kalk stirrer/reactor- any preference on brand?

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 10:52 AM

i am shopping for a kalk stirrer/reactor(they are the same correct) and was just wondering what brands are good. I don't think i need a deltec or anything, something in the low to mid 200's is the most i want spend, but if there are cheaper options that would be great. Thanks for any suggestions.

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 10:58 AM

I prefer to just mix the lime in the topoff water, but if you use a reactor, I like the Aquamedic KWS 1000. Like the Deltec, it stirs constantly at a very slow rate instead of the typical heavy mix on a timer.

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 11:09 AM

i have a 29 galon tank i store my ro/di water for top off in, and that has a pump in it to pump into my sump. Are you saying i could just add the kalk to that top off water and skip the reactor?

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 11:13 AM

Yup. IME, it is easier, and a more consistent way to do it. Just mix it in, let it settle and you are good to go. Some stuff settles to the bottom and a crust forms on the top. Have it so your pump does not pull the settled stiff off the bottom.

You can mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon depending on the tanks needs.

Reef Sponger · 07/05/2007, 11:35 AM

I heard Deltec makes one of the best KS500 and the closest to their unit is the Aquamedic KS1000

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Yup. IME, it is easier, and a more consistent way to do it. Just mix it in, let it settle and you are good to go. Some stuff settles to the bottom and a crust forms on the top. Have it so your pump does not pull the settled stiff off the bottom.

You can mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon depending on the tanks needs.

This sounds like a nice way to save $200 on a reactor. So you don't need a pump in the resivoir to keep the kalk stirred after the initial mixing?? When you say not to pump up the settled stuff, how much of the water is unusable, just the bottom couple inches? Sorry to ask so many questions, just trying not to make any mistakes. Thanks

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 02:40 PM

Nope, you dont mix it up at all after the initial mix. Just add in the powder, stir it up and you're done till the next time you refill. The stuff that settles is not all that much. Have the pump draw about an inch from the bottom. You can leave what settles in the the bottom when you mix up the new batch. Clean it out a couple of times a year.

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Nope, you dont mix it up at all after the initial mix. Just add in the powder, stir it up and you're done till the next time you refill. The stuff that settles is not all that much. Have the pump draw about an inch from the bottom. You can leave what settles in the the bottom when you mix up the new batch. Clean it out a couple of times a year.

Thanks for taking the time to help, i really appreciate it. You just saved me $200

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 03:13 PM

Glad to help. After using both a reactor, then just mixing it, I dont generally see the benefit of the reactor. They are good when used in certain situations, but have more drawbacks than advantages in most applications.

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm

Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 03:20 PM

where do i get the kalk. buy it online?

something like this?-

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 03:29 PM

Kent is fine. I like to buy larger quantities. Many people use Mrs Wages Pickling Lime. I've used it but was not crazy about it. The stuff that settles to the bottom turned brown. none of the other lime I have used has done this. The brown may be just iron, but I dont know. I stopped using it for this reason.

Mrs Wages

Two part solutions

E.S.V.

seagirl · 07/05/2007, 03:39 PM

excellent. thanks again

Fishbulb2 · 07/05/2007, 03:52 PM

Just make sure not aerate your holding container once you mix it. The crust that forms on top is protecting the rest of the colution from absorbing excess CO2. Once it's mixed, just let it sit.

Jeff · 07/05/2007, 04:30 PM

So I can just add a bunch of kalk to my top-off tank without worrying about it going bad?

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 04:32 PM

Yes. My topoff is a 44G Brute. Its lasts ~ 2 weeks.

Jeff · 07/05/2007, 05:05 PM

I thaught I had heard that if you add kalk to an open container the effectivness is like almost nothing. Are we sure that it works just as well as a kalk reactor?

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 05:09 PM

No, it works better than a kalk reactor. You should cover the container, but I dont think its all that important. I linked to some articles about Limewater. Take a look.

Jeff · 07/05/2007, 05:15 PM

Ok, sounds good. I have a 6 gallon container that I use for top off with an ATO from JBJ. Is it important how much kalk powder I add or will the water absorb what it can? I have also heard that adding vinegar to the kalk water with help it absorb more kalk.

And btw, thanks so much for the info

Jeff

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 05:24 PM

A small topoff is actually when a reactor can come in handy. How long does that 6G last? Without the use of vinegar, you can use up to 2 teaspoons/gallon. That is fully saturated. Adding vinegar will allow you to use ~ 3 teaspoons/gallon. Usually, you start out with 1 teaspoon/gallon and see how it goes. You want to see that it keeps up with your ca and alk demand. Kalk also raises PH which most of the time is a good thing. I still struggle to keep my PH above 8.0. If your dosing brings the PH above 8.5, you may need to use less.

When you mix it up. let it settle overnight before you use it. Topoff with regular water until it settles if you need to.

Jeff · 07/05/2007, 05:49 PM

the 6 gallons last around 2 days in my 58 gallon that I keep uncovered.

sjm817 · 07/05/2007, 09:52 PM

Wow, you evaporate 3G/day in a 58G? I do about that in the Winter months and my system totals 250G. Now in the Summer months, I evaporate less, maybe 2.5G/day.

guido_kp · 07/05/2007, 11:22 PM

so how slow do you run the top-off when the kalk is added directly to the topoff container ? i have to drip slowly from my km500 clone or the pH rises too fast. i only have to add kalk to the stirrer every 2-3 weeks but i evap about 1.5 gallons/day, replaced from a 5 g bucket. so mixing 2x a week would get tedious for me - makes perfect sense about the reactor being better for a small resevoir. but anyway i got sidetracked. so how slow does the top off run? or is the concentration so low that you can let it run full rip?

sjm817 · 07/06/2007, 05:38 AM

I dont have a drip rate. Whatever evaporates is replaced. ATO via float switch. The float switch is sensitive. Only a very small amount goes in at a time. PH is not an issue other than trying to keep it up. My topoff container is a 44G Brute can. In the Winter, it last 2 weeks. Now in the Summer with the higher humidity, it is lasting a lot longer. I think it goes 3 weeks now. I seem to have a slower evaporation rate than others in this thread. I keep my ca/alk @ ~ 420/9.6 dKH

King-Kong · 07/06/2007, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
No, it works better than a kalk reactor. You should cover the container, but I dont think its all that important. I linked to some articles about Limewater. Take a look.

Works BETTER than a Kalk reactor? I dont know about that one, now.

seagirl · 07/06/2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by King-Kong
Works BETTER than a Kalk reactor? I dont know about that one, now.

Even if it doesn't work better, why wouldn't it work just as good? not to mention if you already have an ATO and a resevior you can save your $200 that you were gonna spend on a reactor and put it towards something else.

07/05/2007, 10:52 AM	#1
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	kalk stirrer/reactor- any preference on brand? i am shopping for a kalk stirrer/reactor(they are the same correct) and was just wondering what brands are good. I don't think i need a deltec or anything, something in the low to mid 200's is the most i want spend, but if there are cheaper options that would be great. Thanks for any suggestions.

07/05/2007, 10:58 AM	#2
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I prefer to just mix the lime in the topoff water, but if you use a reactor, I like the Aquamedic KWS 1000. Like the Deltec, it stirs constantly at a very slow rate instead of the typical heavy mix on a timer. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 11:13 AM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yup. IME, it is easier, and a more consistent way to do it. Just mix it in, let it settle and you are good to go. Some stuff settles to the bottom and a crust forms on the top. Have it so your pump does not pull the settled stiff off the bottom. You can mix up to 2 teaspoons/gallon depending on the tanks needs. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 02:40 PM	#7
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Nope, you dont mix it up at all after the initial mix. Just add in the powder, stir it up and you're done till the next time you refill. The stuff that settles is not all that much. Have the pump draw about an inch from the bottom. You can leave what settles in the the bottom when you mix up the new batch. Clean it out a couple of times a year. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 03:13 PM	#9
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Glad to help. After using both a reactor, then just mixing it, I dont generally see the benefit of the reactor. They are good when used in certain situations, but have more drawbacks than advantages in most applications. What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm The Self Purification of Limewater (Kalkwasser) http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2003/chem.htm The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm __________________ - Scott Last edited by sjm817; 07/05/2007 at 03:22 PM.

07/05/2007, 11:09 AM	#3
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	i have a 29 galon tank i store my ro/di water for top off in, and that has a pump in it to pump into my sump. Are you saying i could just add the kalk to that top off water and skip the reactor?

07/05/2007, 11:35 AM	#5
Reef Sponger Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: TX/USA Posts: 696	I heard Deltec makes one of the best KS500 and the closest to their unit is the Aquamedic KS1000

07/05/2007, 03:20 PM	#10
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	where do i get the kalk. buy it online? something like this?- http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

07/05/2007, 03:29 PM	#11
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Kent is fine. I like to buy larger quantities. Many people use Mrs Wages Pickling Lime. I've used it but was not crazy about it. The stuff that settles to the bottom turned brown. none of the other lime I have used has done this. The brown may be just iron, but I dont know. I stopped using it for this reason. Mrs Wages Two part solutions E.S.V. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 03:39 PM	#12
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	excellent. thanks again

07/05/2007, 03:52 PM	#13
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Just make sure not aerate your holding container once you mix it. The crust that forms on top is protecting the rest of the colution from absorbing excess CO2. Once it's mixed, just let it sit. __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

07/05/2007, 04:30 PM	#14
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	So I can just add a bunch of kalk to my top-off tank without worrying about it going bad? __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

07/05/2007, 04:32 PM	#15
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yes. My topoff is a 44G Brute. Its lasts ~ 2 weeks. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 05:05 PM	#16
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I thaught I had heard that if you add kalk to an open container the effectivness is like almost nothing. Are we sure that it works just as well as a kalk reactor? __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

07/05/2007, 05:09 PM	#17
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	No, it works better than a kalk reactor. You should cover the container, but I dont think its all that important. I linked to some articles about Limewater. Take a look. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 05:15 PM	#18
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Ok, sounds good. I have a 6 gallon container that I use for top off with an ATO from JBJ. Is it important how much kalk powder I add or will the water absorb what it can? I have also heard that adding vinegar to the kalk water with help it absorb more kalk. And btw, thanks so much for the info Jeff __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

07/05/2007, 05:24 PM	#19
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	A small topoff is actually when a reactor can come in handy. How long does that 6G last? Without the use of vinegar, you can use up to 2 teaspoons/gallon. That is fully saturated. Adding vinegar will allow you to use ~ 3 teaspoons/gallon. Usually, you start out with 1 teaspoon/gallon and see how it goes. You want to see that it keeps up with your ca and alk demand. Kalk also raises PH which most of the time is a good thing. I still struggle to keep my PH above 8.0. If your dosing brings the PH above 8.5, you may need to use less. When you mix it up. let it settle overnight before you use it. Topoff with regular water until it settles if you need to. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 05:49 PM	#20
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	the 6 gallons last around 2 days in my 58 gallon that I keep uncovered. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

07/05/2007, 09:52 PM	#21
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Wow, you evaporate 3G/day in a 58G? I do about that in the Winter months and my system totals 250G. Now in the Summer months, I evaporate less, maybe 2.5G/day. __________________ - Scott

07/05/2007, 11:22 PM	#22
guido_kp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Muskogee, OK Posts: 248	so how slow do you run the top-off when the kalk is added directly to the topoff container ? i have to drip slowly from my km500 clone or the pH rises too fast. i only have to add kalk to the stirrer every 2-3 weeks but i evap about 1.5 gallons/day, replaced from a 5 g bucket. so mixing 2x a week would get tedious for me - makes perfect sense about the reactor being better for a small resevoir. but anyway i got sidetracked. so how slow does the top off run? or is the concentration so low that you can let it run full rip?

07/06/2007, 05:38 AM	#23
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I dont have a drip rate. Whatever evaporates is replaced. ATO via float switch. The float switch is sensitive. Only a very small amount goes in at a time. PH is not an issue other than trying to keep it up. My topoff container is a 44G Brute can. In the Winter, it last 2 weeks. Now in the Summer with the higher humidity, it is lasting a lot longer. I think it goes 3 weeks now. I seem to have a slower evaporation rate than others in this thread. I keep my ca/alk @ ~ 420/9.6 dKH __________________ - Scott Last edited by sjm817; 07/06/2007 at 06:21 AM.