DIY Kalk Doser

[spsreefer]

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

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser1.jpg

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser6.jpg

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser7.jpg

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser8.jpg

[spsreefer]

Step 1:
Drill 2 7/32” holes in the cap of the empty water container.


http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser2.jpg

[spsreefer]

Step 2:
Push one end of the 60” piece of airline tubing about an inch through one of the holes in the top of the cap and connect it to the 9” piece of rigid airline tubing.


http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser3.jpg

[spsreefer]

Step 3:
Push one end of the 10” piece of airline tubing about one inch through the remaining hole in the cap.

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser4.jpg

[spsreefer]

Step 4:
Attach the airline regulator to the opposite end of the 60” piece of airline tubing.


Step 5:
Add 1 teaspoon of pickling lime to the empty gallon container. Fill the container about a quarter of the way full with RO water and shake to mix. Next continue to fill the water container with RO water making sure to leave about 2 inches of head room at the top.


Step 6:
Screw on the cap to the container and adjust the rigid airline tubing so that extends to about an inch from the bottom of the container. After the kalk is mixed it will take a few minutes to settle. You want to make sure that the end of the rigid tubing is above this level because you do not want to siphon the sediment into the tank.


Step 7:
Open the valve on the airline regulator all the way and blow into the short piece of airline tubing to start the siphon. After the kalk begins to flow, adjust the valve to set the drip rate at about 1 drip every 1-2 seconds. Over time the regulator will become clogged up and will need to be soaked in vinegar to remove the calcium deposits.




http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/images/kalk_doser/kalk_doser5.jpg

[Patrick J]

I'm currently using this DIY, so far its been working, its easy and its really 5 dollars. I modded mine differntly though. Ill see how it works and Ill suggest my mod to this DIY.

[FragOutpost]

The problem with this diy dripper is that over time the valve will become clogged up with calcium deposits and need to be cleaned with vinegar.

Someone on another board suggested that instead of placing the valve where the kalk comes out of, you could place it on the short piece of tubing where the air inlet is. This way you limit the amount of air that is able to enter the gallon jug, thus eliminating the need to clean the valve due to clogging. I have yet to try it, though.

I'm interested to hear about any improvements you might have.


I have made an extra one of these drippers for drip acclimating new fish and/or corals.

[Patrick J]

I read this and it settled all my fears for dosing kalk!



This is the little mod i did to mine.

This way i dont have to clean the little plastic piece all the time and this tube will clean easier.

http://www.fragoutpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9&stc=1

[beanpole209]

do they still make ball pickling lime ?

[FragOutpost]

The company that manufacturers Ball's pickeling lime, http://www.alltrista.com/, no longer makes it. It is a shame since my local grocery stores used to carry it.

An alternative option is to try Mrs. Wages: http://mrswages.com/.
Mrs. Wages is supposedly sold at Wal-Mart and Target stores, but I have been unable to find it at my local stores.

[lwalcott]

I have been using Mrs. Wages for over 2 years now and love it. I buy mine at Wal-Mart. Sometimes it is hard to find until canning season.

[mjsnook]

This may be a stupid question but here goes: "What is the purpose of the pickling lime?"

[FragOutpost]

Welcome to Frag Outpost mjsnook! :)

Pickeling Lime is food grade calcium hydroxide and serves many purposes in the aquarium. It adds calcium, raises ph, enhances protein skimming and reduces phosphates to name a few. It is not a stupid question at all. For more info on different forms of calcium read this thread - http://www.fragoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=305