Kalkreactors

[digitalreefer]

I've been looking at kalkreactors and was wondering if anyone uses one and what the advantage is over simply dosing kalkwasser manually.

 

[herman]

1. the obvious advantage is manual vs automatic
2. The stirrers mix the powder for you constantly
3. The ability to dose on a timer, enabling you to stabilize the Ph level between day and night.

 

[digitalreefer]

If I'm correct, you still need an auto dosing system in addition to the reactor, so is this basically a $300 tube that stirs stuff on a timer?

Could the same effect be achieved by putting a powerhead on a timer in a top off tank?

 

[herman]

yep but not as nicely

 

[Deanos]

Could the same effect be achieved by putting a powerhead on a timer in a top off tank?

Wouldn't a powerhead sitting in kalkwasser, stop working in weeks, if not sooner, due to calcification of the impeller? That's why many kalkreactors use a magnetic stirrer.

 

[herman]

yes

 

[fritz]

Some stirrers use Maxi-jets, but few things to mention Eric;

1. You shouldn't use a kalk reactor if you're not using a calcium reactor. If your goal is to dose calcium and alk to your tank, a kalk reactor is not the best way. 2 part would be a much better solution. A kalk reactor is a good way to offset low PH caused by a calcium reactor but not a good means of maintaining alk and calcium levels as a stand alone solution.

2. When limewater mixes with CO2 in the air, well I won't go into this but it's on the net. Basically allowing your kalk mix to come into contact with air is very bad.

3. Plans of inexpensive DIY kalk reactors are all over the place, you're right it is a $300 tube to stir stuff in. Magnetic stirrers have their own problems and as Dean mentioned calcification can be an issue for powerheads. Deltec has a nice reactor that is driven by an external motor but if you call Doug he won't sell you one unless you have a calcium reactor and STRONGLY recommends two part over a stand alone kalk reactor as the sole means of alk and calcium maintenance.

 

[digitalreefer]

Cool, that basically answers all of my questions on these. I've been itching to build something for the tank and saw a bunch of plans for these. Figured I'd see if it was something worthwhile, but guess I'll have to build something else.

 

[druluv]

Kalkreactors is a good weapon to have in your endless battle to add cal into your tank. I have being using one for about two years, and its one of my favorite additions. I used to try and manually add kalk, but it was pain to have to do it every time.

I used my Kalkreactor to top-off my sump. So every time my sump level dropped, I added kalk-rich RODI water to my sump. I did use it before I got my cal reactor, but I never had PH swings. I think the trick to using a kalkreactor, is to use a dosing pump. Dosing pumps slowly adds the Kalk-rich water to your sump with out getting huge ph swings.

 

[bad coffee]

I've dumped a couple of teaspoons in my open top top off container since I started it. I'm thinking of a way to use a RODI housing for kalk. Since I'm just mixing and letting it settle, I think it's going to produce the same results.

B

 

[druluv]

Open air containers are bad for kalk mixtures. Air causes the kalk mixture to change into an unusable form. After mixing kalk with water, you have to quickly close the container so that the mixture doesn't change to a form that doesn't dissolve into the aquarium.

 

[cali_reef]

Open air containers are bad for kalk mixtures.

Randy H Farley did some testing and stated this is not the case, he published a few articles on it. You can mix up a large quantity of topoff water and the PH level of the mixture stays fairly consitant provide the container is closed(not sealed). He uses Kalk water as his only ca and Alk supplement by mixing it once in a large topoff container.

I use Kalk reactor on all my tanks, including one that is a FOWLR and no Ca reactor. I am currently using all three types of stirring reactors, the best type I used is a mechnical stirer type like the Deltec, AquaMedics makes two that are much cheaper than the Deltac and works great. kalk reactors are a great tool to maintain the PH level and provide Ca and Alk in a tank if you don't need as much suppliment as a Ca reactor can provide.

Megnetic stirers are the easiest to build, you can get a cheap used megnetic sterir for less than $50 on ebay. The maxijext driven reactors needs more maintenance and part replacement in the long term.

 

[PVsPlayhouse]

Randy H Farley did some testing and stated this is not the case, he published a few articles on it. You can mix up a large quantity of topoff water and the PH level of the mixture stays fairly consitant provide the container is closed(not sealed). He uses Kalk water as his only ca and Alk supplement by mixing it once in a large topoff container.

I use Kalk reactor on all my tanks, including one that is a FOWLR and no Ca reactor. I am currently using all three types of stirring reactors, the best type I used is a mechnical stirer type like the Deltec, AquaMedics makes two that are much cheaper than the Deltac and works great. kalk reactors are a great tool to maintain the PH level and provide Ca and Alk in a tank if you don't need as much suppliment as a Ca reactor can provide.

Megnetic stirers are the easiest to build, you can get a cheap used megnetic sterir for less than $50 on ebay. The maxijext driven reactors needs more maintenance and part replacement in the long term.

I agree I have been using one for about 2 and a half years now. My aqua Medic just broke and Im going get the stirrer instead of the Reactor like I had. Not sure about the whole air thing since that is all I heard about kalk. Not letting it git the air for a long time. It is great to hold you calc and Alk at the level you want as long as it is used right. If it is used right then you do not need a Calc reactor. The Aqua Medic one you can find online for about 185 that is the 1000 model. As long as you change your kalk once a month your all good since kalk does get old and will not work the same after a month mixed in the water.
PV

 

[bad coffee]

As long as you change your kalk once a month your all good since kalk does get old and will not work the same after a month mixed in the water.
PV

Do you have references for that statement?

 

[regal]

FYI, the reason why you don't want the kalkwasser to expose to air is b/c the carbon dioxide in the air will dissolve in the kalk solution to form bicarbonate which will react with the high calcium concentration and form calcium carbonate and in high pH, calcium carbonate will not dissolve in the solution. That's why you'll have a whitish film of solid on the surface of the kalk when you let it sit for a while. It is not a bad thing or unstable but it does decrease the potency of your solution ie. less calcium and alk added to your tank. The surface film in a way also helps to minimize the solution in contact with air and slow down this process. Also BTW, when calcium carbonate forms, it also traps PO4 with it and help to reduce PO4 in this way.

LINK

 

[PVsPlayhouse]

Do you have references for that statement?

[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]I have to look for the link, will post it later in the week. From what I have seen from my kalk it does not work the same if I leave it more then a month. Sometimes it turns brown, which is mean the kalk is bad or The ph drop below 12. Since I have a ph prob hooked up to my kalk reactor I know this. Also from talking to MRC and AquaMedic and some other who make Kalk units all say the same thing. After a month the kalk get weak.

I also did some tests on my tank to see how much the kalk will hold my levels up. It work good for a month with me having to add very little Alk or calc. But after a month of leaving the kalk in reactor levels start to drop off and the longer I waited the faster the level dropped. That is why you should change you kalk once a month. That is one of the reason why most people do not like Kalk to much work. The reason why I was doing the test was to see if I should get a calc reactor.
Im not going to since the kalk reactor works great on my well stocked tank as long as I keep up with the Kalk mix.
PV
[/FONT]

 

[cali_reef]

Don't get a MRC stirrer, I had two, one older and one "improved". They both suck butt.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

I have been dosing kalk for almost 2 yrs now on my main tank and have always used an open container with no problems. It was one of those super expensive ones made from a 1gal poland spring jug with a hole poked in it for some airline tube and an IV flow controller. Probably cost me $5 or less and at a slow drip it gets filled every other day. Best $5 I ever spent on the tank (equipment wise).

 

[PVsPlayhouse]

Don't get a MRC stirrer, I had two, one older and one "improved". They both suck butt.

Thanks. If I go with anything It will be the AquaMedic one. I had the Kalk Reactor one that worked great for 3 years, till this week since it broke and they dont make them anymore.
The new one that they sell is a stirrer and is just like the Deltec one but cheaper.
PV