DIY kalk reactor idea.

[Tang Salad]

Thanks for the good post everyone.

JustOneMoreTank, I'm still having trouble believing that no pump or stirrer is required.

If I set one up, I'll want it to drip about one drop every second. In this case, only one drop per second would enter the chamber to 'stir' the kalk. Would that tiny amount of flow really be enough to make the water in the upper part of the chamber saturated?

 

[BenjieC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8571617#post8571617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Thanks for the good post everyone.

JustOneMoreTank, I'm still having trouble believing that no pump or stirrer is required.

If I set one up, I'll want it to drip about one drop every second. In this case, only one drop per second would enter the chamber to 'stir' the kalk. Would that tiny amount of flow really be enough to make the water in the upper part of the chamber saturated?

You need to think of it as that 1 small drop going to dissolve the kalk. The top part of the soln is already saturated. This DIY seems too simple, but it indeed works. I've been running mine for about 6 wks now and my alk and cal are rock solid. I haven't even needed to change out the kalk yet. The only issue I have is that I'm gravity feeding it and as my water level changes in my top off water the drip rate changes. Thus making it necessary to to top off my top water every day and that's not always feasible.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

TangSalad... Just as BenjieC said yes it works. You do not need a powerhead in the bottom of the container to constantly stir and kick up all of the undissolved solids. The inflow of new RODI water (although very slow in most applications) is forced to perculate thru the undissolved solids. The pure RODI water is very very ready to dissolve and become saturated with the kalk.
Much less expensive reactor that works brilliantly. Have you seen the prices for Nilson/Kalk Reactors? Ouch!

 

[Tang Salad]

Thanks guys, my fears are appeased. I think I'll go ahead and rig one of these up.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8572468#post8572468 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JustOneMoreTank
Much less expensive reactor that works brilliantly. Have you seen the prices for Nilson/Kalk Reactors? Ouch!

Ouch is right! They always seems absurdly over-priced.

 

[rforrest3]

I just made a Kalk reactor out of 2" clear PVC and 30" tall and then it is fed from my RO unit. I also have it on a float valve in the sump, but the best part is I bought 2 solinoids(one as back up) and put them on a timer to run every four hours for 5 minutes except when the lights are on it runs every three hours. That produces a nice quick flow into the chamber and mixes the bottom part nicely. Also this is fed from the bottom up with just standard 1/2" PVC to 1" to 2" in nice steps to get the kalk back to the bottom part where the feed is. The best part is the float vavle will not let it dump to quickly and that keeps the solids at the bottom.

Work awesome.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Glad you found this helpful rforrest3. Isnt it fun to make your own things that really work well.

 

[UH_OH_5_OH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8597212#post8597212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JustOneMoreTank
Glad you found this helpful rforrest3. Isnt it fun to make your own things that really work well.

....or better yet; find someone with the know-how in the hobby that takes mercy on you and builds you one (for a small fee) and exhibits the joy of the holiday season.

Tis better to give (your fellow reef freak some help with his Kalk Reactor) than to receive (help from the same reef freak who hasn't the first clue what he's doing trying to build this thing )

 

[longah]

These are great ideas and I've begun to build one myself. One thing is still a bit unclear to me though is how to plumb a kalk reactor into my system as an ATO? As I see it you have two options. First, either pull the solution out of the reactor and then freshwater would replace the solution just delivered to the tank. Second, pump new freshwater into the reactor which pushes the solution out of the reactor in the tank.

I'm leaning toward having a pump in my RO resivore controlled by a float switch in the sump. When the float switch activates it will pump water into the kalk reactor and push the solution into the tank (the second of the options above).

How have you guys plumbed your reactors?

Thanks!

 

[BenjieC]

Right now my ATO is gravity fed through kalk reactor and is controlled by a JG ball valve. It's not very reliable unless you topping off the ATO reservoir every day, b/c as the water level goes down so does the water pressure. And if the drip rate gets too slow the line could clog. So, I just picked up a used dosing pump that I will plumb into my system. IMO I think a pump, even if controlled by a float switch, could add the lime water too fast. The other option I was going to go with is to use a gravity fed ATO with a Kent float valve or the like. The problem with that is it's going to need to be cleaned constantly and could fail in the open position which could be disastrous.

 

[96p993]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8571398#post8571398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JustOneMoreTank
I cannot remember who but it was off of Ebay. I did a lot of searching tonight and found a few sites.

http://www.h2ofilter.net/FH8000BL34.asp
This filter is better because it is clear but it costs more than the blue one
http://www.h2ofilter.net/FH8000CB34PR.asp
http://store.bigbrandwater.com/150239.html
You can look at Ebay under water filters and search for Blue filter or Blue Housing.
If you got creative you could build this cheaper just out of PVC I am sure.
Good luck.

What is the inlet and outlet size on these filter canisters??

 

[douggiestyle]

they are usually 1/4" npt

 

[longah]

So, I just picked up a used dosing pump that I will plumb into my system. IMO I think a pump, even if controlled by a float switch, could add the lime water too fast.

The problem with a dosing pump is cost. A good dosing pump runs $250 - along with the $250 for the kalk reactor I might as well buy a calcium reactor. I've seen pictures in the forums that don't contain dosing pumps and the equipment is below the sump or level with the sump so gravity feed can't be what their using.

The pump I'm planning to use is an Aqua Lifter. It will pump freshwater into the kalk reactor and push the effluent out of the reactor into the tank at a steady rate but never more than a 16-32 oz. at a time (which covers the play in the float switch). It will be a good hour before any more lime water is added due to further evaporation.

Thanks for your ideas!

 

[TXKev]

I received a catalog from Marine Depot yesterday and as I was looking through it, I notice the Phosphate reactors. Kent and 2 Little Fishes both make them. I immediatly thought of this thread. These reactors are clear, have a water difuser at the bottom, and are only about $35-$40. Am I missing anything or would these be perfect?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[UH_OH_5_OH]

A Phos Reactor is good for phosphate elimination.....are you thinking of using it for a Kalk reactor...? It won't be good for that.....sorry if I am reading you wrong?

 

[waverz]

Was tired of filling my doser all the time so i decided to make one, it seems to work pretty good. I have my ro hooked up to a pressure tank, then it goes to the input of the filter housing, down the tube, through the kalk, then to my tank where i have a float valve. It basically turned my RODI unit into a RODI+Kalk unit.

Heres a pic, ill probably put some 90's on the pvc so it doesnt look so funky and take up so much room. Another think i would like ot do is add a small filter between the output and my floatvalve so it reduced the chances of my float valve getting gummed up with powder.....

Notice a little drip in the pic, that should clog itself in a few days, if not i guess break out the glue. I got in a hurry.

 

[TXKev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8624693#post8624693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UH_OH_5_OH
A Phos Reactor is good for phosphate elimination.....are you thinking of using it for a Kalk reactor...? It won't be good for that.....sorry if I am reading you wrong?

I am talking about using it as a KalkReactor. It seems like it could be used just like the RO Canister. The water is pumped in from the Top-off system into the Phos Reactor where it travels down the the inner tube into the difuser where the Kalk is sitting. As the water pumps into the Phos Reactor water is pushed out the top. It seams like it would work just like the Ro Canister.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[douggiestyle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8625224#post8625224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TXKev
I am talking about using it as a KalkReactor. It seems like it could be used just like the RO Canister. The water is pumped in from the Top-off system into the Phos Reactor where it travels down the the inner tube into the difuser where the Kalk is sitting. As the water pumps into the Phos Reactor water is pushed out the top. It seams like it would work just like the Ro Canister.

Thanks,
Kevin

yes you are right. using the perc method for kalk the fluidized bed will work. you need to make sure it can withstand prerssure, if your unit will be pressurized

 

[TXKev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8626842#post8626842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by douggiestyle
yes you are right. using the perc method for kalk the fluidized bed will work. you need to make sure it can withstand prerssure, if your unit will be pressurized

Why would it be pressurized? Are you refering to the water coming into the reactor and pressuring the kalk water out?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[douggiestyle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8627611#post8627611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TXKev
Why would it be pressurized? Are you refering to the water coming into the reactor and pressuring the kalk water out?

Thanks,
Kevin

if your ro/di goes directly into the sump using a float valve, then the pressure between the rodi unit and the float valve will be at a pressure higher than what the phosban unit, more than likely, was designed for.

 

[TXKev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8628108#post8628108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by douggiestyle
if your ro/di goes directly into the sump using a float valve, then the pressure between the rodi unit and the float valve will be at a pressure higher than what the phosban unit, more than likely, was designed for.

I don't have a RO/Di feed, so I am not familiar with how that would work. I am planning on just hooking up a float switch with a small pump in a Holding tank to top off with. I may try the phosband reactor down the road to see how it works.

Thanks,
Kevin