How many gals. will an IO bucket hold?

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

How many gallons of water does a IO bucket hold? I thought it was 5 gallons but It looks like more than that. (200g mix bucket) I just got an email that dosing pump I ordered is out of stock. I'm making a temp. kalk drip / top off system.

Thanks,

Angie


Right about now my hubby is thinking I shouldn't have any more days off. I had / have 3 in a row this week. Lucky for me.....unlucky for my checkbook.

[Grandmaster_Toad]

There are older IO buckets that hold 5 gallons.....but alot of them hold 6 and some change.
GT

[Reptoreef]

BTW, kalkwasser is also a benefit for precip of phosphate.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Thanks GMT and Repto. I think this one holds 6+ It is one of Tall ones. Can I mix up a weeks worth of top off / kalk at a time? Do I have to stir it up daily or just leave it alone? If I can mix up a weeks worth at a time that would be easy. I can then mix up a fresh batch at the same time I'm doing my weekly water changes.

Here is my auto top off pic

[dakar]

Might find that after a couple of days your additives may starting to precipitate out of the water, if so just add a powerhead to your top off to keep it stirred up and you should be in good shape.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Funny I was just going to ask if I should put a power head in there or maybe an airstone to keep things moving. Which would be better?

[dakar]

I like a powerhead at the bottom blowing upwards, moving water around in a circle tends to pull stuff out of the water and holds it suspended in the the center of the bucket, kind of a whirlpool effect. An airstone would work too, personally the noise from air pumps gets on my nerves.

[Reptoreef]

KEWL!!! That is exactly how mine is set up... only, I have it do an auto top-off 24/7 by using a float valve/switch in the sump. RO/DI feeda directly into the bucket and is also controlled by a float valve. My powerhead in the bucket stirs 3 X's per the lights off(10pm... 5 min, 2am... 5min, and 6am... 5 min) all controlled by a digital timer. Keep an eye on clogging in the tubing. My out let to the sump is up from the bottom of the bucket 12". As long as you periodically check the PH in the ka reactor and keep it at approx 12-12.5... you're smokin'. I add as often as neccessary. In your bucket, I suggest adding 1 cup uf kalk mix, then allow to stir 5 min and test PH. Do this daily for a week and keep a record... this should give a general idea of how much/often you should be looking to recharge the reactor.

Repto

[JustDavidP]

Yeah.. the only thing I'd done different is put the doser outlet a couple inches higher. This way you are assured that you aren't pulling any of the settled kalk, and other crystals from the bottom of the bucket. Even in RO/DI water, the kalk will crystalize around phosphates and other ionic hosts. You really don't want to drip that into your system if you can avoid it.

DON'T keep a powerhead or airstone running in it constantly. Do like Repto does and just have it stir occasionally. Honestly, once a day should be fine. I mix my kalk once every two days. If you run a PH or airstone constantly, you will both affect the ph readings and will have SOME crystal "in suspension" which will either get into your system or clog the drip. Better to mix, and let it settle to a clear liquid to be dripped..

I make a week worth of Kalkwater in an IO bucket too. Just make sure you keep the lit closed so you don't get a LOT of crystal growth on the water surface. You're gonna get some, but you can limit its progress by keeping it in an airtight container.