No need for a low PH statement. __________________ - Scott

09/21/2009, 02:28 PM	#2
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	No one has any help?

09/21/2009, 05:06 PM	#6
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	ok so just mix it in the top off water, and make sure the pump isnt all the way down, so as is i dont have my ato hooked into the DC8 for the ACjr, so i would plug it into the DC8 and program it to say something like if ph is 8.6 then ato off and if its anything below then ato on?

09/21/2009, 05:14 PM	#8
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	Well how would the ACjr controll the cutoff if it wasn't plugged into it?

09/21/2009, 05:25 PM	#9
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	It would. It would be on all the time as far as the ACjr is concerned. The ATO unit would turn it on and off. The ACjr would only turn it off if the pH got to high. BTW, I run this same setup (ACIII). ATO#-B06 If Time > 00:00 Then ATO ON If pH > 08.30 Then ALM ON If pH > 08.31 Then ATO OFF The ACIII DC8 always has power to the ATO setup unless pH goes over 8.31 which will shut off the ATO controller/pump. Otherwise, the power is always applied to the ATO and the float switches control the topoff. __________________ - Scott Last edited by sjm817; 09/21/2009 at 05:30 PM.

09/21/2009, 07:38 PM	#10
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	Oh I get it, Well ,my next question is would you recommend dosing kalkwasser? I have some lps and a few sps and will be adding more soon but wanted to look into this first.

09/21/2009, 07:42 PM	#11
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yes. IMO, kalk in your ATO is a great way to supplement ca/alk and boost pH. Very easy and inexpensive way to go. __________________ - Scott

09/21/2009, 08:03 PM	#12
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	So would I need to dose anything else with it or will it be fine on it's own?

09/21/2009, 08:07 PM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	That depends on your tanks requirements. You wont know till you try. Measure your ca and alk with the kalk ATO and see how it goes. You can start with 1 teaspoon/gallon. If the levels are still dropping, you can go to 2 teaspoons/gallon max. __________________ - Scott

09/21/2009, 09:42 PM	#14
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	one more question sorry, what brand would you recommend?

09/21/2009, 09:45 PM	#15
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I use the BRS http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calciu...1_3/index.html __________________ - Scott

09/21/2009, 11:15 PM	#16
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	Ok thank you for all your help, i appreciate it.

09/22/2009, 10:09 AM	#17
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	This is what I do, RODI reservoir -> p1 -> kalk reactor -> sump RODI reservoir -> p2 -> sump so both pumps pull from the same reservoir, except p1 goes through the kalk reactor. on AC jr, my program is (the float switch is connected to the AC jr input). If Switch closed then p1 on If Switch closed then p2 on If ph > 8.40 then p1 off if ph <8.41 then p2 off If switch open then p1 off If switch open the p2 off What this does is top off with kalk solution if ph <= 8.4, otherwise just top off with freshwater. This works perfect for me and is totally adaptive to the demand of your tank. e.g. if ph is high, then most of the top off will be freshwater, on days when ph is running low, most top off will be kalk solution. No stopping of top off when ph is too high. (shameless plug, if you are using ac jr, check out my free program at http:sites.google.com/site/acserial2web) Last edited by d0ughb0y; 09/22/2009 at 10:14 AM.

09/22/2009, 11:24 AM	#18
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	Be careful with kalk as it is easy to mess some stuff up using it. I thought I was good to go with it until this past week when the power went off and then when it came back on my calcium reactor pump didnt start back up until 8 hours later because it was clogged. When it did come back on the tank had evaporated around a half gallon (125 with 20 gallon sump). Luckily I had water going for a water change and was able to get the PH down from 8.6 to 8.3 in my 125 within 10 minutes of so so I lost nothing and nothing got stressed. I took the kalk reactor off the tank that day, and though my PH is lower I would rather deal with that than nuking my tank. __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

09/22/2009, 05:31 PM	#19
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	well I won't be using a reactor just mixing it in the top off water like sjm817 said and I cant hook the float switch to the controller because i dont have the port for it. A family member is always home so if the power did go out i dont think it would be much of a problem. So it's ok to use in my top off as long as the power doesnt go out?

09/22/2009, 06:15 PM	#20
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I dont see how a power outage could cause a problem. __________________ - Scott

09/22/2009, 09:40 PM	#21
corman1313 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks Posts: 194	I think they just mean that there will be no top off going into the sump because of power being out and a lot of water will evaporate and when the power turns back on the ato will top off more kalk then wanted