Kalk Drip Help!

[dwall174]

I’m having problems keeping my drip rate steady on a DIY kalk drip unit! I’m using one of those wheel style pinch valves with ¼” vinyl tubing. I do let the kalk set for about four hours before I first use it & I have a mini ball valve to shut it off during the day. I will set it at one drip per sec at night & by morning it’s less than one drip every 3~4 sec? The bottom of the kalk storage to the top of the sump is about a 12” ~ 16” drop! Does it make any difference if the line goes straight to the sump or does it help to let it loop down then come back up? Or are there any other tricks to keeping the drip rate steady?

 

[NaH2O]

dwall - is the end getting clogged at all by morning?

 

[Ugla]

I used to drip before building a reactor. I used an IV drip line. It never had a problem. Might want to try to get one of those. It came on the Kent kalk dripper.

 

[Scooterman]

I do loop my drip tube over a bar above my sump, this loop may look like a roller coaster but I keep it all down hill.

 

[dwall174]

dwall - is the end getting clogged at all by morning?

Yea the end does clog up some times but not always? I usually take a turkey baster & rinse the end off with tank water every morning & that seems to help keep it unclogged.

I used an IV drip line. It never had a problem.

I'm using the same style IV clamp like this

I keep it all down hill

Thanks I've tried it both ways & it doesn't seem to matter that much?

 

[Scooterman]

We need a better idea because eventually mine will clump up at the tip.

 

[DonW]

A nurse type unit will not clog up. Just use 3/8 hose.

Don

 

[Katchupoy]

Also, to add some 2 cents.

Use another container to drip and a seperate one to mix. To further avoid any residue.
Also, I dont think it is very important that you have a consistent drip....

What is important that it will finish all the contents of the container.

So you could have a 3 second drip at first then 1 second drip at the last part.

The idea here is to supply the kalk slowly.... and the variations of 3 and 1 in a second of drip is not a big change to the tank inhabitants. It wont even change your ph suddenly but gradually. So i dont think that this is an issue.

 

[dwall174]

A nurse type unit will not clog up. Just use 3/8 hose.

You have any pic's of this nurse type unit?

 

[Scooterman]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=2659&product%5Fid=7345