Question for large kalk reactor owners

[Anonymous]

My reactor is a 32G brute can. It is fed from an RO/DI unit. The RO water comes in though a float valve. Water is taken from the center of the brute and pumped to my sump via a powerhead in the middle of the brute. There are two float switches, connected in series, that control the pump. I am going to put a mixing pump in the bottom of the brute to mix the kalk a couple of times per day.

Now here are my questions:

How much kalk powder do you put in your reactor at a time?

How often do you have to refill it?

How often do you mix the kalk?

Louey

 

[Len]

My kalkreactor isn't big, but maybe my experience has some usefulness.

I can only add 2 lbs of kalk to the reactor because that is the maximum amount I can add and not sieze up the motor (lack of torque). In a kalkreactor, all you need to do is to have enough height above the stirred kalkwasser where you can pump/draw out the clearish kalk solution. For a 32 gallon, I wouldn't be surprised if you can add 10+ lbs at a time to last you a few weeks of use.

Refill time should be directly proportional to your top off frequency. If you evap 10 gallons a day, I'd figure you'll be using twice as much kalk as if you were only evap'ing 5 gallons a day. I used to refill my kalkreactor with 1 lb of kalk every 10-14 days. I only evap about 2 gallons a day, so have fun with the math It's probably just easier to look into the reaction chamber and see if you're running low.

I have my stirrer on a timer that goes on for 2 minutes every half hour.

 

[Anonymous]

Len wrote:

For a 32 gallon, I wouldn't be surprised if you can add 10+ lbs at a time to last you a few weeks of use.

If I am going use 10 pounds of kalk every few weeks, I'm going to need to get a second job to help pay the cost of running this new tank. 8O

I can only add 2 lbs of kalk to the reactor because that is the maximum amount I can add and not sieze up the motor (lack of torque)

I wonder if a Maxijet 1200 could do the trick?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

My "reactor" is only 7 gallons (Salt Bucket). I usually just add a pound at a time, a single Mrs. Wages canister. I also don't stir it, at all.

 

[Anonymous]

Mike Kirda does similiar dosing (32g w/ kalk), you should PM him. He's in PI right now, but I'm sure he's watching the web

 

[npaden]

I use a 32g trashcan for my kalk stirrer (I just call it a stirrer - it's not fancy enough to call it a reactor) and I just add 2 cups every 2 or 3 weeks. It is very easy to add kalk - no screws to take off or anything, just lift up the lid and dump it in.

That doesn't make quite the gooey mess that I think you would have if you added 10lbs at once and then had to do some type of maintenance or something. I use a maxijet 1200 and it seems to work fine as a stirrer. I stir mine using the float switch that runs for topoff, when the float switch kicks on for the topoff, it also runs the powerhead that stirs it. This is also a reason that I just add a small amount of kalk.

One other thing of note is that the topoff goes to a different tank than the float switch is in. (the topoff goes to my 1,100g refugium, then flows down a few tanks to get to the 150g sump). This lets the topoff pump run a little while before shutting off. (about 2 or 3 gallons) This allows the RO to not cycle on or off as much and from what I gather this is better on the RO unit.

I'm also running a big calcium reactor (that holds 40lbs of media per fill) so the kalkwasser is really more of a saftey net than anything.

Hope that helps a little.

Nathan

 

[npaden]

Also, I bought 1 cubic foot of lab grade kalk several years ago and keep it in an old salt bucket. It was in 2 buckets but now it is down to 1. Regretably I lost track of where I bought it but if I remember right it was under $100. I still have enough for a couple more years but if anyone else has a good source it would be nice to share.

Thanks, Nathan

 

[Anonymous]

Also, I bought 1 cubic foot of lab grade kalk several years ago and keep it in an old salt bucket. It was in 2 buckets but now it is down to 1. Regretably I lost track of where I bought it but if I remember right it was under $100. I still have enough for a couple more years but if anyone else has a good source it would be nice to share.

Thanks, Nathan

If you're going the bulk rate and don't want to risk Aggricultural lime try "Quick lime" It's Calcium oxide vs Calcium hydroxide. Calcium oxide is fairly inexpensive for very pure product.

Caution though, it heats up when you add water so hydrate it in a container that can handle the heat and then add it to your reactor.

 

[Anonymous]

Nathan wrote:

That doesn't make quite the gooey mess that I think you would have if you added 10lbs at once and then had to do some type of maintenance or something

I added about a pound and that really looks quite messy too.

I think I'll do like you and just add a couple of cups every few weeks.

Kalk powder really is some nasty stuff. Gets all over the place when dumping such large amounts (compared to a dew TSP's).

My CA reactor holds about 15 pounds of media.

I should be all set for maintaining CA and ALK in the new tank

Louey