KALK KING DOSER INSTRUCTION MANUAL (MODEL KK8)
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Contents KALK KING DOSER SYSTEM BRIEFING (MODEL KK8) ..................................................................... 3 KALK KING FEATURES & SPEC........................................................................................................ 4 PARTS LIST ..................................................................................................................................... 5 SYSTEM SET UP.............................................................................................................................. 8 SYSTEM START UP AND FUNCTIONAL CHECK ............................................................................. 11 KALKWASSER USAGE FACTS ........................................................................................................ 13 FINE TUNE KALK KING TIMING .................................................................................................... 14 LED BLINKING INTERPRETATION ................................................................................................. 18 ADVANCED MODE OPERATION.................................................................................................... 18 OPERATING NOTE AND TRICK ..................................................................................................... 19 KALK KING MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................................... 21 BASIC COMMAND SET ................................................................................................................. 22 ADVANCED COMMAND SET (FOR SOPHISTICATED USERS) ........................................................ 24 TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................................................... 28 2
KALK KING DOSER SYSTEM BRIEFING (MODEL KK8)
Thanks to Kalk King’s smart Computer Control Unit that constantly monitors your tank’s pH and water levels for reliable delivery of clear saturated kalkwasser solution or flesh water slowly and safely into your aquarium. With everything under control and fail-safe features against overdosing, float switch stuck and even reservoir dry situations, your only tasks would be to add kalkwasser every 2 weeks into the easy-to-open reaction chamber while system can still be running and to refill freshwater reservoir with filtered / RO water as needed! The extra benefits of precipitating phosphate (PO4) to keep corals & fish healthier, enhancing protein skimmer efficiency and fewer outbreaks of nuisance algae come free with the dosing of kalkwasser from KK8 system.
Thank you for purchasing the world’s most advanced and easy-to-operate computer controlled kalkwasser dosing and variable-rate water automatic top off system. With your Kalk King installed in minutes, the vital and yet cumbersome process of maintaining pH, salinity, calcium and KH levels for every vivid and successful saltwater fish / coral aquarium becomes a child’s play!
Don’t be overwhelmed by the tremendous capabilities of your Kalk King Doser system! Out of the box with no adjustment required other than calibrating the pH probe and setting the pH limit to 8.3, KK8 just works AS IS for any of your tanks! This manual will guide you to set up and functional check all major components before use. Let it run first and fine tune its operation later. Your pets will show their best health and colors to you in no time!
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KALK KING FEATURES & SPEC
Easy-mount low profile housing (5.5”Lx3.0”Wx1.25”H) 1 power cord 5 watts kalk dosing and ATO functions
Kalkwasser Reaction Chamber: Programmable drop-by-drop dosing pump like or slowAccessories: drip of kalkwasser output for absolutely minimum pH rise Strong magnetic coupled easy-mount compact float possible! 1 size fits 20 to 500 gallons tanks switch assembly for up to 1/2” thick tank glass Programmable mixing AND stirring cycles for delivery of Premium and long lasting Check valves for drop-by-drop supersaturated kalkwasser 100 ml to 10 gal per day! kalkwasser and fresh water delivery requested be CCU Never-clog outlet Box holds up to 360g of kalk powder Fine silk mesh bag for pump & check valve filtering Air tight but easy to open lid for kalkwasser addition 12 feet total length of flexible hose anytime. For 3 gallons per day use, lasts for 3 weeks! System functions: Compact hang-on-tank or hang-on-sump premium strong Safeguard overdosing with built-in pH controller that heat bend acrylic chamber (6.5”Lx3.3”Wx14”H) allows user to set pH limit (5.5 to 9.5 ) for their tank Safe 12V DC Pump engineered to work in high pH Smart ATO to dispense fresh water instead of No backflow of kalkwasser even if check valve fails kalkwasser to the tank when user set pH limit is over Computer Control Unit (CCU): No messy backflow of kalkwasser back to the water Stir & Feed pumps output timing (or volume) easily reservoir even if check valve fails adjustable using front panel dials directly User Set: Strong mixing and gentle stirring regimes to Two dials & 1 button for all programming input guarantee super saturated kalkwasser for every delivery Direct buzzer and LED light interaction with user Programmable volume, alarm buzzer and stop running Temperature compensated pH controller with remote functions for float switch stuck at ON or OFF cases meter & probe for pH monitoring and user pH limit display Power up functional check 3 pumps & float switch
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PARTS LIST 1
Acrylic kalkwasser reaction chamber (KK.001) with no outlet tube set installed But with the MIX pump (KK.002) and specially designed spray bar (KK.003) already installed With YELLOW marked cable end
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pH meter (KK.007) Temperature compensated With battery & mounting bracket
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Kalk King Computer Control Unit CCU (KK.004)
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pH probe 6-foot cable. Need calibration before use (KK.008)
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FEED pump (KK.005)
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With RED marked cable ends for easy pump identification (6-foot cable) BYPASS pump (KK.006)
BNC cable (KK.09) 6-foot cable pH meter to CCU computer
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Qty 2: Check valve + 1.5” tubing (KK.010) Help Kalk King control flow rate for FEED and BYPASS pumps
With BLUE marked cable ends for easy pump identification (6-foot cable)
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Qty 2: white filter bags (KK.011) House the FEED and BYPASS pumps for filtering flesh water from the water reservoir before reaching the reaction chamber of your tank! Square magnet in protective bag (KK.012) Outside tank strong magnet to hold the float switch assembly in place. Handle strong magnet with care!
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Float switch (KK.013) assembly With L-shape e-Fins magnetic bracket (KK.014). Float switch (KK.015) Position the float switch at the water level that you want to maintain in the sump. Make sure the float switch is always vertical and nothing around to prevent the float cylinder from going up and down freely! Both upright and upside down orientation are supported
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12-foot hose (KK.016) Cut to length for FEED & BYPASS pump to chamber & tank L-tube (KK.017) Mates with reaction chamber outlet. Easy to remove for cleaning when required 6-inch hose (KK.018) Use as required if the L-tube outlet is too far away from the water surface. Cut to length to fit your situation. Use on side of the white L-tube with scotch tape already wrapped on it for best fitting! Leave the end about 0.5 to 1 inch above water surface!
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3 leveling screws (KK.019) For leveling the reaction chamber against the tank or sump back
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+12V AC/DC wall (KK.022) Power the computer control unit (with 2.1mm center hole)
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4 butterfly screws (KK.020) For closing the lid on the reaction chamber
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+6V AC /DC wall adapter (KK.023) Power the pH meter if not using the battery (with 1.35mm center hole)
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Kalk Reaction chamber outlet tube set (KK.024) Hand tight it to the chamber
With silicone rubber o-ring installed 17
2 metal screws (KK.021) Use as required. For mounting the computer control unit (CCU) onto wood surface such as the fish stand cabinet
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SYSTEM SET UP You are about to hook up the whole system and start enjoying the amazing benefits of maintaining proper calcium, alkalinity, pH and salinity levels tuned to the size and inhabitants of your unique aquarium. Figure 1 shows typical installation with different tank configurations.
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6) Mount the float switch assembly onto the backside wall of your tank or sump at the water level that you want to maintain. The outer magnet will keep the float switch in place. For moisture protection, do not remove the protective bag that comes with the square magnet.
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Install the water outlet tube set onto the reaction chamber as shown. Just hand tight the outside straight tube into the threaded L-tube with the black o-ring on the inside part of the chamber. The L-tube NEEDS to be about 45º pointing down.
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Hang the acrylic kalkwasser reaction chamber onto 7) Insert the open ended side of the two 1.5” hoses from check either back of your tank or sump. Adjust leveling valves onto the outlet of the screws as needed. See Figure 1. Feed & Bypass pumps. Select a location to place or mount the Kalk King
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Microcomputer Control Unit (CCU). See Figure 1. 4)
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8) Connect a cut-to-length hose between the check valve on the pump with RED marked cable end (FEED pump) and the water input (black L tubing) on the reaction Select a location to mount the smart pH meter with chamber. built-in temperature compensation feature and plug the +6V AC/DC adapter cable to it if you don’t want 9) Connect another cut-to-length hose between the check valve to run it with battery. See Figure 1. Insert the pH probe into your tank water FAR AWAY from the kalkwasser outlet of the reaction chamber. (Leave top half of the probe above water for lasting stable and accurate reading). See Figure 1
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on the pump with BLUE marked cable end (BYPASS pump) and through the hole on the reaction chamber and into the aquarium or sump. 14) 10) Put the two pumps into the white silk made filter bags. Do not tie up the opening yet. You may need to flush out the air inside the pumps during unit 15) power up functional checks later
the Computer Control Unit labeled “ FROM PH PROBE” Plug the only loose cable provided (with BNC plug ends) between the pH meter and the Computer Control Unit labeled “TO PH METER” Plug the float switch cable to the unit labeled “FLOAT SWITCH”
11) Drop the two pumps into the make-up freshwater reservoir tank. Note: Bypass pump adds water to the 16) Plug the BLUE marked cable to tank directly when pH limit is exceeded! the BYPASS PUMP connector 12) Plug the white L tube onto the kalkwasser outlet at the reaction chamber. Connect the 6-inch tubing to the outlet of L tube and into the aquarium or sump. Cut and adjust the tubing such that the outlet is just above water level(0.5”) to minimize reaction with CO2 17) Plug the RED marked cable to the FEED PUMP connector in the air. Never submerse the tubing outlet totally into water! See figure 1. 13) Plug the pH probe cable into
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18) Plug the YELLOW marked cable to the MIX PUMP connector
19) Plug the 12V Power adapter cable to the POWER connector 20) Make sure that the power switch is at OFF position and the two front panel big dials ARE NOT at 0 position 21) Plug the +6V (if not using battery for the pH meter) & the +12V adapters into the wall outlet
SYSTEM START UP AND FUNCTIONAL CHECK
1) Fill the reaction chamber with clean RO fresh water to cover just the pump. (DO NOT ADD KALKWASSER YET) 2) Turn on the Computer Control Unit and you should hear continuous beep sound for 3 seconds and see the LED light is on at the same time 3) Then observe that the BYPASS pump is on and dumping water into the tank for 3 seconds (you may need to flush out trap-air by tilting and shaking the pump. If needed unplug the tube to the check valve. ) 4) Then observe that the FEED pump is on and dumping water into the reaction chamber for 2 seconds (you may need to flush out trap-air inside the pump or check valve. Tie up the bags afterward) 5) Then observe that the MIX pump is on and mixing the water in the reaction chamber for 3 seconds (you may need to flush out trap-air inside the pump by tilting and shaking the whole chamber somewhat)
Kalk King exercises all 3 pumps and reads the status of the float switch for you during power up! 6) You should now hear ONE or TWO beep sound This makes system diagnostic very straight forward depending on the float switch state. ON float switch in case some parts are not functioning as expected. generates 1 beep and OFF (open) float switch TWO.
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7) If needed, turn off power and repeat above steps 13) Turn on the power and start the system again. Your 2) to 6) until all 3 pumps are outputting water and Kalk King will go through the functional check, the float switch status is reported correctly per mixing and settling routines before operation. See the mounting orientation! “Fine Tune Kalk King Timing” section to stir the kalk more or less vigorously or allow more or less output 8) Then observe that MIX pump starts mixing for 10 of kalkwasser solution delivered to your tank. minutes. LED blinks 2 times repeatedly in this period 9) Then observe that the MIX pump stops running for 5 14) Since Kalk king reads the pH value to regulate dosing of high pH kalkwasser, you need to calibrate minutes (settling). The LED blinks THREE times the pH probe before use. Make sure KK8 is on! continuously during this period 10) Now, your Kalk King System starts stirring and 15) Follow the pH meter manual to calibrate the pH probe. Use RO / de-ionized or distill water to mix the dosing: Stir pump on: 0.5 sec in every 8 seconds calibration powder agents first. Make sure that the and feed pump on: 0.5 sec in every 20 seconds. front panel slide switch is at LIVE PROBE position. (Feed pump only ON when float switch is at ON position, so it may not be ON every 20 seconds) 11) You can also turn off the power to the system at 8) and start adding water & kalkwasser powder into the chamber without waiting for 8) & 9) to finish. 12) Fill up water to the top and add 40 level teaspoons (about 120 grams) for 2 ~ 3 weeks of kalkwasser powder into the chamber and tighten the cover with the 4 thumb screws. (DO NOT OVER TIGHT)
16) After calibration, to set pH limit to safeguard overdosing, slide the switch to set pH limit position and adjust using the black little dial on the front panel until it reads pH 8.30 +/-0.05 (By checking the calcium and KH levels using test kits periodically, you can adjust the pH from 8.00 to 8.50 in a later time to fit your system. Set pH lower if KH is higher than 11 or set pH higher if KH is lower than 8)
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KALKWASSER USAGE FACTS At room temperature (25°C or 77°F) saturated kalkwasser solution has pH of 12.54 and contains about 808 ppm of calcium and 40.8 meq/l of alkalinity. Avoid contact or breathing dust. Do not eat or get in eyes. In case of contact, flush area with water for 5-10 minutes. In case of eye contact, wash eyes with water immediately (5-10 minutes) and seek medical attention A fully saturated solution is prepared by adding 6 g (2 level teaspoons) to 4 L (approximately 1 gallon) water. For first time filling, we recommend to add 12 level teaspoons plus the bi-weekly usage into the chamber. For example: For 1 gallon daily evaporation rate, add 12 + 28 = 40 level teaspoons into the chamber. Thereafter, add 28 level teaspoons bi-weekly into the chamber. If your tank has low evaporation rate, raise the pH limit to 8.5 and adjust the Kalk King output to about couple drops per delivery. This can allow you to add as much kalkwasser as possible to your tank with no spike pH up. The other method is to boost the amount of lime (kalkwasser) dissolved in water by adding regular white
vinegar from supermarket into the freshwater reservoir. For each gallon of fresh water, add into 15 ~ 20 ml of vinegar. The advantage of using vinegar includes getting more kalkwasser dissolved into the water, lowering the pH of the kalkwasser solution so as to be able to add more into the tank and supplying as food for beneficial bacteria to consume so they work to reduce nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate in your tank. Use vinegar with care as some experts worry about potential side effects like extra bacteria growth and undesired compounds added that otherwise are un dissolved and be kept in the milky slurry in the chamber. You can also unscrew one of the butterfly screws on the lid and directly inject 15 ml of vinegar into the chamber using a syringe needle directly. But you probably have to do it every couple days since the chamber can only hold 1 gallon of water! For some systems where evaporation rate is just not enough or the CA++ and KH values are too low to start with, you may have to raise CA++ and buffer levels using other methods or products once in a while as required along with your Kalk King Doser.
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FINE TUNE KALK KING TIMING Kalk King is designed to fit different tank sizes, fish & coral population and evaporation rate by allowing users to modify mix/stir time and kalkwasser delivery rate using two front panel dial knobs and the push button switch! You don’t have to worry about messing up the unit’s function because it is very easy to reset the computer back to the factory default settings. So, feel free to explore the tremendous capability of your Kalk King system! You can also refer to the “BASIC COMMAND SET” section for detailed command description and default setting values for each programmable function!
Things you will learn in this section: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
Reset Kalk King back to factory default settings. Change the kalkwasser solution stir time Change the kalkwasser solution output rate Change the periodic mixing cycle time Change the mixing time duration Change the after mixing settle time duration
1) Reset Kalk King back to factory default settings
Make sure that the 2 dial knobs are not at 0 position. Then within 3 seconds after power is turned on and buzzer beep can be heard, PRESS AND HOLD the “SAVE SETTINGS” button for 2 seconds before the LED light blinking for 2 times. Release the button to complete the reset operation and Kalk King will start up again with beep sound.
2) Change the kalkwasser solution stir time Perform change while system is in stirring and feeding operation mode and not during mixing or settling periods. Also pH of your tank should be lower than the pH set limit value. Otherwise, the LED just flashes continuously and overrides its normal LED display function! Turn the “STIR SECONDS” knob all the way to 0 position. The LED lights up initially in dim mode. Turn the knob clockwise to the desired time as shown on the panel marking. You will see LED light up when the stir pump is on. Now, once every 8 seconds, you will see the new stir time. Adjust it freely to the desired stirring vigor
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(height of the milky part in the chamber) that you like for optimum stirring of new incoming freshwater! Press the “SAVE SETTINGS” button once to save the new timing permanently until you want to change it again. The LED blinks 2 or 4 times to acknowledge the successful saving operation. NOTE: Once saved, turning the knob will not modify the timing since the knob is not at 0 position! 3) Change the kalkwasser output rate Perform change while system is in stirring and feeding operation mode and not during mixing or settling periods. Turn the “ML / MINUTE” knob all the way to 0 position. The LED light does not light up initially for this change! Turn the knob clockwise to the desired output rate as shown on the panel marking. Now, once every 20 seconds, you will see the new output rate from the kalkwasser chamber output. Adjust it to the desired dripping rate that you like to satisfy the daily evaporation rate! Default settings can output up to 5 gallons together with float switch
NOTE: the float switch has to be at ON position for the kalkwasser to output. You may have to move the float switch up temporary to get it to ON position for the setup. Press the “SAVE SETTINGS” button once to save the new timing permanently until you want to change it again. The LED blinks 2 or 4 times to acknowledge the saving. NOTE: Again, once saved, turning the knob will not modify the timing since the knob is not at 0 position! 4) Change the periodic MIXING cycle time Mixing the kalkwasser periodically and stirring it in between mixing cycle regimes allow your Kalk King to maintain supersaturated solution in the chamber all the time! Besides allowing you to change the stir time to match new periodic small portion of fresh water coming into the chamber, you can also change the mixing cycle period from factory default value of once every 2 hours to other time per your tank situation!
Within 3 seconds after power is turned on and buzzer beep can be heard, press “SAVE SETTINGS” button 2 times.
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5) Change the MIX time duration Factory default is 10 minutes for thorough mixing. Within 3 seconds after power is turned on and buzzer beep can be heard, press “SAVE SETTINGS” button 3 times. The LED light blinks 3 times to acknowledge that you are in command 3.
6) Change the after MIX settle time duration Factory default is 5 minutes for almost all un-dissolved kalkwasser particles to settle at the bottom of the chamber before stirring regime begins. Within 3 seconds after power is turned on and buzzer beep can be heard, press “SAVE SETTINGS” button 4 times. The LED light blinks 4 times to acknowledge that you are in command 4. Then press the button 1 time to set it to 5 minutes, 2 for 10 minutes or 3 for 15 minutes …etc. After you are done pressing, the computer will blink out your new settle duration for you to verify.
The LED light blinks 2 times to acknowledge that you are in command 2. Then press the button 1 time to set it to once per hour, 2 for once every 2 hours, 3 for once every 3 hours …etc. (you have to input [press] your number without stopping for more than 1 second in between pressing the button. Otherwise, Kalk King thinks you are done and saves your input) After you are done pressing, the computer will blink out your new mixing cycle time for you to verify. It then will blink 3 quick times to acknowledge the saving of the new cycle time. If the input is not correct, you can redo the command again when the buzzer beep is on again.
Then press the button 1 time to set it to 5 minutes, 2 for 10 minutes or 3 for 15 minutes …etc. After you are done pressing, the computer will blink out your new mix duration for you to verify. It then will blink 3 quick times to acknowledge the saving of the new mix time. If it is not correct, you can redo the command again when the buzzer beep is on again.
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It then will blink 3 quick times to acknowledge the saving of the new settle time. If it is not correct, you can redo the command again when the buzzer beep is on again. By now, you should feel comfortable to program your Kalk King computer to work exactly how you want it to under most circumstances. For advanced or sophisticated users who really want to explore all the capabilities and flexibility of Kalk King, there are another set of commands listed in the “ADVANCED COMMAND SET” section for them to further tailor Kalk King to perform the following functions: 1) Disable the float switch and use Kalk King internal timer to dose kalkwasser or fresh water (Suitable for users who want to keep using their existing ATO along with Kalk King initially. Just set Kalk King output volume per day to somewhat lower than the daily evaporation rate). Also to enable float switch mounted in upright or upside
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down orientations. Adjust the allowable continuous water flow capacity before alarm sounds and stops operation if float switch is stuck at ON. ( For more precise fitting to your sump holding capacity without overflowing it) Adjusting the float switch stuck at OFF position timing (For more precise fitting on how long you can let your tank water evaporate without refilling it) Advanced Mode operation to adjust both the ON time and OFF time for the stir and feed pumps independently (This feature allows you to tune the Kalk King to output drop-by-drop like dosing pumps but without high cost and maintenance issues associated with them!) Allows Kalk King to run only part of a day and delay the start time to synchronize with your tank’s lighting cycle (Some users may want to run Kalk King system only at night time after lighting is off and pH is lower) Let Kalk King report all the settings stored!
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LED BLINKING INTERPRETATION Periodic blinking during system normal operation shows the ON time for the MIX pump or the FEED pump. The following paragraph shows you how to associate the STATUS LED to the MIX pump or the FEED pump. For the LED to show the MIX pump on cycle, press the SAVE SETTINGS button: (NOTE: DIALS should not be at 0 position) If the LED blinks 2 times immediately, then the subsequent LED ON time signals the MIX pump is on. If not blinking 2 times, press again to cycle it to blink 2 times! Similarly, if the LED blinks 4 times immediately, then subsequent LED ON time signals the FEED pump is on. If not blinking 4 times, press again to cycle it to blink 4 times! Note: If ADVANCED MODE is set, the two dials are also activated for the selected pump to control the ON time using the STIR SECONDS dial and OFF time using the ML / MINUTE dial. See ADVANCED MODE OPERATION section for details.
Otherwise if the STATUS LED blinks: BLINK #
MEANING
1 time - (0.5 sec cycle)
User set PH limit is reached At the OFF cycle of x hrs per day operation mode Kalkwasser in mixing period Delay start countdown Settling after mixing period Float switch stuck at ON position over the set volume amount Float switch stuck at OFF position over the set time
1 time - ( 3 sec cycle) 2 times - (1 sec cycle) 2 times - (3 sec cycle) 3 times 4 times & Buzzer On
5 times & Buzzer On
ADVANCED MODE OPERATION Kalk King is so powerful and flexible that it allows you to completely customize the ON/OFF timing for the pumps!
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When user enables the ADVANCED MODE `using command # 10, the 2 front panel dial knobs become the ON (STIR SECONDS dial) and OFF (ML / MINUTE dial) time control. Use SAVE SETTINGS button to cycle the pump selection first & turn each dial to 0 position to start Note: LED blinks 2 times selects the MIX pump and 4 times selects the FEED pump. Here is the range of the dial for different pumps: PUMP / (ON/OFF) TIME RANGE OF THE DIAL All Pumps / (ON time) All Pumps / (OFF time) FEED pump only / (OFF time) when EXTENDED DELAY (cmd # 12) is enabled & ADVANCED MODE is also enabled!
0 to 4 seconds 0 to 30 seconds 0 to 3000 seconds (30 minutes) Note: if float switch is enabled instead of internal timer, the extended OFF time range is 0 ~ 262 seconds only
Therefore, by adjusting the two dials, Kalk King allows adding of kalkwasser solution or fresh water to your aquarium very slowly and precisely! If timer mode is used, you can control Kalk King to output down to once every 30 minutes or once every 4.5 minutes if float switch is used.
Now, you can really custom Kalk King’s pump control timing to your unique setup and be able to deliver kalkwasser drop-by-drop similar to using dosing pumps but without their high cost and maintenance issues! Once you are satisfied with the timing, press the SAVE SETTINGS button to save it permanently. If you are setting the MIX pump: after pressing, the LED will blink 4 times to signal the successful SAVE operation and cycle the dial to allow you to tune the FEED pump timing. Note: you can only modify the pump’s ON/OFF timing after you have turned the appropriate dial to 0 position first! This protects against accidental change of the preset timing. In other word, pressing the SAVE SETTINGS button or turning the dial while it is not at 0 position first will not modify the saved timing! Also, FEED pump cycle has higher priority than the MIX pump. Therefore, during the FEED pump on time, the MIX pump is always turned off! to guarantee most concentrated kalk solution output.
OPERATING NOTE AND TRICK 1)
A working and calibrated pH probe is always required for operation. Without connecting to one, your Kalk
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King computer will blink continuously as though the user set pH limit is reached! The ATO only delivers freshwater from the BYPASS pump to tank and no kalkwasser solution will be delivered to the reaction chamber and so, no kalkwasser output! 2)
It is believed that with regular 20% water change per month, magnesium ion should not be depleted much for most tanks. But since magnesium supplement is readily available and easy to administrate into your tank, therefore it is advisable to use it once a week while you are maintaining your tank. Just follow product instruction and DO NOT add it into the chamber directly along with kalkwasser powder since it may be precipitated there before it has a chance to reach your tank!
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micro rough edges on the impeller against the sandpaper like kalkwasser powder. Using fine Kalkwasser products available like from Seachem, Kent Marine or Brightwell Aquatics or Bulk Reef Supply kalkwasser can prevent or shorten this period and enhance the mixing function to produce supersaturated kalkwasser solution. In some situations when you want to end the mixing or settling cycle immediately and proceed to start operation, all you have to do is to press the SAVE SETTINGS button 1 time each to end each cycle. To set an On / Off cycle with extended Off time, it is easier to set the On time first with short Off time cycle. Verify output amount using a measuring cup. Save the new On time setting. Now, do the extended Off time setting to control the interval of the set output
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Always leave about 0.5” gap between the tank water level and Kalk King’s outlet tubing! Submerse it below water level will stop the output and overflow the reaction chamber!
7) To stir evenly, mix pump needs to be installed at an angle all the way back to the edge of the chamber for the spray bar outlet to point straight forward.
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During the first few days of use, the MIX pump may produce squeaking sound once in a while and will go away once it gets some run time to smoothen out the
8) If Kalk King does not behave like you thought it should, reset it back to factory settings or confirm what is stored in memory running command #9.
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9) Outer square magnet is meant to hold the float switch assembly. Keep it dry in the bag and use it only at the back of the tank to hold the float switch assembly. 10) Even for 3 gallons per day usage, it is possible to put in even 3 weeks dosage of kalkwasser powder into the chamber as it can hold up to 360 grams of kalkwasser. In general, bi-weekly addition of fresh kalkwasser seems to produce the most concentrated output consistently! Plus you should be doing maintenance for your beloved pets weekly anyway! 11) For some systems with low evaporation rate, it might help to run KK8 at night time when pH is lower. Use Command #7 & #8 to set operating hour & start time. Float switch stuck timing may need to be increased. 12) To get 2 weeks kalk supply for your tank. For every gallon of kalkwasser solution top off per day, add 2 level teaspoons (6 grams) into the reaction chamber. E.g., add 28 teaspoons (84 g) for 1 gallon per day. 1st time setup, add additional 12 teaspoons. (36 g) 13) Sometimes due to more evaporation, Kalkwasser consumption might be more than you expected. The rule of thumb is to refill kalkwasser with bi-weekly
dosage whenever the milky slurry area reaches 3/4 the height of the chamber instead of remaining at the lower half. (Less kalkwasser in water means lighter weight for the pump to stir & slurry area is higher!)
KALK KING MAINTENANCE 1) Clean the chamber and mix pump with vinegar added water and soft long brush once every 2 to 3 months. 2) Check and clean the float switch periodically from debris or algae. Clean the freshwater reservoir & filter bags on a bi-monthly basis too. 3) Calibrate the pH probe periodically. Since the main function of the pH controller is to safe guard gross overdosing, so a little bit off is okay, a quick method to calibrate is to rely on the reading from your pH test kit and adjust the pH meter reading accordingly! 4) To clean a leaked check valve from trapped dirt or precipitated chemicals, use a syringe to inject household white vinegar into the input side. Let it sit for 5 minutes there before rinse it away with clean water using the same syringe. Repeat if necessary. To verify leaking is fixed, blow into the check valve from the output side, it should block air from getting through.
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BASIC COMMAND SET 1) COMMAND # 0S Using the STIR SECONDS DIAL to set the kalkwasser stirring time: (default: 0.5 sec) Steps Observe Turn STIR SECONDS dial to 0 position Turn the DIAL to the desired time in second on the panel Press SAVE SETTINGS button once to save it permanently
LED ON ( dim mode) Stir pump will run at the set time every 8 seconds LED blinks 2 or 4 times
2) COMMAND # 0F Using the ML / MINUTE DIAL to set the kalkwasser output drip rate: (default 15 ml/min) Steps Observe Turn the ML/MINUITE dial to 0 position Turn the DIAL to the desired ml per minute as shown on the front panel (3 feed cycles / min)
Feed pump will run for the set drip rate every 20 seconds (3 times per minute)
Press the SAVE SETTINGS button once to save it permanently
LED blinks 2 or 4 times
3) COMMAND # 1 - Reset to factory settings: (See NOTE) Steps Make sure the two DIALS are not at 0 position! Turn on the power switch Within 3 seconds, press & hold on to the SAVE SETTINGS button for 2 seconds Release the button DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
Observe LED on with beep sound Beep sound stops then LED blinks 2 times LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
NOTE: if float switch is mounted upside down, run command # 5 to enable the mode too! 22
4) COMMAND # 2 - Enable / disable mixing function: (default is 2 or = every 2 hours) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the SAVE SETTINGS button 2 times Press the button x times to enable mixing every x hours: (don’t press button here means disable mixing function) DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 2 times LED blinks x times (x=0 means disable mixing. 1= every 1 hour, 2=every 2hours… LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
5) COMMAND # 3 - Mixing duration: (factory default is 2 or = 10 minutes) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 3 times Press the button x times to set mixing time in 5 minutes increment DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 3 times LED blinks x times (x=1 means 5 minutes, 2= 10 minutes, 3= 15 minutes… LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
6) COMMAND # 4 - Settling time after mixing: (factory default is 1 or = 5 minutes) Steps Observe Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 4 times Press the button x times to set settling time in 5 minutes increment DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
LED on with beep sound LED blinks 4 times LED blinks x times (x=1 means 5 minutes, 2= 10 minutes, 3= 15 minutes… LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
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ADVANCED COMMAND SET (FOR SOPHISTICATED USERS) The following commands allow you to use Kalk King to its utmost power and flexibility!
COMMAND # 5 - Enable / disable float switch: ( factory default is 1 or = Enabled upright mounting) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 5 times Press the button 1 time to enable float switch in upright, 2 times for upside down orientation or don't press until it times out in 3 seconds to disable it (Note: Internal timer will be used and FEED pump’s on time in every 20 seconds is being set by the ML / MINUTE dial) DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 5 times LED blinks x times (0=disabled, 1 = enabled in upright orientation, 2 = enabled in upside down orientation) (Use timer mode If you already have an ATO! Tune output rate just below daily evaporation rate) LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
7) COMMAND # 6 - Failsafe feature - Float switch stuck at ON position alarm on time: factory default is 4 (or = 120 second or about 1200 ml of water) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 6 times Press the button x times to set the maximum time the float switch can be on continuously in 30 seconds increment. Not pressing the button here means no limits! (NOTE: If the pump is on for 0.5 second for every 20 second ON-OFF cycle, 30 seconds on time means (30/0.5 x 20.5) = 1230 sec or 20.5 minutes actual clock time). Another example: If on time = 2 seconds, then actual clock time = 30/2 x 22 = 330 seconds or 5.5 minutes
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 6 times LED blinks x times (x=0 no limits, 1 = 30 sec, x= 2 is one minute…) [Note: Typical 0.5 second on time (depends on pump to tank height) delivers about 5 ml of water from reservoir each time. So, X=1 (30 seconds) means setting maximum of non-stop drawing of (5 x 30/.5 = 300 ml of water before triggering the alarm]
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DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
8) COMAND # 11 - Failsafe feature - Float switch stuck at OFF position alarm on time (Use mix cycle time as reference): factory default is 3 or = 3 cycles (for 2 hours per mixing cycle, that means 6 hours) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 11 times Press the button x times to set the amount of mixing cycle time that the float switch can be at OFF position continuously. Not pressing the button here means no limits! (NOTE: If the mixing cycle time is 2 hours. 3 means 6 hours of actual clock time!) DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 11 times LED blinks x times (x=0 forever, 1= 1 re-circulate mixing cycle time in command 4), 2 = 2 cycles, 3 = 3 cycles..) LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
If 8) or 9) condition happens, Kalk King will sound the siren alarm and stop the FEED and BYPASS pump operation until the user turns off and turns on the Computer Control Unit again. It is your responsibility to identify and fix the issue before running the system again! See TROUBLESHOOTING section for plausible causes. Ignoring the alarm defeats the most valuable ATO feature from your Kalk King System and may cause overflow in the sump; resulting wet floor and/or loss of your fish and corals etc. Notice that the MIX pump will mix continuously when this happens to keep preparing saturated solution in the chamber! 8) Is to protect against tank leak, float switch stuck by debris, fresh water reservoir empty or check valve leaking conditions. 9) Protects against float switch stuck by debris or mechanical failure of the float switch itself. 9) Steps
COMMAND # 7 = kalk King operating time per day (factory default is 0 or = 24 hours operation) Observe
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Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 7 times Press the button x times to set operating time per day in 4 hours increment. Press nothing means 24 hours operating time. DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
LED on with beep sound LED blinks 7 times LED blink x times (x = 0 is 24 hrs, x=1 is 4 hrs, x= 2 is 8 hrs, x=3 is 12 hrs, x=4 is 16 hrs, x = 5 is 20 hrs) LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
10) COMMAND # 8 - One time only delay start (factory default is: No Delay) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 8 times Press the button x times to set one time only delay start in 1 hour increment: Press nothing here means no delay DONE Note: One time only means no effect on next system power up. This command usually is used with 9) together
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 8 times LED blinks x times (x=0 is no delay, x= 1is 1 hour, x=2 is 2 hours, x=3 is 3 hours…) LED blinks 3 quick times SYSTEM STARTS RIGHT AWAY FROM MIXING CYCLE
11) COMMAND # 10 - Enable /Disable Advanced Mode (factory default: 0 or = Disabled) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 10 times Press save settings button 1 time to enable advanced mode or don't press anything to disable advanced mode DONE (See ADVANCD MODE OPERATION)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 10 times LED blinks x times (0=disabled, 1 = enabled) LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
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12) COMMAND # 12 - Enable Extended delay for feed pump & bypass pump (factory default: 0 or = Disabled) Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 12 times Press save settings button 1 time to enable extended off time delay from 30 seconds full range to 30 minutes full range on the ML / MINUTE dial. If float switch is enabled, range is 0 ~ 262 sec DONE (See ADVANCED MODE OPERATION)
Observe LED on with beep sound LED blinks 12 times LED blinks x times (0=disabled, 1 = enabled) LED blinks 3 quick times LED on with beep sound
13) COMMAND # 9 - Blink out the user’s settings stored in the memory Steps Turn on the power switch Press the save settings button 9 times Mixing function cycle time Mixing duration After Mixing settling duration Float switch Enable / Disable Float switch maximum continuous on time Kalk King operating time per day
Observe LED on with beep sound The following blink and beep sequence will be executed LED blinks 2 times then x times (x=0 means disable mixing, 1= every 1 hour 2=every 2 hours…) LED blinks 3 times then x times (x=1 five minutes, x=2 ten minutes…) LED blinks 4 times then x times (x=1 five minutes, x=2 ten minutes…) LED blinks 5 times then x times (x=0 disabled 1 = enabled upright, 2 = enabled upside down mount) LED blinks 6 times then x times (x=0 no limits, 1 = 30 secs, x= 2 is one minute, x=3 is 1 min 30 sec…) LED blinks 7 times then x times (x = 0 is 24 hrs, x=1 is 4 hrs, x= 2 is 8 hrs, x=3 is 12 hrs, … x = 5 is 20 hours)
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Advanced mode float switch stuck at off position cycle time (mixing cycle time)
Extended delay for feed pump during internal timer mode and advanced mode is enabled DONE (you can redo a command or do another command now)
TROUBLESHOOTING Pump is not working 1) STIR SECONDS and/or ML / MINUTE DIAL are at 0 position 2) Make sure BLUE cable to BLUE bypass pump plug 3) Make sure RED cable end to RED feed pump plug 4) Make sure YELLOW cable end to YELLOW mix plug 5) Recycle power to CCU to do functional check 6) Observe Bypass pump, Feed pump and Mix pump are on for a few seconds AND in that order! 7) If not Check the connectors 8) Check if air is trapped in the pump or in the check valve. 9) Command #5 not run for upside down float switch
LED blinks 10 times then x times. x=0 regular mode, x= 1 is advanced mode) LED blinks 11 times then x times (x=0 forever, 1= 1 recirculate mixing cycle time in command #2, 2 = 2 cycles, 3 = 3 cycles..) LED blinks 12 times then x times (x=0 disabled 1 = enabled) LED blinks 3 quick times then LED on with beep sound 10) If check valves leak, clean them by allowing flowing water into the input side and clean out foreign particles on the inner rubber with a stick 11) Open up the pump to check if impellor area is stuck by debris 12) Float switch is stuck at OFF. Run the power up check (1 beep is ON and 2 beeps is OFF) 13) Reset the CCU back to factory settings and start again
pH reading is out of range 1) Slide switch is at SET PH LIMIT position not LIVE PROBE position 2) If using battery for meter, it might be time to change. Plug in the AC/DC adapter to check if it is the case 3) Recalibrate the probe
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4) Slide the slide switch to SET PH LIMIT position, check that the pH meter can still read and track the reading correctly(about 5.5 ~ 9.5), if so, change the pH probe 5) Bypass the CCU and plug the probe to meter to check
8) You filled your sump with too much water that the float switch is not turned ON for too long 9) Your tank is leaking 10) Float switch is near another magnet
Can’t see the milky slurry part in the chamber
LED constantly on or blinking
1) STIR SECONDS dial is at 0 position 2) If LED is blinking 2 times continuously, it is in the mixing cycle 3) Time to add bi-weekly dosage of Kalkwasser 4) Check MIX pump is working (use LED to check. When LED is on, pump should be on. See LED BLINK INTERPRETATION SECTION for details
See LED BLINKING INTERPRITATION section too. 1) Constantly on because the STIR SECONDS dial is at 0 2) Normal LED operation: Periodic blinking showing the on time for either the STIR pump or FEED pump 3) Quick blink: pH in your tank is over the set pH limit 4) Slow 1 or 2 blinks: System is in delay ON standby cycle 5) 1 second interval 2 or 3 blinks: Mix or settle cycle
Siren alarm sounds during normal operation
Funny sound from the pump
1) Fresh water reservoir is low or dry 2) Check valve is leaking so pump is not able to pump small amount of water into the chamber or tank (See maintenance section for cleaning method) 3) The hose path is blocked so no water can go through 4) FEED or BYPASS pump is not working 5) Float switch is stuck by debris or algae 6) Water volume limit setting for stuck at ON or OFF is not sufficient. Program to increase it if necessary 7) You just took out a lot of water from you tank
1) Break in period for the STIR/MIX pump 2) Clean the chamber. Too much un-dissolved CA oxide 3) Using bad grade or too coarse kalkwasser powder 4) Air is trapped inside pump, spray bar or check valves 5) Reservoir is low or dry
Kalk King Warranty: 6 months from day of purchase with valid receipt Customer pays for all the shipping costs Excluded items: Impellers, check valves, Ph probe and filter bags
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Tel: +1 626 228 5505 www.e-fins.com
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