how often do you change out lime in a Kalc reactor
- Thread starter psteeleb
- Start date
The easiest ways to know when to replace it are when the potency of the effluent drops (which is easily measured by conductivity) or when the tank alkalinity (or maybe pH) begins to drop.
If you actually saturated the water and did not dose any solids, then 1/4 cup will saturate about 6 gallons. Many limewater reactors do not saturate the water, so it will may it more slowly than that.
If you actually saturated the water and did not dose any solids, then 1/4 cup will saturate about 6 gallons. Many limewater reactors do not saturate the water, so it will may it more slowly than that.
psteeleb
Team RC
thanks Randy
I started with a 1/2 cup and after a few days my Ph dropped, there were still solids in the bottom of the chamber, so I wasn't sure what was going on. I was going to test my Alk tonight but I'll have to assume the solids are depleted of calcium hydroxide . For some reason I though I could go a couple weeks on that 1/2 a cup, but using 3 gallons a day the 1/2 cup sounds like it will only be potent for about 4-5 days.
again thanks
I started with a 1/2 cup and after a few days my Ph dropped, there were still solids in the bottom of the chamber, so I wasn't sure what was going on. I was going to test my Alk tonight but I'll have to assume the solids are depleted of calcium hydroxide . For some reason I though I could go a couple weeks on that 1/2 a cup, but using 3 gallons a day the 1/2 cup sounds like it will only be potent for about 4-5 days.
again thanks
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Some residual solids will remain when all dissolvable calcium hydroxide is gone. These may be magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate. So don't assume there is still active compound present just because there are solids present.
Well, you are limited a bit with a reactor (compared to my preference, which is dosing from a settled reservoir), but the first step is to determine if you really need saturation by trial and error.
What is in the tank that uses calcium and alkalinity?
What is in the tank that uses calcium and alkalinity?
psteeleb
Team RC
Well, I'm definitely still in the trial and error phase
The system is about 300g, with sps, lps and clams
I was at a point of dosing 10oz each of your DIY 2 part in a 24 hour period. Wanting to increase my Ph and set up something a little more automated, I decided to go with the Kalc reactor to dose 3 gallons in a 24 hour period (my rough calculation equivalent of 10 oz of DIY 2 part). I dose a gallon at a time, 4 hours apart at night to help offset the "lights off" Ph drop.
OK, if you are trying to max out the reactor, you'd stir it very often, but then you are not allowing as much settling between stirrings. If that is less of a concern than getting the pH up, then you could stir, say, every 2 hours.
I just happened to be interested in this topic, because I have lot of leftover residue at the bottom of the container. Does the by-product from the kalkwasser have any use?<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13339872#post13339872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Some residual solids will remain when all dissolvable calcium hydroxide is gone. These may be magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate. So don't assume there is still active compound present just because there are solids present.
Plants maybe.
psteeleb
Team RC
It's a bit different then the normal ATO to kalc reactor setup.
At 11:30 a timer switches on a pump to feed a gravity drain reservoir and the kalc reactor stirs for 5 minutes. The reservoir then drains a gallon of RO/DI into the reactor over about a 90 minute period pushing the just mixed (semi) saturated kalcwasser from the reactor into the sump.
Should I mix for longer then 5 minutes?
This process repeats itself again at 4am and 8 am.
The feed is shut down if Ph goes up too much in the system (turns on at 8.15, off at 8.20) Kalcwasser is not fed durring the day, the ATO kicks in with just RO/DI.
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psteeleb
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13340237#post13340237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DiazE
I just happened to be interested in this topic, because I have lot of leftover residue at the bottom of the container. Does the by-product from the kalkwasser have any use?
Plants maybe.
I'm not sure, but, I guess you could use it as a antacid or to soak your feet in :lol:
Five minutes is enough mixing. Lime dissolves pretty fast.
Does the by-product from the kalkwasser have any use?
Not really, unless you need to raise the pH of a garden slightly.
Does the by-product from the kalkwasser have any use?
Not really, unless you need to raise the pH of a garden slightly.
You're welcome.
Happy reefing.
Happy reefing.
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