dougchambers
New member
LSM - Which ozone generator are you running? I see that Marine Depot has their RedSea on sale for $144.32 but I haven't done a lot of research on Ozone yet.
-Doug
-Doug
250 Gallon Starphire SPS tank
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
LittleBlueGT
New member
dougchambers said:
I am running the RedSea 200 mg/hr unit w/o controller. It seems to work well. I have their 500mg/hr air dryer. I don't think their unit is the best quality one, but it as adjustable from 5-100%.
LittleBlueGT
New member
Here is a question I asked in the lighting and equipment forum.
Maybe more people will read it here.
Hopefully somebody out there will have knowledge on this subject.
Maybe more people will read it here.
Hopefully somebody out there will have knowledge on this subject.
LittleBlueGT
New member
Somebody has got to know about kalk reactors! Does the MRC model come with a timer, or is one needed?
DerekW
Member
Well, I'll try to help, but using mostly heresay. I had an MRC skimmer an the workmanship was second to none. I now have an MRC calcium reactor, and ditto for that. As for the Kalk reactor, I would assume that his workmanship would be the same. Also, using a magnetic stirrer would mean virtually no wear and tear on a powerhead like alot of people use. I say go for it. I'll vouch for his quality of work.
I got an MRC one a couple years back (when they first came out) and the quality wasn't so great. It had a slow leak in the bottom where the motor sits. Luckily, I had some extra weld-on to fix it. Also, the magnet assembly that spun with the motor shaft was off-center so the stir bar kept flying off and jamming. Also, the motor assembly itself is friction fitted to the inner column, so eventually it would vibrate out of alignment and ultimately fall out the bottom. Finally, the points on the lid of the reactor where the input and output JG fittings thread into were sloppily done - so the fittings had to be overly tefloned to seal the ports. Frankly, I was quite disappointed, but it was a new design, and Andy did his best to help me out (sent new magnet bar), so customer service was good. I don't know if the design or components have changed much since then, but the pix on his site look very similar.
I'm sure Andy's quality is much better now (otherwise, I don't know how he can stay in business), but that experience sure left a sour taste for me. If I get a new one, it would be from Brent Barr. I haven't used his reactors, but the quality on his skimmers is great, and his service is just as good. His design doesn't seem as "fancy", but is simple, well thought out, and would probably perform the same.
Oh, BTW, the way the MRC lid comes off is very annoying. Refilling doesn't happen too often, but... The inner pvc pipe that directs the input to the bottom gets in the way if you don't have a lot of vert clearance. The in/out lines also remain fixed to the lid to add to the cumbersome-ness. You could always remove them, but what a hassle unless you add shutoff valves and such. Even so, you end up dripping. Again, even though I haven't used the Barr unit, the lid looks much easier to access since no lines seem to be attached to it.
Sorry for the ramble.
edit:BTW, excellent set up.
I'm sure Andy's quality is much better now (otherwise, I don't know how he can stay in business), but that experience sure left a sour taste for me. If I get a new one, it would be from Brent Barr. I haven't used his reactors, but the quality on his skimmers is great, and his service is just as good. His design doesn't seem as "fancy", but is simple, well thought out, and would probably perform the same.
Oh, BTW, the way the MRC lid comes off is very annoying. Refilling doesn't happen too often, but... The inner pvc pipe that directs the input to the bottom gets in the way if you don't have a lot of vert clearance. The in/out lines also remain fixed to the lid to add to the cumbersome-ness. You could always remove them, but what a hassle unless you add shutoff valves and such. Even so, you end up dripping. Again, even though I haven't used the Barr unit, the lid looks much easier to access since no lines seem to be attached to it.
Sorry for the ramble.
edit:BTW, excellent set up.
LittleBlueGT
New member
gbtower Thanks very much for the info. I will look into the Barr unit today. I hope it doesn't cost too much.
I really hope to have a unit that can go for almost six weeks before needing refilling. That way when I have a house-sitter for 5 to 6 weeks it will be easy for her.
I really hope to have a unit that can go for almost six weeks before needing refilling. That way when I have a house-sitter for 5 to 6 weeks it will be easy for her.
petedoc
Premium Member
Do you plan to run the kalk reactor full time and if so, do you need a calcium reactor at all? The reason I ask is that I have a 135 reef which uses only kalk water for top off and I am moving everything to a 270 gal soon. I have had a calcium reactor sitting in the garage gathering dust for two years and I wonder whether the larger system will require the combination.
melev
Well-known member
I always fear kalkwasser overdosing. It can happen, and if it isn't noticed in time, it will nuke your tank (pH of 12!). Thus I'd prefer to top off with a fixed amount, or rely only on the Ca Reactor.
Plan carefully, and if you can set up a system with a controller to shut that thing down when the pH goes over 8.6, you'd at least avoid a disaster.
Plan carefully, and if you can set up a system with a controller to shut that thing down when the pH goes over 8.6, you'd at least avoid a disaster.
LittleBlueGT
New member
I use the kalk 24/7. I just use my 25 gallon container to dose right now. I dose about 4 gallons per day. My evap is between 6 and 10 depending on temp and humidity. I don't wish to use kalk water for all of my evap as the calcium and alk levels would fluctuate depending on evap.
I think dosing kalk (through a reactor or otherwise) can be done safely if it is not run off of a float device (which can fail). It should be done on a consistent basis using a dosing pump or other means that ensures nothing can cause the unit to overdose.
I will likely use a precision needle valve before the kalk reactor to set up the drip rate I prefer. This should never cause my tank to crash because needle valves tend to get clogged and run slower rather then ever overdosing. Seeing as the input water will be RO/DI I don't forsee a problem with the needle valve being clogged.
I think dosing kalk (through a reactor or otherwise) can be done safely if it is not run off of a float device (which can fail). It should be done on a consistent basis using a dosing pump or other means that ensures nothing can cause the unit to overdose.
I will likely use a precision needle valve before the kalk reactor to set up the drip rate I prefer. This should never cause my tank to crash because needle valves tend to get clogged and run slower rather then ever overdosing. Seeing as the input water will be RO/DI I don't forsee a problem with the needle valve being clogged.
LittleBlueGT
New member
petedoc said:
With my set-up I still need my calcium reactor to keep up with calcium demands. Because my tank is SPS dominated with a few clams I will use a lot more calcium then many will. My calcium reactor is running at about 1/3 (educated guess) capacity and I only have CO2 injected during the daytime, I find this helps with PH fluctuations.
When my frag system is set-up this fall (run on revesrse photo period) I hope that my PH will be extremely stable!
As my corals continue to grow I will have to keep uping the output of my calcium reactor to keep up with rising demands. I think my reactor that I have right now should be up to the task. 
I hope I answered your questions.
If kalk keeps up with your demands on a 135, then it should keep up your demands on a 270. As long as you stock calcium demanding creatures in a similiar fashion.
petedoc
Premium Member
That is one impressive calcium reactor! Some day I may need to fire up the unit but as long as my calcium levels remain adequate and the sps continue to grow I will probably stick with kalk only. I like the simplicity and low probability of system failure. Thanks for the comments. Dave
LittleBlueGT
New member
petedoc said:
One thing to remember with using kalk is that your magnesium levels will fall slightly. Make sure you keep them up! A calcium reactor will keep up your alk, calcium, and magnesium, kalk will keep up only alk and calcium.
LittleBlueGT
New member
petedoc said:
I actually think kalk is a lot siMpler to use then a reactor. I would use just thAt until it proves insufficient.
Of note is that using kalk is thought to precipitate phosphates and other contaminents in the wateR. If you ever have measurable phosphates (hint hint, look for the big letters) or other unexplained possible poisons in your system kalk Could help.
melev
Well-known member
I have dosed kalkwasser and may do it again. I just limit it to 5 to 10g at a time. My Ca and Alk were much too high, so I finally stopped using it.
My water is getting much closer to where I want it to be, but I may still dose a few gallons at night perhaps. I'll need to come up with a tidy solution.
My water is getting much closer to where I want it to be, but I may still dose a few gallons at night perhaps. I'll need to come up with a tidy solution.
LittleBlueGT
New member
With your tank having few SPS in it I would just dose kalk until you require more additives, then get the reactor back on line.
