Please Explain Kalk Reactor

fluidimagery · 04/25/2006, 07:55 PM

This may be a bit of a newbie thread but I just had a few questions on Kalk Reactors.

I don't completely understand how they work and how they would hook up, so I guess that would be the first step.

I have a 45g system between my 25g display and 20g sump and am currently dosing B-Ionic Calc and Alk with success. I have a PH controller that is currently serving as a PH monitor... does this get used with the Kalk Reactor?

Would the Kalk be used to stablize PH (currently 8.18 in the morning... gets up to about 8.32 shortly after the lights go out)

What parts do I need for a Kalk Reactor? (Co2, Bubble Counters etc?)

Where and how easy is it to go wrong and possibly crash the tank?

And, if anyone can point me in the right direction to brands to buy...

Thank you!

Scuba_Dave · 04/25/2006, 08:39 PM

Kalk Reactor - kalkwasser is different from CA reactor (Calcium)

While both can help achieve CA stability

Kalk Reactor mixes Kalk with water & adds it to the tank
Usually a fairly simple setup, Tube and a mixer OR mixing pump -small
This is usually hooked up to an RO/DI that tops it off automatically
The Reactor in turn tops off the tank
Most people use this to slowly add kalkwasser (the mixture) to the tank at night. This helps maintain the ph at night - which drops due to the lights going off. Also helps maintain calcium level - but usually will not help a ton on a big tank or a tank with a heavy calcium load (corals)

a possible failure - that has happened to a friend - is that the top off to the tank fails - OPEN. This means that high pH (12) kalkwasser keeps getting dumped into the tank
In this case it was a total tank loss

CA Reactor is where you get more complicated & involve a CO2 tank, bubble drip/counter
This will add a lot more Calcium to your tank & if sized right will provide your tank with all the calcium it may need
CO2 tank, tubing, needle valve, regulator, usually a dual chamber model, reactor material
CO2 is "bubbled" into the reactor - allowing the pH to drop & thus allowing the reactor material to "dissolve". This effluent is then dripped into the tank
This is regulated/adjusted to maintain the CA in the tank
This LOWERS the pH in a tank
Some people use a Kalk Reactor (riase pH) to offset the effect of the CA reactor (lowers pH)

I'm sure there may be something I missed - but that is the basics

So I'm not sure which you are looking for - seems like the CA reactor if you want to stop dosing

ADD: I used kalkwasser only on my 68g hex tank to maintain calcium. CA reactor may be overkill for 45g - but many do use them on small tanks
Just keep in mind that smaller tanks can crash quicker due to changes (too much added). I always mixed up the kalkwasser - let it sit for the day; then at nite I would set it up to drip into the sump

fluidimagery · 04/25/2006, 08:52 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Having a small tank (45g) do you think I could get away with a Kalk reactor to maintain proper alk and calc levels?

Below is a picture of my setup. I have my top off resevoir on the left there (green top container) and have the ATO in the return portion of the sump. Any idea how I could apply the Kalk Reactor to my particular setup?

04/25/2006, 07:55 PM	#1
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	Please Explain Kalk Reactor This may be a bit of a newbie thread but I just had a few questions on Kalk Reactors. I don't completely understand how they work and how they would hook up, so I guess that would be the first step. I have a 45g system between my 25g display and 20g sump and am currently dosing B-Ionic Calc and Alk with success. I have a PH controller that is currently serving as a PH monitor... does this get used with the Kalk Reactor? Would the Kalk be used to stablize PH (currently 8.18 in the morning... gets up to about 8.32 shortly after the lights go out) What parts do I need for a Kalk Reactor? (Co2, Bubble Counters etc?) Where and how easy is it to go wrong and possibly crash the tank? And, if anyone can point me in the right direction to brands to buy... Thank you!

04/25/2006, 08:39 PM	#2
Scuba_Dave EMERTXE YID Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Asylum, South of Boston, MA Posts: 10,362	Kalk Reactor - kalkwasser is different from CA reactor (Calcium) While both can help achieve CA stability Kalk Reactor mixes Kalk with water & adds it to the tank Usually a fairly simple setup, Tube and a mixer OR mixing pump -small This is usually hooked up to an RO/DI that tops it off automatically The Reactor in turn tops off the tank Most people use this to slowly add kalkwasser (the mixture) to the tank at night. This helps maintain the ph at night - which drops due to the lights going off. Also helps maintain calcium level - but usually will not help a ton on a big tank or a tank with a heavy calcium load (corals) a possible failure - that has happened to a friend - is that the top off to the tank fails - OPEN. This means that high pH (12) kalkwasser keeps getting dumped into the tank In this case it was a total tank loss CA Reactor is where you get more complicated & involve a CO2 tank, bubble drip/counter This will add a lot more Calcium to your tank & if sized right will provide your tank with all the calcium it may need CO2 tank, tubing, needle valve, regulator, usually a dual chamber model, reactor material CO2 is "bubbled" into the reactor - allowing the pH to drop & thus allowing the reactor material to "dissolve". This effluent is then dripped into the tank This is regulated/adjusted to maintain the CA in the tank This LOWERS the pH in a tank Some people use a Kalk Reactor (riase pH) to offset the effect of the CA reactor (lowers pH) I'm sure there may be something I missed - but that is the basics So I'm not sure which you are looking for - seems like the CA reactor if you want to stop dosing ADD: I used kalkwasser only on my 68g hex tank to maintain calcium. CA reactor may be overkill for 45g - but many do use them on small tanks Just keep in mind that smaller tanks can crash quicker due to changes (too much added). I always mixed up the kalkwasser - let it sit for the day; then at nite I would set it up to drip into the sump

04/25/2006, 08:52 PM	#3
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	Thanks for the reply. Having a small tank (45g) do you think I could get away with a Kalk reactor to maintain proper alk and calc levels? Below is a picture of my setup. I have my top off resevoir on the left there (green top container) and have the ATO in the return portion of the sump. Any idea how I could apply the Kalk Reactor to my particular setup?