Calcium Reactor for a 55 gallon

GV7486 · 07/13/2007, 03:31 AM

Ok...so this is a bit off the wall I guess....

Is there a model of Calcium Reactor that can be used without a sump? (Kind of like a HOB skimmer, I'm not sure if I can explain myself quite well on what I mean)

THanks for your time

GV7486 · 07/13/2007, 10:49 AM

I guess this was a dumb question :S

drummereef · 07/13/2007, 10:51 AM

Is your alkalinity and calcium demand more than what Kalk or 2-part can keep up with? If you are wanting to automate, look into a two-channel dosing pump for dosing 2-part.

GV7486 · 07/13/2007, 11:23 AM

Automating as much as possible is what I'm looking for

Except for feeding, that's the most enjoyable part...

I was looking into the SpectraPure LiterMeter III for the dosing. A few question though:

1. What is two-part? :P

2. What is kalkwasser? I know it's German for calcium water...so is it water mixed with calcium already? Is that two-part? :S

3. Is the SpectraPure LiterMeter III unit recommended? Does anyone use it?

Thanks for the replies

Nanz · 07/13/2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drummereef
Is your alkalinity and calcium demand more than what Kalk or 2-part can keep up with? If you are wanting to automate, look into a two-channel dosing pump for dosing 2-part.

Im currious on how you dose 2 part. I have not used any suppliments yet because my tank is still cycling. But.. when I first started the cycle I dosed with some 2 part. I was using seachem prodects.. I put both solutions into a container to mix before I dosed and the stuff precipitated, LOL.. Poured that down the drain, hehe.. So then... I decided to add the calcium in the one side of the sump and the Carbonate in the other side of the sump so they would not mix and precipitate. After that I read that its was a waste to dose while cycling and never tried to dose again.

My question is when you dose with a pump do you dose the 2 parts at different places in the tank or at different time intervals?

GV7486 · 07/13/2007, 03:21 PM

McCrary · 07/13/2007, 05:03 PM

GV7486- Calcium reactors are more suited to tanks with high calcium needs and often have to be supplemented with kalkwasser (kalkwasser is also referred to as limewater and is calcium carbonate that has been dissolved into water, the solution is very basic and contains equal parts calcium and alkalinity) ,either using a reactor or through topoff, to keep the pH from dropping due to the addition of C02 in the water. For most small tanks a calcium reactor is not necesary, as a 2 part calcium/alkalinity supplement (this is a set of dosing supplements that comes in two bottles, one containing calcium supplement and the other alkalinity, they are added separately to keep them from preciptating which happens when the two supersaturated solutions combine before being diluted) can usually meet the needs of the tank. Dosing pumps are often used in association with kalkwasser that has been added to topoff water. Adding too much kalkwasser to a tank can suddenly raise the alkalinity in a tank and cause problems with corals in the tank. A dosing meter can also be used with a 2 part solution, but most seem to add it when they test their water so it can be added accordingly.

Nanz- 2 part is normally added in two seperate doses (calcium and alkalinity seperately), with the second dose following 10 minutes behind the first dose. This helps to prevent precipitation as the first dose has time to disperse in the water before the second dose is added. Most 2 part solutions have instructions on the bottles that will help you dose them correctly.

gatordustin · 07/25/2007, 08:16 AM

GV...not intending to hijack your thread but I also have a 55 gallon and want to automate additives and topoff.

I plan on using a Litermeter for topoff ro/di, but I can't decide b/w two options for adding calc/alk.

1) Buy two remote dosing pumps and use a 2-part.
2) Add kalkwasser to my topoff resevoir only.

Option 2 is ~$300 cheaper so I'd like some feedback on whether that would work. Currently I'm using about 25 mL/day of each part of Ocean's Blend. The tank is a mixed reef with 3 pieces of SPS coral; no clams currently but I've been considering getting one. The tank evaporates 1 gallon/day on average.

Would I be able to add enough kalkwasser to my topoff to keep up with this demand alone?
Would it be fairly easy to figure out how many tsp of kalk to add per gallon of topoff to keep up with demand?
Will the kalk stay in dilution or do I need to keep flow in the topoff resevoir?
Do most people find that once their tank is "grown-out" they can't keep enough kalk diluted in their topoff to keep up?

Thanks for the help!

drummereef · 07/25/2007, 09:54 AM

Sorry it took so long to get back....

Here's the recipe for DIY 2-Part

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Everything you need to know about Kalk

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

And, read this too.

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

flyingphish · 08/01/2007, 01:27 AM

i too have a 55 gallon.

i use a lm3, pump a is top off/kalk from a GEO kalk reactor (ph controlled by Neptune acjr). pump b is bionic part 1 and pump c is part 2.

k.i.s.s.

07/13/2007, 03:31 AM	#1
GV7486 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 51	Calcium Reactor for a 55 gallon Ok...so this is a bit off the wall I guess.... Is there a model of Calcium Reactor that can be used without a sump? (Kind of like a HOB skimmer, I'm not sure if I can explain myself quite well on what I mean) THanks for your time

07/13/2007, 10:51 AM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Is your alkalinity and calcium demand more than what Kalk or 2-part can keep up with? If you are wanting to automate, look into a two-channel dosing pump for dosing 2-part. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/13/2007, 05:03 PM	#7
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	GV7486- Calcium reactors are more suited to tanks with high calcium needs and often have to be supplemented with kalkwasser (kalkwasser is also referred to as limewater and is calcium carbonate that has been dissolved into water, the solution is very basic and contains equal parts calcium and alkalinity) ,either using a reactor or through topoff, to keep the pH from dropping due to the addition of C02 in the water. For most small tanks a calcium reactor is not necesary, as a 2 part calcium/alkalinity supplement (this is a set of dosing supplements that comes in two bottles, one containing calcium supplement and the other alkalinity, they are added separately to keep them from preciptating which happens when the two supersaturated solutions combine before being diluted) can usually meet the needs of the tank. Dosing pumps are often used in association with kalkwasser that has been added to topoff water. Adding too much kalkwasser to a tank can suddenly raise the alkalinity in a tank and cause problems with corals in the tank. A dosing meter can also be used with a 2 part solution, but most seem to add it when they test their water so it can be added accordingly. Nanz- 2 part is normally added in two seperate doses (calcium and alkalinity seperately), with the second dose following 10 minutes behind the first dose. This helps to prevent precipitation as the first dose has time to disperse in the water before the second dose is added. Most 2 part solutions have instructions on the bottles that will help you dose them correctly. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

07/25/2007, 09:54 AM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Sorry it took so long to get back.... Here's the recipe for DIY 2-Part An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php Everything you need to know about Kalk What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm And, read this too. How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

08/01/2007, 01:27 AM	#10
flyingphish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: KPAO Posts: 428	i too have a 55 gallon. i use a lm3, pump a is top off/kalk from a GEO kalk reactor (ph controlled by Neptune acjr). pump b is bionic part 1 and pump c is part 2. k.i.s.s. __________________ 120g \| sps

07/13/2007, 10:49 AM	#2
GV7486 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 51	I guess this was a dumb question :S

07/13/2007, 11:23 AM	#4
GV7486 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 51	Automating as much as possible is what I'm looking for Except for feeding, that's the most enjoyable part... I was looking into the SpectraPure LiterMeter III for the dosing. A few question though: 1. What is two-part? :P 2. What is kalkwasser? I know it's German for calcium water...so is it water mixed with calcium already? Is that two-part? :S 3. Is the SpectraPure LiterMeter III unit recommended? Does anyone use it? Thanks for the replies

07/13/2007, 03:21 PM	#6
GV7486 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 51

07/25/2007, 08:16 AM	#8
gatordustin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Stuart and Gainesville, FL Posts: 87	GV...not intending to hijack your thread but I also have a 55 gallon and want to automate additives and topoff. I plan on using a Litermeter for topoff ro/di, but I can't decide b/w two options for adding calc/alk. 1) Buy two remote dosing pumps and use a 2-part. 2) Add kalkwasser to my topoff resevoir only. Option 2 is ~$300 cheaper so I'd like some feedback on whether that would work. Currently I'm using about 25 mL/day of each part of Ocean's Blend. The tank is a mixed reef with 3 pieces of SPS coral; no clams currently but I've been considering getting one. The tank evaporates 1 gallon/day on average. Would I be able to add enough kalkwasser to my topoff to keep up with this demand alone? Would it be fairly easy to figure out how many tsp of kalk to add per gallon of topoff to keep up with demand? Will the kalk stay in dilution or do I need to keep flow in the topoff resevoir? Do most people find that once their tank is "grown-out" they can't keep enough kalk diluted in their topoff to keep up? Thanks for the help!