Kalk reactor?
- Thread starter nakama
- Start date
I've been researching these as well, though never saw Stoneyreef prior to this post.
Shane,
Did you DIY your Kalk Reactor or purchase? Magnetic stirrer or power head for stirrer? What pump(s)?
Nakama,
One thing I noticed from stoneyreef is that they are promoting the use of it with a float switch. That may result in PH spikes from the rapid addtion of large amounts of Kalkwasser in a short time. The alternative seems to be to hook it up with a peristaltic (sp?) dosing pump which will pump out smaller amounts over a longer period of time. The down side is you set it up to your estimated evaporation rate, which can vary. These pumps e.g. VariosDose are also expensive.
The other thing that is not inherent in their product is a timer for stiring. Most people favor stiring for a few minutes several times a day. And if you can let the Kalc settle out for 30+ minutes after stirring before dosing so much the better. The idea is not to add raw kalc to your tank, just the saturated solution.
A couple of links with info:
http://jjgeisler.com/reeftank/diy_kalkw ... eactor.htm
http://www.ozreef.org/diy/calcium_reactor_ca(oh)2.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Vall ... ilsen.html
HTH
Shane,
Did you DIY your Kalk Reactor or purchase? Magnetic stirrer or power head for stirrer? What pump(s)?
Nakama,
One thing I noticed from stoneyreef is that they are promoting the use of it with a float switch. That may result in PH spikes from the rapid addtion of large amounts of Kalkwasser in a short time. The alternative seems to be to hook it up with a peristaltic (sp?) dosing pump which will pump out smaller amounts over a longer period of time. The down side is you set it up to your estimated evaporation rate, which can vary. These pumps e.g. VariosDose are also expensive.
The other thing that is not inherent in their product is a timer for stiring. Most people favor stiring for a few minutes several times a day. And if you can let the Kalc settle out for 30+ minutes after stirring before dosing so much the better. The idea is not to add raw kalc to your tank, just the saturated solution.
A couple of links with info:
http://jjgeisler.com/reeftank/diy_kalkw ... eactor.htm
http://www.ozreef.org/diy/calcium_reactor_ca(oh)2.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Vall ... ilsen.html
HTH
Lurshy":2gaxlh5z said:
I diy'd it. I went w/ a magnetic stir setup. The thing looks *very* ghetto/white trash as it's made out of white 4" pvc pipe, a crappy magnetic stirrer I got off ebay for $20, and some junk acrylic for the base. It looks nasty but it functions properly. Since it's sitting in my unfinished basement, aethetics aren't all that necessary.
Shane
- Location
- Palatine IL
Try this thread. Input from various members.
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t ... osama+kalk
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t ... osama+kalk
I am geting This one:
http://www.myreefcreations.com/new_products.html
with this water top off controller:
http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/mas/ ... em=CT_RFLC
http://www.myreefcreations.com/new_products.html
with this water top off controller:
http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/mas/ ... em=CT_RFLC
I have used 3 powerhead types now and have had zero problems with them. From reading all they issues people are having with the mag stirrer versions, I just can't see those as a viable commercial product in their current incarnations. Too much opportunity for failure. On a powerhead version, even if you eat an impeller.. buying a new impeller and fixing it yourself seems to make alot more sense than shipping your whole unit around the country twice a year to get your stirrer or wearplate fixed as people on this board have had to do. Besides, there are a bunch of people using powerhead versions that have had no problems with the pumps going out... why do people love to make things more complicated than they need to be?
I was pointed to this thread by a friend.
I do promote the use of a float switch. I use the grainger ones, which are very very sensitive. NO, a float switch would not work if your using like a 100gallon stock tank for a sump as you would have to evaporate a lot of water to get the float switch to move 1/8" to activate. ON my model, the float switch activates both the pump and mixing pump at the same time, thus it doses and intermittantly mixes the kalk in the tube. The kalk cloud never fills more than 1/3 of the reactor with this method unless your dosing gallons at a time. I do always chat, email or call my clients to fully understand their system and knowlege base so this does not happen and to take care of any special requests. If you have any more questions feel free to give me an email.
Patrick
I do promote the use of a float switch. I use the grainger ones, which are very very sensitive. NO, a float switch would not work if your using like a 100gallon stock tank for a sump as you would have to evaporate a lot of water to get the float switch to move 1/8" to activate. ON my model, the float switch activates both the pump and mixing pump at the same time, thus it doses and intermittantly mixes the kalk in the tube. The kalk cloud never fills more than 1/3 of the reactor with this method unless your dosing gallons at a time. I do always chat, email or call my clients to fully understand their system and knowlege base so this does not happen and to take care of any special requests. If you have any more questions feel free to give me an email.
Patrick
They're pretty easy to build. I just did one a couple of months ago.
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24872
If you decide to build one, PM or Email me as there are a few mods worth making to improve (or cut costs) on some of the designs out there online.
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24872
If you decide to build one, PM or Email me as there are a few mods worth making to improve (or cut costs) on some of the designs out there online.
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