Kalk reactors anyone?

[Foogoo]

Let's see what you guys have! I've been considering a kalk reactor since it seems like a cheaper and easier to maintain alternative to Ca reactors. Just wanted to scope out some good designs...

 

[infrared69]

i just purchased this one...

i just purchased this one...

i dont have it set up yet, but i do like its design.

http://fishbowl-innovations.com/product/nilsen

 

[drake66]

Precision Marine and Geo have nice ones. (geosreef.com)

 

[SirLight1337]

I was under the impression that dripping kalk just changes the pH of the water, not adds calcium. Having said that, they should be used together to stabilize the pH and Ca of the tank. Adding C02 to a system via a calcium reactor will eventually lower the pH. If they are both hooked up to the same controller they will balance each other out.

 

[infrared69]

driping kalk does so much more. adds calcium, raises ph and alk, and precipitates phosphates from your water. also the calcium from kalk is more readily available to corals. the 2 downsides to it are actally mixing it, which is eliminated with the use of a reactor and that you can only add as much as the system evapotates. so in a high demand heavily loaded sps tank, and second calcium additive is needed i.e. a ca reatcor, 2 part solution, or turbo ca. but in a typical tank such as mine with softies and lps and just one or 2 sps, kalk is all i need to maintain 440 ppm.

 

[ReefMeister2]

this is what I use in conjunction with my Ca reactor; you certainly can't beat it @ only $160:

http://www.reeftek.com/Nilsen_Reactor.htm

 

[simon.007]

Actually, I made some kalk reactor and offering for sale for $60 ( to cover the plumming parts and acrylic tube) + pickup. The body is 24" tall x 4" diameter. The overall height is 30". I have a picture in my gallary.

Simon

 

[Foogoo]

So what's the verdict on kalk and calcium? I was under the impression that kalk reactors operated similar to Ca reactors, adding calcium and stabilizing the pH. And since they don't require CO2 and kalk is much cheaper than Ca media, I was thinking it could be a cheaper alternative to a Ca reactor setup.

 

[simon.007]

picture of the kalk reactor

picture of the kalk reactor

picture of the kalk reactor

Thanks Simon

 

[laverda]

Simon How does your Kalk reactor work? Does it use a pump to feed it? It looks like there are 3 tubes going to it. Do you think it would it still work well if it was only 24" tall?

 

[Mchava]

here is mine. Just installed it about two weeks ago.

 

[Freed]

Which tube sucks the water in and which tube blows it back into the reactor?

 

[reg828]

i think its better to dose two part additives than kalk reactor. sometimes kalk reactor cannot supply a constant demand of calcium in your tank, imo. if your calcium is low, you still have to add something to boost calcium and alkalinity. calcium reactor is better because it will supply calcium more than 400+ and constant alkalinity. with the ph controller, the reactor will maintain calc and alk with less maintenance...there is coralife calcium reactor, a less expensive.

 

[infrared69]

well i am going to def have to disagree with the 2 part additives. i tried keeping up with my system using b-ionic and c balance and had trouble. plus the daily additions became very annoying. maybe if i actually purchased a 2 channel dosing pump to do it automatically. however, mrs wages pickiling lime at $3.85 for a 16 oz (484g) container of kalk lasts alot longer and about 20 times cheaper than 2 part solutions.

 

[moonpod]

The thing about kalk reactors is this: the amount of kalk dosed depends on your evaporation rate which can vary. the thing about 2 part additive is that it's a pain in the behind. IF you can keep a steady evaporation rate one other option for you is to supplement your alkalinity in your topoff water. You can do a calculation to figure out how much baking soda to put in your top off water. Then periodically dump CA pellets to supplement your CA. Varying CA levels (within reason) don't affect things as much as drops in alkalinity which bring growth to a screeching halt. Some of this also of course depends on alk and CA demand of your system. If your demand is high then you will have to use either a CA reactor or a lot of supplements--a kalk reactor generally speaking cannot keep up with very high demand systems. Even so, if you run a CA reactor, a kalk reactor will help offset the tendency for CA reactors to depress system pH.