first 36h using the kalk reactor

yeloowtang · 07/22/2010, 07:39 PM

well i finaly got it going with the DT...

after many tests and figuring things out it's working nicely.

the problems i had at first was air getting into the line before entering the reactor,this caused the slur to shoot up and cloud the lime water .

my thinking was my osmolator pump was to powerfull so i added a valve,but only the cheap air valves don't seal properly and !!! air would sneak in..
so i pluged it direct and voila !!! the slur only rises a little at the bottom but stay clear the rest of the way..

all you kal users please feel free to chip in

after using it for 36h this is what i have

ph is more in the 8.2 to 8.3 instead of 7.9-8.0 aprox only 1 day testing
calcium hasn't moved at 420
alk this went from my 8.6 to 9.6 maybe 9.9 will keep an eye on it ,i know it's still in the safe zone just higher than what i had.

all the corals are doing fine and i don't see any reaction from the lime water for my top off,i even have a big fan worm in my sump and it doesn't react when the reactor drops the lime in the sump..

like i said if you have info,experience or comments please feel free

i need all the imput i can get because if the parameters don't stabalize i will take it off line,from all the people i bugged

for info,the company,net search ect ect a reactor should level and stabalize,PH,alk calcium unless the tank is stocked to heavy then you need to dose what is missing or used up..

steff

Attreui · 07/22/2010, 10:26 PM

You're not going to get a huge boost in Calcium from using Kalk. It's great for pH and alk stabilizing though. It can help you maintain calcium in a low demand tank but to raise it any great amount you would need to dose more than your want to. If you looking to add calcium to the system and you are using Kalk, just add a calcium additive. You may want to start monitoring Mg also. Kalk likes to deplete it. If you have stony corals they won't like that over time. If you notice it go low, just add some Mg suppliments.

Good luck.

yeloowtang · 07/23/2010, 07:14 AM

cool !! thanks

like you said,calcium i keep where i want using turbo ca when it drop to 410.

i wasn't expecting the alk to rise but to stay at 8.6 so this i'm monitering carefuly,i did 3 tests yesterday,morning,aft,and evening and will do the same today.
this is where i'm not sure,if the alk demand in my tank is lower from what the reactor is giving it ,not sure if it stays put at 9.6 or if it will rise continiously.
if so i will need to limit the usage with a timer or something like that !!

will be testing soon

fingers crossed

steff

07/22/2010, 07:39 PM	#1
yeloowtang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: gatineau,quebec,Canada Posts: 301	first 36h using the kalk reactor well i finaly got it going with the DT... after many tests and figuring things out it's working nicely. the problems i had at first was air getting into the line before entering the reactor,this caused the slur to shoot up and cloud the lime water . my thinking was my osmolator pump was to powerfull so i added a valve,but only the cheap air valves don't seal properly and !!! air would sneak in.. so i pluged it direct and voila !!! the slur only rises a little at the bottom but stay clear the rest of the way.. all you kal users please feel free to chip in after using it for 36h this is what i have ph is more in the 8.2 to 8.3 instead of 7.9-8.0 aprox only 1 day testing calcium hasn't moved at 420 alk this went from my 8.6 to 9.6 maybe 9.9 will keep an eye on it ,i know it's still in the safe zone just higher than what i had. all the corals are doing fine and i don't see any reaction from the lime water for my top off,i even have a big fan worm in my sump and it doesn't react when the reactor drops the lime in the sump.. like i said if you have info,experience or comments please feel free i need all the imput i can get because if the parameters don't stabalize i will take it off line,from all the people i bugged for info,the company,net search ect ect a reactor should level and stabalize,PH,alk calcium unless the tank is stocked to heavy then you need to dose what is missing or used up.. steff

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07/22/2010, 10:26 PM	#2
Attreui Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 321	You're not going to get a huge boost in Calcium from using Kalk. It's great for pH and alk stabilizing though. It can help you maintain calcium in a low demand tank but to raise it any great amount you would need to dose more than your want to. If you looking to add calcium to the system and you are using Kalk, just add a calcium additive. You may want to start monitoring Mg also. Kalk likes to deplete it. If you have stony corals they won't like that over time. If you notice it go low, just add some Mg suppliments. Good luck.

07/23/2010, 07:14 AM	#3
yeloowtang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: gatineau,quebec,Canada Posts: 301	cool !! thanks like you said,calcium i keep where i want using turbo ca when it drop to 410. i wasn't expecting the alk to rise but to stay at 8.6 so this i'm monitering carefuly,i did 3 tests yesterday,morning,aft,and evening and will do the same today. this is where i'm not sure,if the alk demand in my tank is lower from what the reactor is giving it ,not sure if it stays put at 9.6 or if it will rise continiously. if so i will need to limit the usage with a timer or something like that !! will be testing soon fingers crossed steff