ocd_mariner
New member
So, Ive been using a kalk reactor the last few days..... I have no idea if there is enough kalk in the reactor.... I also have no idea when it is supposed to be cleaned.... can somebody give me some tips? 
kalk reactor
- Thread starter ocd_mariner
- Start date
crumbletop
New member
What kind did you get? I have a DIY that I put about 8 - 10 tablespoons of kalk into at a time. Mine has been running for about a year and it has never been cleaned. I did have to trim the output tubing once because it was getting caked up with kalk.
ocd_mariner
New member
I am using a GEO reactor.
crumbletop
New member
Is it this one?
If it were me, I would start off by putting maybe 1" of powder in the bottom, and set things to have the pump come on for maybe 2-3 minutes every 6 hours. I think the main issue with the geo is to try and keep the pump free of kalk slurry. The older design had the pump and outlet almost at the bottom of the reactor and the sludge would build up in the pump. The newer design has the pump sitting higher up which allows the slurry to flow down via gravity.
If the 1" with brief mixing every 6 hours doesn't produce much slurry at the pump intake, then you could add more powder. The benefit to more powder is simply less frequent filling of the reactor. The effluent should be the same in either case. I believe the recommendation for the GEO is 2-3" of powder -- but again, IMO, the only thing to look out for is too much slurry being sucked into the pump. The drawback to having too much slurry enter the pump is it will wear the impeller out more quickly.
RE cleaning, since yours has a pump to mix things, the impeller will wear out from time to time, and this is the main part that should probably be inspected/cleaned/serviced from time to time. I'd check it at 6 months to see how it is going....
If it were me, I would start off by putting maybe 1" of powder in the bottom, and set things to have the pump come on for maybe 2-3 minutes every 6 hours. I think the main issue with the geo is to try and keep the pump free of kalk slurry. The older design had the pump and outlet almost at the bottom of the reactor and the sludge would build up in the pump. The newer design has the pump sitting higher up which allows the slurry to flow down via gravity.
If the 1" with brief mixing every 6 hours doesn't produce much slurry at the pump intake, then you could add more powder. The benefit to more powder is simply less frequent filling of the reactor. The effluent should be the same in either case. I believe the recommendation for the GEO is 2-3" of powder -- but again, IMO, the only thing to look out for is too much slurry being sucked into the pump. The drawback to having too much slurry enter the pump is it will wear the impeller out more quickly.
RE cleaning, since yours has a pump to mix things, the impeller will wear out from time to time, and this is the main part that should probably be inspected/cleaned/serviced from time to time. I'd check it at 6 months to see how it is going....
Kalk Reactor
Kalk Reactor
I bought a simple reactor from Waynesworld and added a maxi jet 404 and I call it a Nelson DIY. about every 4 days or so I add 1/4 cup of Kalk in the reactor and use a PH controller from Milewaukee to dial in the wanted PH usually around 8.2 or so.
I have a 75 Gal system.
Hope this helps.
Kalk Reactor
I bought a simple reactor from Waynesworld and added a maxi jet 404 and I call it a Nelson DIY. about every 4 days or so I add 1/4 cup of Kalk in the reactor and use a PH controller from Milewaukee to dial in the wanted PH usually around 8.2 or so.
I have a 75 Gal system.
Hope this helps.
waynesworld
Premium Member
You know this realy sucks when I still dont have mine done and you already have yours up and running. I need 2 more days in the week. I am glad it works I will have to steal you new design. BTW show a pic of how you have it running please.
