GEO Kalk Reactor
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
jdieck
New member
I do not know if the design has been changed. I own one and after some fixes it has been very reliable, this is what I did:
a) Replaced the nylon screws and nuts for thumb nylon screws to make it easy to remove the top flange.
b) Unions were not glued to the pipes, I pull them out, applied some silicon and insert them again, also applied some silicon around the uniseals.
c) Replaced the impeller of the MJ1200 and installed an impeller for a MJ 600 which has smaller pallets, the additional gap between impeller and the larger 1200 pump housing allows it to operate properly without damage as there is more gap for the sludge to be pumped. The agitation works well despite the smaller impeller and is one of the best I have seen, you can agitate continuously and no sediment will reach the top.
d) The grove for the top O ring is undersized, just insure that the O ring seats uniformly and it will be OK, if you are skilled with a dremel you can increase the width of the grove slightly and the O ring will be a perfect fit.
I reported these changes to George and most probably have already been corrected by now but someone from Premium might confirm that.
The RO/DI water inlet is on the top flange and it is the one that has the line that goes all the way to the bottom of the chamber, the limewater is delivered from the 1/4" outlet at the top.
a) Replaced the nylon screws and nuts for thumb nylon screws to make it easy to remove the top flange.
b) Unions were not glued to the pipes, I pull them out, applied some silicon and insert them again, also applied some silicon around the uniseals.
c) Replaced the impeller of the MJ1200 and installed an impeller for a MJ 600 which has smaller pallets, the additional gap between impeller and the larger 1200 pump housing allows it to operate properly without damage as there is more gap for the sludge to be pumped. The agitation works well despite the smaller impeller and is one of the best I have seen, you can agitate continuously and no sediment will reach the top.
d) The grove for the top O ring is undersized, just insure that the O ring seats uniformly and it will be OK, if you are skilled with a dremel you can increase the width of the grove slightly and the O ring will be a perfect fit.
I reported these changes to George and most probably have already been corrected by now but someone from Premium might confirm that.
The RO/DI water inlet is on the top flange and it is the one that has the line that goes all the way to the bottom of the chamber, the limewater is delivered from the 1/4" outlet at the top.
jdieck
New member
I use 1/4" poly tubing like the one used in RO/DI systems and replaced all conectors with John Guest fittings.
I also replaced the flexible tubing inside the reactor for 1/4" poly tubing, as it is more rigid it makes it easier to inser in the suport guide at the botom side of the chamber.
jdieck
New member
Is only one doser pump set for a slow addition. A dosing pump with variable flow capabilities is strongly recomended.
The pump draws the RO/DI water from your reservoir and pumps it into the reactor, as the reactor is sealed the new added water will force the solution out of the reactor.
The doser can be activated by a float top off system that will turn it on and off as the level of the water drops due to evaporation or can be activated by controller or it's own timing system.
In the pic below you can see the reactor. The green line is the feed from the doser and the white line is the limewater to the sump. At the top right on the wall you can see the timer to start the mixing maxijet pump for two minutes six times a day. At the bottom left is a litermeter III dosing pump that can be calibrated and adjusted to add a specified volume troughout 24 hours thus making it possible to match the evaporation volume without the need of a top off system.
I like this setting better as it can be adjusted to match the evaporation or if the alkalinity addition will be too much because the evaporation is too high it can be adjusted to make an addition just enough to match the alkalinity consumption even if it is less than the evaporation and the rest can be supplemented by an independent top off of RO/DI only.
If the Top off is the one activating the doser you will need to have the evaporation match the alkalinity requirements which is rather unusual but it will work if your alkalinity requirement need a volume addition of lime water that is larger than your evaporation so you can just set the evaporation volume and in this case you need to use additional manual supplementation to complete the alkalinity not added via the reactor.
The maximum amout of alkalinity that can be added depends on the amount of evaporation, the more evaporation the more alkalinity can be added as more volume can be added. (See chart below)
The pump draws the RO/DI water from your reservoir and pumps it into the reactor, as the reactor is sealed the new added water will force the solution out of the reactor.
The doser can be activated by a float top off system that will turn it on and off as the level of the water drops due to evaporation or can be activated by controller or it's own timing system.
In the pic below you can see the reactor. The green line is the feed from the doser and the white line is the limewater to the sump. At the top right on the wall you can see the timer to start the mixing maxijet pump for two minutes six times a day. At the bottom left is a litermeter III dosing pump that can be calibrated and adjusted to add a specified volume troughout 24 hours thus making it possible to match the evaporation volume without the need of a top off system.
I like this setting better as it can be adjusted to match the evaporation or if the alkalinity addition will be too much because the evaporation is too high it can be adjusted to make an addition just enough to match the alkalinity consumption even if it is less than the evaporation and the rest can be supplemented by an independent top off of RO/DI only.
If the Top off is the one activating the doser you will need to have the evaporation match the alkalinity requirements which is rather unusual but it will work if your alkalinity requirement need a volume addition of lime water that is larger than your evaporation so you can just set the evaporation volume and in this case you need to use additional manual supplementation to complete the alkalinity not added via the reactor.
The maximum amout of alkalinity that can be added depends on the amount of evaporation, the more evaporation the more alkalinity can be added as more volume can be added. (See chart below)
Last edited:
RokleM
Premium Member
Jdieck, when did you get your model? I got one year and a half ago locally and can't say I experienced those issues.
All of GEO's models I've seen recently already have thumb screws.
All my pipes were assembled and glued.
Mine came with a MJ900 not 1200. My sediment never goes higher than 2/3.
No issues with leaking, and the o-ring fits perfectly.
Again, not quite sure when you received yours, but I can't confirm I had any of those issues (other than thumb screws which isn't an issue but an additional enhancement). I was so happy with the quality I have the media reactor and the calcium reactor as well.
All of GEO's models I've seen recently already have thumb screws.
All my pipes were assembled and glued.
Mine came with a MJ900 not 1200. My sediment never goes higher than 2/3.
No issues with leaking, and the o-ring fits perfectly.
Again, not quite sure when you received yours, but I can't confirm I had any of those issues (other than thumb screws which isn't an issue but an additional enhancement). I was so happy with the quality I have the media reactor and the calcium reactor as well.
JRaquatics
New member
The PM reactor is built tough but is a flawed design. There isn't any way to drain the reactor in order to add more kalk. I have to siphon water out of the reactor in order to refill it, which sucks.
I thought I would bring up the Kalk reactor that CoralVue is coming out with. It reminds me of a Deltec Kalk stirer but should be available at half the cost.
I thought I would bring up the Kalk reactor that CoralVue is coming out with. It reminds me of a Deltec Kalk stirer but should be available at half the cost.
jdieck
New member
I think mine was one of the first ones, I reported those potential improvements to George, knowing him I am sure he addressed those concerns in his newer versions.
BTW I have not seen reactors that coul dnot have been improved and could tell that the Geo was one of those that IMO needed very little and has been working very reliably. As with any equipment out there I'm glad to hear it became better as I think it is a very sound design.
jdieck
New member
Re: new opinions needed
Re: new opinions needed
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=212
Re: new opinions needed
You may want to initiate a new thread in the equipment forum:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=212
Run a Geo unit also and it has been great. Runs like a top and works in hand with my ATO unit. I refill every couple weeks and just let it to its thing in between. Had a little leak issue on the pump but it was due to a faulty MJ gasket/o ring. I replaced it and its been working since with no other problem
I have a GEO Kalk reactor and my only complaint is that the pump is a small Maxijet which is to undersize. It does not mix the Kalk very well. As a result the Kalk settles and builds up on the opposite side of the the pump return. I have to leave the pump on a lot and add Kalk often and/or stir it by hand. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Thanks
jdieck
New member
The pump is large enough to prevent any settlement on the bottom of the reactor.
Check the pump impeller for any broken pallets and rinse all the media residue off the reactor once in a while.
When adding powder, add water to a level higher than the pump intake and have the pump running while adding the powder, that will prevent sticky mud in the bottom.
ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11669633#post11669633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Those who know me better know that I am yet to see a piece of equipment I have not tempered with yet
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Yeah, I don't think you want to take any of this as a negative on Geo.
Let's put it this way, if you google "perfectionist," I think jdieck will come up. Every piece of equipment he owns looks like he set it up 5 minutes ago. Brand spankin new. I could go on. You get the idea.
Oh, Jose, when is the last time you cleaned your return pump? :lol: :lol: :lol:
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