Help making a Kalk dripper? or better ideas?

[Anonymous]

OK. I had gotten my Calcium and Alk back in line. I tested again last few weeks and the calcium is dropping again, normal. I would like to use Kalk for a while until I get brave enough to get a reactor.

I have made this.

1 gallon container I drilled a hole in it about 1 inch fro mthe bottom. I installed a piece of air tubing (siliconed) and at the end I have a air adjustment valve.

I mix about 1 tsp of Kalk into it. I let it sit overnight then drip it into my sump.

Heres the problem. It ALWAYS gets clogged and I have to open the valve and reset and I come back a few hours later and the same thing CLOGGED!!!!!!!!!.

What am I doing wrong?

Is there a better way?

I evaporate at least a gallon a day if not more now in the winter. I have an auto topoff that consists of a float switch attached to a powerhead in a bucket fileld with RO. The floatswitch is plugged into a timer that allows the powerhead to only run for 1 minute twice a day. This is to prevent a flood incase the float switch gets stuck. It has saved me at least twice already due to the float switch sticking.
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Mercedes Benz Econic

 

[Ben1]

FWIW I made the same device and had the same problems. For we it was always the airline valve that got clogged. I think it would work better if I used a pinching type of dripped instead of the screw type on the end of the hose. The type you pinch on the hose should not clog as fast and should make it easy to clear the clog. I was ready to buy a kent dripped for my 20 h tank but dont want to spend the money on somethig that doesnt seem that much better then what I have made.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you decant the 'good' kalkwater from a mixing container to the dosing container? That way you don't have the kalk sediment at the bottome of your doser.

 

[Anonymous]

No. I do not have another container for that now.

I used to do that when I was using a Kent Aqua doser and that still clogged.

I got to be mixing it wrong or I am missing something.
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safe investing

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC, this may be a problem with drip dosers. Kalk is pretty sticky, cakey stuff, and it builds up deposits. So as it drips, a little residue is left - and it tells two friends and so on and so on, until it clogs.

An air pump powered doser or a medical doser would take care of the problem mostly. Once and a while you still have to clean the line.

RR

 

[Lostmind]

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/bree ... asser.html

Why not dose with vinegar? I admit, I have only used kalk once, but I followed the instructions at the link above and there was almost no sediment.

Just a thought.

 

[Robf]

I'm dosing kalk to bring my pH up from my reactor... I plan on getting a litermeter in the new year, but for now I'm doing the exact same thing as you. I'm using empty b-ionic gallon jugs.

I find that tying a knot in the airline works much better than a valve. It's adjustable, and it won't clog as quickly.

Give it a try.... I favor a know over a micro ball-valve any day.

-R

 

[Mogo]

I also use a very similar kalk system. For me clogs in the air line valve are unavoidable. That's why I use 2 of them that I alternate after a couple of dosings. The unused one sits in a vinegar bath until I put it in line again.

 

[Anonymous]

It will clog on the first dose after a cleaning.
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Mercedes C291

 

[The Shaman]

Rob - You may want to raise your outlet tubing up from the bottom a tad. FWIW, I use a gallon milk jug w/ silicone airline tubing inserted from the top, snaked down the 'handle' and stopping about 2" or so from the bottom of the jug. I also use a cheap plastic airline valve. BTW, I also spike the lime w/ vinegar. I rarely have to clean the valve, and have never had to clean or replace the tubing. HTH

 

[PDD]

I had the same problem but not anymore.

Now, I use a small powerhead (retrofitted to push water through the small tubing and valve) with a digital timer from HD that can be cycled on/off by the minute.

It works without any problems at little $$.

Good luck.

 

[Gaffes]

Are you sure it is getting clogged, and it isn't just a problem with air being able to enter the container?

I had the same problem. I used a one gallon Gatorade jar with a screw on lid and a siliconed airhose like yours. Once it dripped for a while, there was no way for air to enter in to replace the water that had left meaning there was not enough air pressure inside to force any more watrer out.

I just loosened the screw top of the Gatorade container while I was dripping and everything worked fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you sure it is getting clogged, and it isn't just a problem with air being able to enter the container?

I had the same problem. I used a one gallon Gatorade jar with a screw on lid and a siliconed airhose like yours. Once it dripped for a while, there was no way for air to enter in to replace the water that had left meaning there was not enough air pressure inside to force any more watrer out.

I just loosened the screw top of the Gatorade container while I was dripping and everything worked fine.

Sheer genious!
Lets see if that is the issue...

 

[Mogo]

8O

 

[Anonymous]

I open the top a little. I have had that problem already and that helped but thats still not it.

Thanks though.
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Schizophrenia Forum

 

[Anonymous]

Damn!