Litermeter III + Kalkreactor

Ginzo · 01/19/2006, 05:37 PM

How do you connect the Litermeter III to a Kalkreactor ?

Any pics of this setup would be appreciated !

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/21/2006, 12:38 PM

Is there a reason you want to, as opposed to delivering the limewater from a reservoir like a trash can? Space limitation?

Ereefic · 01/21/2006, 01:47 PM

Ginzo, I am doing the set up you mention.

I have a 33 gal. trash can holding RO/DI water (soon to be 65gal. container). The LMIII is pulling from that pushing into the reactor, in turn pushing the mixed kalk into the sump.

I am mixing for 5 minutes every 6 hours and the LM is off for 1 hour after the mixing for the solution to settle.

Hoop · 01/21/2006, 02:06 PM

I have a LMIII. It pulls water mixed with kalk from a large plastic trashcan. I use to have a kalk reactor. I find this much easier - there is less that can go wrong. I just put enough kalk in the reservoir to saturate the water. The LMIII does its thing every few minutes. I do not stir the kalk. keeps my ph about 8.1 - 8.2. When the ph starts dropping I add more kalk.

EricJC · 01/21/2006, 09:40 PM

Here's how I have mine set up:

RO/DI => Reservoir => LMIII => Kalk Reactor => Sump

Don't stir/mix often, you want to dose clear saturated water only. Another item: if you plan on also using the LMIII's remote pump capabilities to do continuous water changing, do not use the same outflow from the Kalk Reactor to add fresh saltwater...it will crystallize VERY quickly.

Randy,
This configuration is particularly good if you have a distance to go to your sump (mine's about 18ft from sump - partially uphill). It's also nice to be able to dial in the exact amount of evaporation you have...mine adds 5.5 liters/day and I haven't touched the settings for months.

-Eric

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/22/2006, 08:24 AM

Randy,
This configuration is particularly good if you have a distance to go to your sump (mine's about 18ft from sump - partially uphill). It's also nice to be able to dial in the exact amount of evaporation you have...mine adds 5.5 liters/day and I haven't touched the settings for months.

Why is that better than putting lime in the reservoir and getting rid of the reactor? That's all I was suggesting and is what I do with a Reef Filler pump, an 88 gallon limewater reservoir, and a float switch in my sump. My tank is also far from the reservoir, and for a few years, it was on a different floor of my house.

I don't care for limewater reactors for a variety of reasons:

the limewater is often not fully settled
the limewater is often not fully saturated (if that is what you want)
it is hard to add vinegar to it (if you want to do that)

Ginzo · 01/22/2006, 08:50 AM

Just wondering how the LMIII is hooked up to your Kalk reactor and how your Kalk reactor is hooked up to your sump ? Also, when does your kalk reactor run ? Who tells it to stir and provide for the sump ? When does it close ? So many questions..!

Quote:

Originally posted by ericandchrissy
Here's how I have mine set up:

RO/DI => Reservoir => LMIII => Kalk Reactor => Sump

Don't stir/mix often, you want to dose clear saturated water only. Another item: if you plan on also using the LMIII's remote pump capabilities to do continuous water changing, do not use the same outflow from the Kalk Reactor to add fresh saltwater...it will crystallize VERY quickly.

Randy,
This configuration is particularly good if you have a distance to go to your sump (mine's about 18ft from sump - partially uphill). It's also nice to be able to dial in the exact amount of evaporation you have...mine adds 5.5 liters/day and I haven't touched the settings for months.

-Eric

Ereefic · 01/22/2006, 08:58 AM

I use 2 digital times, one for the LMIII and one for the pump on the reactor. The LM shuts off 1 minute before the stir pump kicks on. The reactor stirs for 5 minutes then shuts off. The LM remains off for 55 minutes and then turns back on. The cycle repeats every 6 hours.

The input and output of the reactor plug right into the top. The input line puts the water into the bottom of the reactor, the outpt draws right from the top.

With the GEO reactor, only the bottom half (up to the pumps intake) gets cloudy. I could probably turn the LM on sooner, but it's fine how it is set now.

01/19/2006, 05:37 PM	#1
Ginzo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 754	Litermeter III + Kalkreactor How do you connect the Litermeter III to a Kalkreactor ? Any pics of this setup would be appreciated !

01/21/2006, 12:38 PM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Is there a reason you want to, as opposed to delivering the limewater from a reservoir like a trash can? Space limitation? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/22/2006, 08:24 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Randy, This configuration is particularly good if you have a distance to go to your sump (mine's about 18ft from sump - partially uphill). It's also nice to be able to dial in the exact amount of evaporation you have...mine adds 5.5 liters/day and I haven't touched the settings for months. Why is that better than putting lime in the reservoir and getting rid of the reactor? That's all I was suggesting and is what I do with a Reef Filler pump, an 88 gallon limewater reservoir, and a float switch in my sump. My tank is also far from the reservoir, and for a few years, it was on a different floor of my house. I don't care for limewater reactors for a variety of reasons: the limewater is often not fully settled the limewater is often not fully saturated (if that is what you want) it is hard to add vinegar to it (if you want to do that) __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/21/2006, 01:47 PM	#3
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	Ginzo, I am doing the set up you mention. I have a 33 gal. trash can holding RO/DI water (soon to be 65gal. container). The LMIII is pulling from that pushing into the reactor, in turn pushing the mixed kalk into the sump. I am mixing for 5 minutes every 6 hours and the LM is off for 1 hour after the mixing for the solution to settle.

01/21/2006, 02:06 PM	#4
Hoop Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 119	I have a LMIII. It pulls water mixed with kalk from a large plastic trashcan. I use to have a kalk reactor. I find this much easier - there is less that can go wrong. I just put enough kalk in the reservoir to saturate the water. The LMIII does its thing every few minutes. I do not stir the kalk. keeps my ph about 8.1 - 8.2. When the ph starts dropping I add more kalk.

01/21/2006, 09:40 PM	#5
EricJC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stuart, FL Posts: 102	Here's how I have mine set up: RO/DI => Reservoir => LMIII => Kalk Reactor => Sump Don't stir/mix often, you want to dose clear saturated water only. Another item: if you plan on also using the LMIII's remote pump capabilities to do continuous water changing, do not use the same outflow from the Kalk Reactor to add fresh saltwater...it will crystallize VERY quickly. Randy, This configuration is particularly good if you have a distance to go to your sump (mine's about 18ft from sump - partially uphill). It's also nice to be able to dial in the exact amount of evaporation you have...mine adds 5.5 liters/day and I haven't touched the settings for months. -Eric

01/22/2006, 08:58 AM	#8
Ereefic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,821	I use 2 digital times, one for the LMIII and one for the pump on the reactor. The LM shuts off 1 minute before the stir pump kicks on. The reactor stirs for 5 minutes then shuts off. The LM remains off for 55 minutes and then turns back on. The cycle repeats every 6 hours. The input and output of the reactor plug right into the top. The input line puts the water into the bottom of the reactor, the outpt draws right from the top. With the GEO reactor, only the bottom half (up to the pumps intake) gets cloudy. I could probably turn the LM on sooner, but it's fine how it is set now.