Cully's attempt at a DIY Kalk reactor

[frofan]

Wille, how do you know when to add more powder to the reactor? Are you testing the solution on a regular basis, or will all of the powder eventually dilute in the bottom of the reactor?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Don't mean to be taking over the thread here, but generally you just learn the timing as you use it. Since you're typically dosing a fixed volume, you can get in the habit of knowing you have to add more powder once every X days, for instance. Since most reactors are clear you can easily keep tabs and it'll be obvious when you need more powder.

Often there will be some undissolvable residue in the bottom of the reactor that most people just wash out once in a while.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I've been in the situation where massive SPS colonies deplete the water column of calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity so rapidly that a multifactoral approach is needed to maintain adequate levels. Dosing 2 part, using a calcium reactor, and dosing kslkwasser are commonplace for many of us that maintain high demand stony bio type reefs. If you think all of these measures are not necessary, you're headed into troubled waters.

That's my opinion based on my experience.

 

[tmz]

i guess my question with whole kalk reactor thing is it worth it ? it looks cool, but i don't understand the benefits ? my friends system still needs to use two part. even with his basement set up , his evaporation rate is all over.


Mine doesen't look cool at all. It's just a brute garbage can and a perstaltic pump with a timer.
IME, it's a great way to dose calcium and alkalinity. Limewater is self purifying as it precipitates out impurites , inexpensive , helps keep ph up and adds only carbonate alkalinity and calcium; no extra chloride or impurities.

I don't run it on an ato but dose a preset daily amount from the still reservoir which the pumps internal timer breaks into 150 equal increments over 24 hours. Variations in evaporation are made up with ro water to the sump.

Unlike some reports, limewater alone meets the needs of my sps dominant aquariums with only occasional additions of small amounts of baking soda. There are many who find limewater alone dosed 24/7 adequately meets the needs of their sps tanks and even more who use it with only small extra supplements supplements via two part dosing.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I've been in the situation where massive SPS colonies deplete the water column of calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity so rapidly that a multifactoral approach is needed to maintain adequate levels.

I'm definitely at a way lower stocking density (and probably higher evap) than you so I'm not surprised you need more than just kalk.

 

[block head]

thanks for the replies. i think ato /reactor combo was the big issue. random /unknown dosing of kalk was creating unstability. i 've seen some impressive tanks that relied upon wc alone, to tanks that use the whole kitchen sink approach.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Yeah, I've tied ATO to a reactor in the past and it can definitely be frustrating. My house has huge seasonal humidity swings that can result in big changes in evap rates. Running the kalk reactor independent of ATO is very liberating since you can dial in usage according to your Ca/alk demands instead of letting it randomly fluctuate.

 

[Salt_in_MyBlood]

Good read, will be following.