Kalk skin in return section

[BKLYNREEF123]

Hey MR

I have been dosing kalk as part of my ATO makeup water for the past week. I just noticed a film layer in the return section of my sump where the RODI plus kalk enters the system. I am currently dosing 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. I know the film is normal in the ATO bucket but Is this normal to see this in the return? Im running an auto topoff.com 2 float switch ATO and have an aqualifter pump connected to it. The tubing that pulls the kalkwasser out of the bucket is hanging in the middle of the bucket in an attempt to take only the clear dissolved kalkwasser. Should I place the output from the ato into a different chamber?


Thanks

 

[ReefMonkey13]

I have been dosing Kalk for a couple of months now and have not experienced that.

You should double check the in take of the ATO pump. Make sure it is not sucking up the slurry at the bottom. if it is, raise the pump or input hose.

I have mine about 2 inches from the bottom of my reservoir.

 

[Widdy]

Dosed Kalk for about 1.5 years and never experienced what you've mentioned. But I did dose into the drain section of the sump where it is much more turbulent.

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

I checked the tubing and raised it a bit I don't think it was low enough to pick up the slurry but maybe I'm wrong. My ATO bucket is white so it's hard to tell for sure.

 

[jedimaster1138]

Dosed Kalk for about 1.5 years and never experienced what you've mentioned. But I did dose into the drain section of the sump where it is much more turbulent.

+1

Dosing into the drain section where there is tons of turbulence can help mix things up much more effectively and avoid weird build ups. I dump both kalkwasser and 2-part right by my drain lines.

That being said there shouldn't be a skin build up. That's odd. I'd definitely make sure you're not pulling the slurry but rather the more mixed, clear solution that's further off the bottom.

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

I adjusted the hose in the top off bucket and removed most of the skin on the surface of the return section. I might have to empty the sump to get rid of it 100%. I think I will try moving the top off from the return section to the drain/skimmer section. I am wondering if this has consequences of causing the skimmer to overflow, or skimming off the kalk. I also wonder if this will effect how my ATO works. I assume the fluid level will balance out, but wonder if it will take longer and cause the pump to run longer..