Kalk Replacement

[tim jenkins]

I have a 650 total gal system. Could I replace ALL my evaporative water loss with Kalkwasser? Would that be too much? Is Kalkwasser saturated, or could a Kalk reactor make replacement water that is too concentrated and even more of a risk than expected? I want to connect the topoff system to the Kalk reactor if it would be safe. Thanks!

 

[mflamb]

The only problem would be if the Kalk caused your pH to go to high. It's easy to avoid that problem with a controller. Here's how:
Use two pumps in your top off container, both connected to your controller. Program your controller to make this happen: The pump that goes through your kalk reactor needs to top off as long as pH is below 8.4. If pH goes above 8.4, the controller will turn that pump off. The other pump goes straight to the sump, and will come on only when pH is above 8.4.

 

[tim jenkins]

Sounds good, but I have a gravity fed line hooked to the reactor hooked to the solenoid. Any ideas to make this config safe? Thanks!

 

[mflamb]

Not without a controller.

 

[tim jenkins]

I have a neptune AC-3 Pro controller right next to the Kalk reactor...

 

[richierich2000]

well you could do
If pH > 08.40 Then SOL(solenoid) OFF
If pH < 08.40 Then SOL(solenoid) ON
If pH > 08.40 Then PM?(pump for topoff) ON
If pH < 08.40 Then PM?(pump for topoff) OFF
If Switch1 OPEN Then SOL OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then SOL ON
If Switch1 OPEN Then PM? OFF
If Switch1 CLOSED Then PM? ON

you would have to make the pump dosen't back siphon or continue to siphon and use one of your switches and a float switch

 

[mflamb]

He's smarter than me. I think you would need a breakout box for the Neptune.

 

[richierich2000]

ok I put it in my simulator and that didn't work but this will (need to change SOL & PM1 to what ever you need it to be)

SOL$-A01
PM1#-A02

If Switch1 Closed Then SOL ON
If pH > 08.40 Then SOL OFF
If Switch1 Open Then SOL OFF
If Switch1 Closed Then PM1 ON
If pH < 08.41 Then PM1 OFF
If Switch1 Open Then PM1 OFF

You could run 2 solenoids one for Kalk water and the other one for Ro water. I think I am going to do it this way but will put a inline Electric solenoid hooked to another float switch 1" above the first one just in case powered by a 12v adapter. Hope this helps

 

[richierich2000]

yes the breakout box is best

mflamb do you have the simulator? I just keep messing till I get it to do what I want it to.

 

[tim jenkins]

remember, as of now it is gravity fed-no pump filling it. what about this. If the pH gets to 8.4 I could turn off the mixing pump on the Kalk reactor. Kalk settles and mostly just RO water goes in.

 

[richierich2000]

your kalk mixing pump should only be on 3-4 times a day for 1-5 min. make sure that if you are using a float or solenoid valve it is before the reactor trust me I put one after and if blew up I still clean it up 2 years later it looked like a bomb went off.

I have a salt bucket with a bulkhead in bottom and a float valve to keep it full up on a shelf that gravity feeds my float valve in the sump so I am going to put a solenoid valve between the bucket and kalk reactor and the float switch about a inch above the float valve that way if the ph is above 8.4 then it will stay off and the float will fill if needed

 

[tim jenkins]

sounds like i have a little weekend project brewing. I will report back with success or failure. thanks!