Kalkwasser input needed

[Salty Dog]

Hey people,

Ok now Im leaning towards a Kalkwasser system for my 225 but I want to know what the difference is between a stirrer and a reactor, please dont say well the stirrer stirs the media, I want to know if both are needed and why. Thanks Bill

 

[noodleman]

a stirrer is a type of reactor....so difference is nothing unless you want to know the difference between the one the stirs it with a rod or the one that stirs it with a water pump?

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Check out the new kalk reactor by mrc....

 

[isgon26]

Im dosing kalkwasser with out a reactor for my 150. Im going with a calcium reactor because it is less expensive in the long run and less hands on. Something to think about.

 

[pecan2phat]

Stirrers slowly stirs the kalk powder 24/7 (unless you place it on a timer or if the model has a built in timer). Stirrers will keep the vessel saturated since the kalk is always stirred but also leaves a kalk skin on the surface of the water column since the reactor is not pressurized. You also need to watch the amount of kalk added as too much will hinder the stir rod which can lead to stripping of the step motor gear.

Reactors use mostly maxi-jet pumps to MIX the kalk solution in the vessel. You need to use an electronic appliance timer to set the intervals and mix times. Dependent on how much water is pumped through, size of reactor, you need to adjust the intervals. Mix time normally stays at 1 minute. This type of reactor is pressurized so you do not get the kalk skin that forms on top of the water column. With a reactor, you do not need to be as concerned with the amount of kalk added (within reason) since there is no step motor gear that will strip or bearings that will bind BUT it is a common maintenence issue to replace the inpellar for the maxi-jet and or sometimes the entire pump since kalk is so caustic on pumps/powerheads.

 

[Galantra]

is it true that using kalk alone gives corals a brown look?

 

[pecan2phat]

Ritch,

I use kalk only on one of my systems but it is a LPS/Softie tank, no SPS so hard to comment about the browning.

 

[Ricardo_Jorge]

Hi i use a Kalk reactor (stirrer) in my 112g.


In left a Ca Reactor, in right a the kalk reactor.
There is pump outside the reactor that mix the kalk before dosage.

Hug

 

[alrha]

I use the PM reactor and as such need to change the impeller on the MJ from time to time.

 

[cali_reef]

Hi i use a Kalk reactor (stirrer) in my 112g.


In left a Ca Reactor, in right a the kalk reactor.
There is pump outside the reactor that mix the kalk before dosage.

Hug

I think yours is a mixer\reactor, unless I am not seeing the stirrer stick or the magnetic stirring motor on the bottom.

I have pretty much tried all of them (except the Deltec), PM reactor is about as low maintenance as you are going to get. You can load up a lot more Kalk than the mag stirrer or Deltec\AquaMedic reactors. DO NOT BUY the MRC, the stupid mag stirrer jumps off way too often and pretty much a piece of crap.

 

[cali_reef]

Looks like they finally decided their old copycat design didn't work well.

Blueline for a mixing pump is pretty much more of a maintenance headache, I guess they don't know Kalk like to calcify around a warm object, such as the magnetically coupled pump head. :irked: I rather be buying $15 maxijets as a spare (which I can use in my QT tank) than spending more for a impeller.

 

[artie1209]

These guys use an external Magnetic stirrer

http://www.austinoceans.com/products-kalkreactors.html#kalkreactors

 

[Ricardo_Jorge]

Hello Cali,

my stirrer is a MJ1200 pump outside the reacter. Is on top left side.


Hug

 

[Salty Dog]

ok right now I have only a Pro Cal calcium reactor on my system, It keeps my level of KH around 9 but I can never get my level of calcium to reach 450 where I would like to be. So Im dosing manually B-Ionic to boost Calcium. I have a SPS tank 225g, but can see a 700g in the near future, so I want to buy with that in mind.

 

[Ricardo_Jorge]

I have had the same problem with my Ca reactor.
Now i?m using balling for Ca and Alk. And it?s perfect for me.!
It?s much more safety!



Hug

 

[cali_reef]

These guys use an external Magnetic stirrer

http://www.austinoceans.com/products-kalkreactors.html#kalkreactors

Had that one too, when it was called Barr Aquatics. Don't get it, the stirring motor is too weak..

 

[cali_reef]

ok right now I have only a Pro Cal calcium reactor on my system, It keeps my level of KH around 9 but I can never get my level of calcium to reach 450 where I would like to be. So Im dosing manually B-Ionic to boost Calcium. I have a SPS tank 225g, but can see a 700g in the near future, so I want to buy with that in mind.

Where is you Ca level with the ProCal? I nevered heard people can't get a procal up to 400+ ppm, it is one of the best Ca reactor you can get.

You will need a Kalk reactor that holds 5+ gallons of water for a 700gallon system, you'll be buying 50 lbs bags of kalk too :lol2: Been there...

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Cali have you had any experience with this reactor ? http://www.aquacare.de/produkte/kalk/e2turbo.htm

Where is you Ca level with the ProCal? I nevered heard people can't get a procal up to 400+ ppm, it is one of the best Ca reactor you can get.

You will need a Kalk reactor that holds 5+ gallons of water for a 700gallon system, you'll be buying 50 lbs bags of kalk too :lol2: Been there...

 

[cali_reef]

Cali have you had any experience with this reactor ? http://www.aquacare.de/produkte/kalk/e2turbo.htm

That's a calcium reactor (CaRx), not Kalk. Looks way fancy, even for German standards..:bablefish I don't see a price, I am guessing is major $$$ with all the fancy controls it has.

 

[alrha]

Cali have you had any experience with this reactor ? http://www.aquacare.de/produkte/kalk/e2turbo.htm

wowee! nice!