Kalk Reactor with ATO

jimrawr · 10/24/2010, 09:49 PM

I have a few questions that I was hoping to get some help with since I really wasnt able to find the information myself. I have a PM kalk reactor that I would like to start using in conjunction with my ATO water. So I will setup the reactor near my ATO, and have it stir four times a day for a couple minutes each time.

Now I will also have a pump that will go from my ATO water to force feed the kalk reactor, since they are at the same level and cant use gravity. I dont know how long should I run this pump, and how much of the saturated water should be going back into the ATO.

Also on top of that, my ATO is 15g, which I usually refill when it gets down to about 2 gallons. So, if I am pumping in the saturated solution into 15g of water, vs 2g of water, there is a big difference of how much solution will end up going back into my display tank.

So how do I figure out how long I should run the force feed pump, or rather how much saturated solution should come out of the reactor and into my ATO?

Also my tank evaporates 1-2 gallons a day.

slorichie · 10/24/2010, 11:45 PM

I have one on my 60 cube. I have mine in line from ato tank to sump with water being pushed thru. It is controlled by a ato. So all my evaporated water is replace with water flowing thru Kalk reactor. I use a powerhead inside my ato tank you have to have a check valve between the powerhead and kalk reactor to prevent it from back flowing. I evaporate about a gallon a day and I add about 5 tablespoons every 2 weeks mine stirs 3 times a day on a timer.ni have a video of my tank on YouTube the shows sump but it is not real clear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vy5zExZwaE

jimrawr · 10/25/2010, 07:30 AM

Ahh I understand, so basically the pump that is activated from the ATO pumps water into the Kalk Reactor, then the effluent from the kalk reactor goes directly into the sump or display tank.

That helps, just need to look into the check valve now or a peristaltic pump

rsaha · 10/25/2010, 12:53 PM

I used to use a peristaltic pump. I would forget to replace the hose in the pump in time and it would leak. Not a huge leak but still. I use a Tunze Osmolator with a good quality check valve and ball valve to choke back the flow a bit and it works great.

jimrawr · 10/26/2010, 03:03 PM

The more I research check valves, the more I want to stay away. Everyone seems to have problems with them within a few months.

Whats the cheapest way, without having to raise my top off water, that I can stop the back flow??

10/24/2010, 09:49 PM	#1
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	Kalk Reactor with ATO I have a few questions that I was hoping to get some help with since I really wasnt able to find the information myself. I have a PM kalk reactor that I would like to start using in conjunction with my ATO water. So I will setup the reactor near my ATO, and have it stir four times a day for a couple minutes each time. Now I will also have a pump that will go from my ATO water to force feed the kalk reactor, since they are at the same level and cant use gravity. I dont know how long should I run this pump, and how much of the saturated water should be going back into the ATO. Also on top of that, my ATO is 15g, which I usually refill when it gets down to about 2 gallons. So, if I am pumping in the saturated solution into 15g of water, vs 2g of water, there is a big difference of how much solution will end up going back into my display tank. So how do I figure out how long I should run the force feed pump, or rather how much saturated solution should come out of the reactor and into my ATO? Also my tank evaporates 1-2 gallons a day.

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10/24/2010, 11:45 PM	#2
slorichie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Luis Obispo, California Posts: 11	I have one on my 60 cube. I have mine in line from ato tank to sump with water being pushed thru. It is controlled by a ato. So all my evaporated water is replace with water flowing thru Kalk reactor. I use a powerhead inside my ato tank you have to have a check valve between the powerhead and kalk reactor to prevent it from back flowing. I evaporate about a gallon a day and I add about 5 tablespoons every 2 weeks mine stirs 3 times a day on a timer.ni have a video of my tank on YouTube the shows sump but it is not real clear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vy5zExZwaE

10/25/2010, 07:30 AM	#3
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	Ahh I understand, so basically the pump that is activated from the ATO pumps water into the Kalk Reactor, then the effluent from the kalk reactor goes directly into the sump or display tank. That helps, just need to look into the check valve now or a peristaltic pump

10/25/2010, 12:53 PM	#4
rsaha Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 587	I used to use a peristaltic pump. I would forget to replace the hose in the pump in time and it would leak. Not a huge leak but still. I use a Tunze Osmolator with a good quality check valve and ball valve to choke back the flow a bit and it works great.

10/26/2010, 03:03 PM	#5
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	The more I research check valves, the more I want to stay away. Everyone seems to have problems with them within a few months. Whats the cheapest way, without having to raise my top off water, that I can stop the back flow??