DIY Kalk Dripper

[LakeEd]

This is a simple, inexpensive Kalk dripper. It may not be a precise way to dose Kalk, but for my 75gal tank, it works wonderfully! (Pic #1)

I've used one of the Oceanic containers. This holds just over 1 1/2 gallons of RO/DI water. Notice the long airline tubing to the Left (Pic #2), with the green Air Valve on it. This is how I control the drip.

Pic #3 is how I installed the airlines thru the lid of the Oceanic container. The long tube inside, is where the long airline tube and valve is connected to outside. The short tube has the shorter length airline tub outside.

I've placed the lid on top of the container in this picture. The drip line goes to the left, and the shorter airline tube is tucked back thru the handle of the container. Notice the length of the hard airline tube. It is long enough to fit down into the container when screwed on, and be about 1 1/2" off the bottom of the container.

I simply mix my Kalk in this container. There are no holes, so no worries about anything giving out and leaking all over the place on me. I place the long airline with the Air Valve over my sump... and open it fully. I then gently blow into the short airline. This builds up pressure inside the container, forcing the liquid out the long airline. As soon as the dripping starts I'm able to stop blowing, and tuck that line back thru the handle.

Now, simple adjust the Air Valve to the desired drip rate. For my system, since I drip Kalk over night... I adjust that drip rate to 1 drop about every 2 seconds. In the morning before heading off to work, I simply close that Air Valve.

This replenishes most of my evaporation water daily, and at the same time is adding Kalk to my system.

I hope this helps give others some ideas for Simple, DIY fixes!

Ed

 

[wrightme43]

Cool setup Ed.

 

[LakeEd]

Thanks Wrightme. It is just something very simple, with pieces I had lying around anyway... and does work very nicely for me.

I tried the hole in the bottom of a container thang, and that worked for a couple days, but my RTV gave out, and I ended up with quite a mess. This took care of that problem for me.

 

[jlehigh]

good job! That saves ya a few. Since I used a real IV it cost me 8 bucks to make mine. I used the 5 gallon filtered water jugs since I have a pretty big tank. I like the look of the blue Oceanic jug though.

 

[LakeEd]

Jlehigh,

Ya know, when I started thinkin about this project, I went to my local Drug Stores, as well as the Hospital Supply stores looking for an IV drip type setup also. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, and finally a guy took my name and number, and I was told he would "Look into the possibility of selling something like that to someone other than a hospital". Well... as you may of guessed, I never received a response from them... so this is what I came up with. *grinz*

Ed

 

[jlehigh]

I experienced the SAME thing!!!! With the one exception of success. My Vet! No-one but my vet took me seriously and they gladly sold me two IV kits.

 

[LakeEd]

Kewl!!! Never thought of checking with my Vet! Great idea!!!!

I'd like to see what other's have come up with for their DIY Kalk drips. Show your stuff all, PWEASE!!! *grin*

 

[Angelscrx]

I am a visual learner. I have to see it to understand it and i do. This is so awesome LakeEd I reallyn appreciate you taking the time to set this up. I have all of this stuff laying around in my extra fish junk box. Guess what I will be working on my days off? :idea: So what drip rate you recommend if you were dripping all day log or over noght for a 55g? Thanks

 

[Katchupoy]

Great job.

Does this means that you have to do a mix daily?
I used to this approach before but gave up because of the daily chore.
Also I had problem with kalk blocking the end part of the drip.
You can actually loosen it and tighten it again but its hard to keep the consistent drip from previous settings.

I now use this one.
http://marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=KM1675

and a 10 gallon AGA tank on top of my sump. This gives me at least 8 to 10 days before I refill, depends on the evap for a particular day.

 

[Angelscrx]

Great job.

Does this means that you have to do a mix daily?
I used to this approach before but gave up because of the daily chore.
Also I had problem with kalk blocking the end part of the drip.
You can actually loosen it and tighten it again but its hard to keep the consistent drip from previous settings.

I now use this one.
http://marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=KM1675

and a 10 gallon AGA tank on top of my sump. This gives me at least 8 to 10 days before I refill, depends on the evap for a particular day.

Yeah but how did you set this up? I love all the idea sharing but like I said i am a visual learner and you have to show me. I haven't seen any of these things set up in a home tank. Please help a brother out

 

[Katchupoy]

image

Here is an old pic.
I made a hole on the side of my glass tank. This should be at least 1/4" inch above desired above water level on the sump.

if you have multiple chamber on your sump. Please put this on the last chamber where you have your return pump.

it will automatically open the valve when the water reach a certain level (low).
Come to think of it like a "flush sysytem" on your water closet. It stops pumping water when it reach a cetain level of water level (high).

Note: this is a gravity feed approach. So the source should be at least higher than the water level (higher than the kent floater)

Hope this helps.

 

[LakeEd]

To answer a couple questions about my dripper. In my 75Gal tank, I evaporate just under 1/2 gallon a day. I only drip Kalk in the evenings, once my lights have gone off. I start the drip, and fiddle with it until it gives me about 1 drop every 2 seconds. I go about my thang, go to bed... and in the morning just before I head out the door for work I shut it off. I would estimate that this is giving me about 75-80% of what I'm losing in evaporation. I still do have to add RO/DI about every 3rd day to top off my tank fully. Also, by doing this drip at night, I have found that I get 3 days out of my DIY drip tank before I need to mix new. Every Saturday, as part of my weekly maintenance, I pull off the air valvue, and using a toothbrush, clean it... and I don't seem to have problems with it getting clogged.

I like the idea of the float switch Cesar!!! I think it would work very nicely for RO/DI top-off... but I would be concerned with it adding Kalk too quickly when it does reach that low level. What have you found with that? Is it just dumping it in all at once?

 

[Katchupoy]

LakeEd,

This shut off thing from Kent has a 30 degree (guessing) play on it.
And since the water level doesnt go down very quickly, it will give you the same amount what is being evaporated.

It works like if the float goes down for the first 5 degrees (guessing) then it will open the valve in such a way that it will only give you drops. But if so happen that you have a big water displacement then you will use up the whole 30 degree swing of the float valve and instead you will have a more than drops of water supply.

Also, for safety feature, you need to put a control valve between the reservoir and the float valve. Just in case you want to turn it off or on.

Yes, you can incorporate this one to a kalkwasser or a DIY nielsen reactor, and connect it into your RO/DI system. Too bad that my RO/DI is too far from my tank. Thats why I need a big reservoir. Also works great if you need to make a long vacation.

 

[LakeEd]

Good info Cesar... thanky!!!! I will have to look into picking up one of these! *Smile*

 

[johnehr]

Do you drip with just an air hose and air valve? Does that give you enough adjustment to drip the water in a controlled manner? Right now Im not using Kalk, but will be shortly and need it for acclimation. Any suggestions on what would need to be different to drip for acclimation? I lost a peppermint shrimp after acclimating for 40 minutes, going to increase that time now hopefully.

 

[LakeEd]

Johnehr,

I haven't used this method for acclimation, but I can see how it should work very nicely as well. Having the air valve on the end of your air tubing, will allow you to adjust how quickly that drip is taking place... and should work VERY nicely for an acclimation method!

GOOD IDEA!!!!

 

[uwscotch]

I just took a look at your setup and as you mentioned, you clean the valve once a week. I had a similar setup but made a modification that you may want to consider. Screw the lid on tight. Remove the air valve from the end that the kalk passes through and put it on the end that lets in the air. You can then regulate the amount of air that is entering the container which in turn will regulate the rate of drip due to the negative pressure occuring from the siphon. In the end, your valve should no longer require cleaning. the end of the kalk drip line may become encrusted over time, but a quick rub with the fingers should be the only cleaning necessary.

 

[LakeEd]

Uwscotch,

Another SUPER idea!!! I am going home to see how this works for me this evening!

Thanks!!!

 

[Angelscrx]

Ooooooh nice idea. Katchupoy, thanks for the pic.

 

[FragOutpost]

Here is my variation on the same design.

DIY Kalk Doser


Difficulty Level – 1 (out of 1-5)

This DIY project is about as easy as it gets. The materials can be acquired for less than $5 and the project only takes about five minutes from start to finish.


Materials Required:


* 1 - empty 1 gallon water container
* 1 - 60” piece of 1/4” airline tubing
* 1 - 10” piece of 1/4” airline tubing
* 1 - airline regulator
* 1 - 9” piece of 3/16” rigid airline tubing
* pickling lime




Tools Required:


* Drill with 7/32" bit
* Scissors to cut the airline tubing to size