Kalkwasser reactor help.

BrokeColoReefer · 12/04/2006, 07:45 AM

Well, i got my DIY Kalkwasser reactor built. Unfortunalty, i dont have any idea how much material to put in it, and under average load, how long it will last. Any ideas where i should start?
The reactor is a 5" dia tube that is 31" tall. This was a fun afternoon project

My tanks description is in my sig, i think it should be plenty big for my system.

Fishbulb2 · 12/04/2006, 10:04 AM

Looks fantastic. Good job. I don't really know where you want to start or how long it will last. THe idea behind the reactor though, is that as much as you add, only the saturated product will be put into the tank. The rest will remain harmlessly at the bottom of the reactor. So basically, you shouldn't really worry about putting too much in. As long as you don't go overboard. I would start with half a cup of kalk if it were me. If it get stirred up to much when the pump kicks on, then go with less in the future. If all is well but it gets used up too fast, then add more next time. You'll get a feel for it fast. Also your tanks requirements will not effect how much kalk goes into the tank at all. Only the flow rate through the reacotr will. So keep and eye on your tank to make sure your animals don't get stressed.
FB

again, sweet looking reactor. great build

BrokeColoReefer · 12/04/2006, 11:15 AM

Aewesome, thanks!

Glad you like the reactor, it was a challenging project!

schneijt · 12/04/2006, 11:36 AM

Yep, as he said... No matter how much kalk you put in, only a certain amount can get into the water before you reach a saturation point. So, the more you put in, the longer you can go without having to refill it. The "unused" kalk will just settle out to the bottom, waiting to be stirred back up into the water by the pump every few hours. And your tank has no effect on the output of the kalk reactor; you need to dose it into the tank through the reactor. Some people run an auto topoff system into the reactor and then from the reactor into the sump/tank. I use a dosing pump so the same volume is continually added to the tank 24/7. Depending on the stocking of your tank, you may need just a little kalk every day or a whole lot. Just monitor the water paramaters and you should be fine. Kalk can raise your pH in a hurry, so watch that and just make sure everything else stays in check. If it starts to get off, back off on the amount of kalk going in and figure out how much you can safely add without doing harm to the tank.

-Joe

BrokeColoReefer · 12/04/2006, 12:45 PM

Im planning on using it this way.

I was planning on putting my dosing pump on my ph controller.

The imput will come from the RODI resivor. I will have the pump kick on 5 minutes every three hours or so, what ever it takes....

If my PH of my tank gets above 8.4 then the dosing pump kicks off. I will restrict the flow from the dosing pump so that the drip rate is under my evap rate. I have a float valve that comes off the ro res, i dont want to run kalkwasser through it, and it will make up what ever the kalkwasser doesnt.

Im also running a calcium reactor on a ph controller, if the ph drops below 8 the calcium reator shuts off, and the kalk reactor will turn on.

Is this going to work?

Fishbulb2 · 12/04/2006, 02:07 PM

Sounds good to me. Well done!

BrokeColoReefer · 12/04/2006, 03:14 PM

I was worried about putting backpressure on the dosing pump, but i suppose this wont be a problem? I could also put the dosing pump on the fresh water side and restrict the input side. I dont know whats better, restricting the input or the output of the dosing pump.

12/04/2006, 07:45 AM	#1
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	Kalkwasser reactor help. Well, i got my DIY Kalkwasser reactor built. Unfortunalty, i dont have any idea how much material to put in it, and under average load, how long it will last. Any ideas where i should start? The reactor is a 5" dia tube that is 31" tall. This was a fun afternoon project My tanks description is in my sig, i think it should be plenty big for my system. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

12/04/2006, 10:04 AM	#2
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Looks fantastic. Good job. I don't really know where you want to start or how long it will last. THe idea behind the reactor though, is that as much as you add, only the saturated product will be put into the tank. The rest will remain harmlessly at the bottom of the reactor. So basically, you shouldn't really worry about putting too much in. As long as you don't go overboard. I would start with half a cup of kalk if it were me. If it get stirred up to much when the pump kicks on, then go with less in the future. If all is well but it gets used up too fast, then add more next time. You'll get a feel for it fast. Also your tanks requirements will not effect how much kalk goes into the tank at all. Only the flow rate through the reacotr will. So keep and eye on your tank to make sure your animals don't get stressed. FB again, sweet looking reactor. great build __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

12/04/2006, 11:15 AM	#3
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	Aewesome, thanks! Glad you like the reactor, it was a challenging project! __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

12/04/2006, 12:45 PM	#5
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	Im planning on using it this way. I was planning on putting my dosing pump on my ph controller. The imput will come from the RODI resivor. I will have the pump kick on 5 minutes every three hours or so, what ever it takes.... If my PH of my tank gets above 8.4 then the dosing pump kicks off. I will restrict the flow from the dosing pump so that the drip rate is under my evap rate. I have a float valve that comes off the ro res, i dont want to run kalkwasser through it, and it will make up what ever the kalkwasser doesnt. Im also running a calcium reactor on a ph controller, if the ph drops below 8 the calcium reator shuts off, and the kalk reactor will turn on. Is this going to work? __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

12/04/2006, 02:07 PM	#6
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Sounds good to me. Well done! __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

12/04/2006, 11:36 AM	#4
schneijt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 497	Yep, as he said... No matter how much kalk you put in, only a certain amount can get into the water before you reach a saturation point. So, the more you put in, the longer you can go without having to refill it. The "unused" kalk will just settle out to the bottom, waiting to be stirred back up into the water by the pump every few hours. And your tank has no effect on the output of the kalk reactor; you need to dose it into the tank through the reactor. Some people run an auto topoff system into the reactor and then from the reactor into the sump/tank. I use a dosing pump so the same volume is continually added to the tank 24/7. Depending on the stocking of your tank, you may need just a little kalk every day or a whole lot. Just monitor the water paramaters and you should be fine. Kalk can raise your pH in a hurry, so watch that and just make sure everything else stays in check. If it starts to get off, back off on the amount of kalk going in and figure out how much you can safely add without doing harm to the tank. -Joe

12/04/2006, 03:14 PM	#7
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	I was worried about putting backpressure on the dosing pump, but i suppose this wont be a problem? I could also put the dosing pump on the fresh water side and restrict the input side. I dont know whats better, restricting the input or the output of the dosing pump. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)