Kalkreactor and/or kalk-dripping people ...

[Len]

Do you have any advice on how to keep the effluent tip from clogging up with calcium deposits over time? I notice it clogs up a lot faster if I submerge the effluent under water, so I now have it above water. Still, it clogs up after a couple of weeks. It's made a mess of my cabinet twice now :?

I'm going to try to remember to check it every week, but if there is a good way to keep it clear on its own, I'll owe you a beer 8)

 

[Anonymous]

I notice it clogs up a lot faster if I submerge the effluent under water, so I now have it above water.

That's most likely because your kalk is precipitating inside the tube/whatever as a result, clogola!

I simply have mine above water, dripping at a somewhat fast state (1 drop per second or so) and just periodically clean my dispenser (which consists of an old plastic fish food canister with a hole poked in the bottom with an air adjuster)

 

[Anonymous]

I have mine dispensed on continuous duty (OEM pumps) and burst amounts (like a LM3), and have never needed to clean them out that often. Maybe once every 6 months or so. How does it dispense? How far is it sitting above water level?

All I can think of is keeping a paper clip near the tank...

 

[Anonymous]

the output on my kalk reactor is 1/2" tubing. If it clogs I have bigger problems.

B

 

[Anonymous]

the output on my kalk reactor is 1/2" tubing. If it clogs I have bigger problems.

B

I guess that would be a better question (duh)...what size tubing are you using Len?

 

[ChrisRD]

Having the outlet pointed down at about a 45 (so the tip drains completely) and keeping it above the water line seems to work for me.

I'm dosing with a litermeter and using 1/4" line and only need to clean/recut the tip every few months...

 

[Anonymous]

I just clean mine once a week by dipping the tube end in white vinegar. Though I will try ChrisRD's trick

 

[Anonymous]

Mine has not clogged in over a year. It is 1/2 pipe out of the water in a goose next config.

 

[leftovers]

Drip above water, make sure your kalc has settled prior to dripping

 

[Len]

I'm using 1/8" ID (1/4" OD) line, which is what my kalkreactor's output is. I could probably get tubing that is not as thick.

I drip about 2" above the water line in my sump. It's fed by a LM3. It's clogged up bad enough to render the LM3 useless

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like your getting more kalk powder then just solution. When my kalk runs down a bit my magnetic stirrer kicks the remaining kalk higher allowing more of the powder to be leaked into the tank. When that occurs I find my tubing gets far more caked up then when I run the reactor more full of kalk. That being said it takes like 3 months for mine to get clogged enough to be of concern.

My next one will have 1/2", right Bret

 

[Len]

Hmmm. I'll try dialing down the stirrer too. It doesn't look like the powder is getting stirred to the top though, but I'll see if lowering the stir speed helps.

 

[Anonymous]

My next one will have 1/2", right Bret

I thought you said 3/4" I guess I should have checked....

Send you pics tonight, check your pm over at that other place.

Brett

 

[Anonymous]

Try putting less kalk mix in, and just dose twice as much as well.

 

[Anonymous]

My next one will have 1/2", right Bret

I thought you said 3/4" I guess I should have checked....

Send you pics tonight, check your pm over at that other place.

Brett

3/4" is fine, did I say that just not 1/4" and we're fine

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/att ... 1215644068

It's 1/2" hosebarb, just like we talked about!

check your PM!

B