Any need for Kalk if you run a Ca Rx?

[Fliger]

I'm picking up a calcium reactor and was wondering if I need to continue using my Kalk Reactor. Its a great piece of equipment and really saturates the topoff water - but not sure if I need it still.

Are there any benefits other than offsetting low PH? I use RO/DI at under 5 TDS so I'm not worried about purifying my topoff water.

Do many people run both?

 

[jmcmahon66]

I think my reactor pulls my pH down a bit lower than I like. My pH fluctuates from 8.00 to 8.35 from night to day, a bit more than I like. I use no additives, but have considered running a kalk reactor at night to offset the pH drop. IMO the kalk reactor would be a nice complement to your Ca Rx, but not necessary for everyone. That being said, I am in the market for a KM500. If your selling, throw me a pm. HTH
Regards,
Joe

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I run both. If only to keep PH up.

 

[SunnyX]

I run both.

- It keeps PH high.
- It uses the extra carbon ions added by the Ca reactor.

I noticed marked improvements when I added a Kalk Reactor to my Ca reactor. By all means keep the Kalk Reactor.

You can trust me

 

[JB NY]

As stated already the kalk can help to keep the pH from being too low in the main tank.

Also, many people, including myself, find that their acros tend to look better when using both a ca reator and kalk.

HTH

 

[cwegescheide]

I've read somewhere, I think in one of Randy's articles that Limewater binds/helps remove phosphate which in turn could make corals improve in health.

Cant remember exactly where I read that though. FWIW I use both. My neptune controlls top off from either Kalk or H20 based on PH of the tank. My tank pretty consistantly stays < .2 fluctuation during day/night that way.

 

[DocG]

I had both of them running for about a year and then about 6 months ago I took the kalkreactor offline due to clogging of the float valve.

I put the kalkreactor back on line a week ago because I didn't like the pH that I was seeing (from 7.85 to 8.1). The pH is now higher and more stable and I like it.

 

[manderx]

i think kalk is magic. i look at it as my calcium reactor is secondary and just there to fill the gap in demand vs what the kalk can provide alone.

 

[Fliger]

Okie Dokie, thanks everyone. I will keep it. I remember a thread Sunny where you mentioned that even your skimmer worked better with kalk, correct?

jmcmahon66, I love the KM500. One of the best pieces of equipment I own. Aquamedic just came out with one that has the same principle, and IMO should work equally as well. Deltec has great service, though. But considering the Aquamedic one is less than half the price - it would be hard to not seriously consider it, there are a couple recent threads in the Light/Filt forum on it. I'm considering buying one just see how much of a difference there is, I believe its even a little taller than the KM500. But there is no doubting Deltec's customer service. I believe sean-nj (?) is running it.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7437000#post7437000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Okie Dokie, thanks everyone. I will keep it. I remember a thread Sunny where you mentioned that even your skimmer worked better with kalk, correct?

Yes you are correct. My skimmer output really improved when I added the Kalk Reactor. Could be the Kalk itself or the higher Ph, either way the tank is cleaner.

 

[redox]

calcium hydroxide

calcium hydroxide

ok anyone really know what it is and how to get it cheap? just asking . Im not selling it im just wondering how many people know

 

[twon8]

pickling lime, mrs. wages, 2.50 a pound online; i bought a case a year ago for 40 and have 3/4 of it left.

 

[marine_freak]

Also kalk helps to fix phosphate problems too!!!! I use both calc reactor 24/7 and kalk drip at night to off set PH. It works very well.

 

[fishypets]

Both my CA and Kalk reactors run 24/7 and my growth seems to be pretty good.

 

[toothman]

I can say as soon as I added a kalk reactor, the skimmer worked much better. I was wondering if anyone knows if lye is the same as kalk. Seems if a nice high ph is good for soap, it should clean the tank also. A rather unusual statement.

 

[UnlimitedReef]

I'm running both to keep PH stable.