Kalk Reactor w/ CO2 injection?

naterealbig · 10/19/2007, 06:37 PM

Alright, forgive me as I realize that this question may have been posed before now - if so, I apologize. Could I run a Kalkwasser reactor on an auto top-off system, and inject CO2 into my skimmer using a regulator to maintain a normal pH? Thanks.

hahnmeister · 10/19/2007, 06:56 PM

Yes, you can run a kalk mixer on a top-off system.

Running a CO2 injector on a skimmer would only result in the CO2 exiting the water right away... wasting it. Besides, you dont want to lower pH in the whole system, just inside a Calcium reactor to dissolve crushed coral media.

naterealbig · 10/19/2007, 07:03 PM

I understand that the C02 is to lower the pH inside the reactor in order to dissasociate the media. I'm thinking that the Kalk reactor will raise system pH to an undesirable level. I would be using CO2 in order to lower overall system pH. I'm not sure if a skimmer would be the best way to do this, thats just the only thing I could think of at the moment.

hahnmeister · 10/20/2007, 12:06 AM

Kalk on a top-off wont buffer the pH that much. Sure, it tends to buffer alkalinity more than calcium, but not that much.

naterealbig · 10/20/2007, 09:24 AM

Thanks

sjm817 · 10/20/2007, 09:40 AM

Limewater adds ca and alk in equal proportions. The amount that PH is raised depends on how strong you mix it and how much you are topping off. Usually, the increase in PH is desirable as it tends to be typically on the low side.

10/19/2007, 06:37 PM	#1
naterealbig Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,252	Kalk Reactor w/ CO2 injection? Alright, forgive me as I realize that this question may have been posed before now - if so, I apologize. Could I run a Kalkwasser reactor on an auto top-off system, and inject CO2 into my skimmer using a regulator to maintain a normal pH? Thanks.

10/19/2007, 07:03 PM	#3
naterealbig Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,252	I understand that the C02 is to lower the pH inside the reactor in order to dissasociate the media. I'm thinking that the Kalk reactor will raise system pH to an undesirable level. I would be using CO2 in order to lower overall system pH. I'm not sure if a skimmer would be the best way to do this, thats just the only thing I could think of at the moment. __________________ My skimmate has notes of saffron, and a hint of lilac.

10/20/2007, 09:24 AM	#5
naterealbig Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,252	Thanks __________________ My skimmate has notes of saffron, and a hint of lilac.

10/20/2007, 09:40 AM	#6
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Limewater adds ca and alk in equal proportions. The amount that PH is raised depends on how strong you mix it and how much you are topping off. Usually, the increase in PH is desirable as it tends to be typically on the low side. __________________ - Scott

10/19/2007, 06:56 PM	#2
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Yes, you can run a kalk mixer on a top-off system. Running a CO2 injector on a skimmer would only result in the CO2 exiting the water right away... wasting it. Besides, you dont want to lower pH in the whole system, just inside a Calcium reactor to dissolve crushed coral media.

10/20/2007, 12:06 AM	#4
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Kalk on a top-off wont buffer the pH that much. Sure, it tends to buffer alkalinity more than calcium, but not that much.