Auto water top off and Kalk doser/reactor

[invertigator]

I was going to have Manny "thesaint" make up an acrylic container so that I could store water in my sump for auto top off, and then Rogger had a great idea. "Why don't we make it a kalk reactor too."

So I had "thesaint" put in a partition and two lids and we were off..........like monster garage.

I have had it working for three days now and it is doing a great job.

A lift pump connected to a top off float switch comes on when my sump level falls. The lift pump brings the clean ro/di water from the large partition to the smaller partition / kalk reactor.

A small powerhead is on a timer to stirr up the kalkwasser every 4 hours in the smaller partition. When the level rises in the kalk reactor if reaches a bulkhead which gravity feeds to the sump via a float cut off valve.

 

[macawmagic]

looks good! after I get this wavebox done i think i'm going to turn the leftover acrylic into a kalk mixer. we'll see what happens!

 

[coralfragger101]

How are you keeping the kalk portion from forming surface scum?

 

[invertigator]

So far no problems, I guess the powerhead coming on for 15 minutes every 4 hours is doing it. It's only been a couple of days, but it is something that I might have to look into.

 

[macawmagic]

i was actually doing some reading on kalk and that "surface scum" (if i recall correctly) was actualy bad for the kalk. it was taking the calcium out of the calc or something like that. kalkwasser is supposed to be in an enclosed thing so it doesn't have much contact with the air.

Carlos, I would do some research on this. I can't remember where I read the article but I believe it was on here somewhere. I don't know if that top will be "airtight" enough or not. I'm not too sure.

 

[pedromatic]

Are you using an ATO with the AquaLifter? I tried that... the flow rate is so slow with the AquaLifter that the ATO times out after about 2 minutes whether or not the level is back up to where it should be. Then the ATO, assuming the pump is not functioning because it took so long, no longer functions. Then the level keeps dropping and bad things can happen. I recently replaced the AquaLifter with a little Mini-Jet. It's slow, but not nearly as slow as the AL. No problems since.

 

[invertigator]

Pedro, I am using a ATO but have had no problems for 3 days.

 

[invertigator]

Keith, I might have "thesaint" make a new top for the kalkwasser compartment that has an o-ring around the edge.

 

[pedromatic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10810056#post10810056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by invertigator
Pedro, I am using a ATO but have had no problems for 3 days.

Just be careful, Carlos. It'll happen when for example, your overflow clogs up a little and the tank level goes up a little, inversely sump level goes down quick because of the smaller volume. The fluctuation in water level may be too much for the AquaLifter to replace before the ATO times out and then it doesn't come back on.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10809948#post10809948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfragger101
How are you keeping the kalk portion from forming surface scum?

There is no way for scum to form because the surface is designed to overflows when it exits into the tank, in other words it skims the kalk from the surface

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10809973#post10809973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macawmagic
i was actually doing some reading on kalk and that "surface scum" (if i recall correctly) was actualy bad for the kalk. it was taking the calcium out of the calc or something like that. kalkwasser is supposed to be in an enclosed thing so it doesn't have much contact with the air.

Carlos, I would do some research on this. I can't remember where I read the article but I believe it was on here somewhere. I don't know if that top will be "airtight" enough or not. I'm not too sure.

Both the kalk and the r/o water area are covered and there is no air circulation.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10810018#post10810018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pedromatic
Are you using an ATO with the AquaLifter? I tried that... the flow rate is so slow with the AquaLifter that the ATO times out after about 2 minutes whether or not the level is back up to where it should be. Then the ATO, assuming the pump is not functioning because it took so long, no longer functions. Then the level keeps dropping and bad things can happen. I recently replaced the AquaLifter with a little Mini-Jet. It's slow, but not nearly as slow as the AL. No problems since.

Carlos is not using that kind of A.T.O. made by JBL. instead he has an electronic float switch similar to the one used by the Tunze osmolator that is connected to and electrical outlet box with a relay inside that closes the circuit when the level switch is actuated.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10809973#post10809973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macawmagic
Carlos, I would do some research on this. I can't remember where I read the article but I believe it was on here somewhere. I don't know if that top will be "airtight" enough or not. I'm not too sure.

Keith, start by reading this and you will understand Kalkwasser in depth

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[macawmagic]

yea thats the article I read...somewhere in there it talks about how if the container isn't 100% air tight that the calcium calcifies(spell check) which in return lessens the strength of the kalkwasser. I know i've noticed when the lid isn't put on correctly to my rubbermaid container that there is the layer on top of the kalkwasser. I always just stir it back up. Hasn't done anything bad to my tank, but maybe it's not as strong of a dose as it should be? I dunno. I just remember reading something of that sort. I like the fact that it drains from the top of the kalk side though so if it does slowly accumulate the slime top that would get "skimmer" out. I wasn't saying its a bad idea just that I'm still not 100% sure on kalk and if that would work as well as it is thought out to work. Good luck! See ya soon!

 

[LouPhoenix]

Hey could someone PM me manny thesaent's phone number or personal email address? I need a little acrylic project done and from the looks of it, he's da man for the job. Thanks all.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Keith, the degration of kalkwasser with air is very minimun as it is explained in more detail in this other article;

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.php

I have been adding kalkwasser into my tanks for a very long time and never had a problem with it, I do remember reading and hearing stories from other people in the hobby that have had issues with this process but IMO most cases it was human error related and not the kalkwasser.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10811582#post10811582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LouPhoenix
Hey could someone PM me manny thesaent's phone number or personal email address? I need a little acrylic project done and from the looks of it, he's da man for the job. Thanks all.

done

 

[LouPhoenix]

Thanks Rogger!

 

[gasman059]

Hey Carlos looks like u have your own avata now. The race for 100 posts is over now. Stop babbling away on RC
LOL
great job!

 

[Husky_1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10811634#post10811634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rogger Castells
Keith, the degration of kalkwasser with air is very minimun as it is explained in more detail in this other article;

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.php

I have been adding kalkwasser into my tanks for a very long time and never had a problem with it, I do remember reading and hearing stories from other people in the hobby that have had issues with this process but IMO most cases it was human error related and not the kalkwasser.

Great read...I may remove my little pump that I keep in my ATO that constantly keep the water moving (its only a 60gph thing).