Kalkwasser Reactors...specifically kalk stirrers

[sammy33]

I have started looking at Kalk stirrers. The only ones I have found so far are:

• Aqua Medic KWS 1000 (4x18.5) - $219
• Deltec KM500 (6x19) - $439
• MRC Sm Nilsen (4.5 x18) - $290

Well the Aqua Medic looks to be the least money. The new MRC nilsen reactor has the motor timer built in - kinda cool! The Deltec is expensive.

Was wondering if there were any other kalk stirrers (not circulation pump style) and if anyone had any experience with these listed above or others?

 

[stony_corals]

Reefmania

 

[bdare]

Can someone tell me what a kalk reactor / stirrer does? I always just assumed it was dosed or dripped.

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10822582#post10822582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bdare
Can someone tell me what a kalk reactor / stirrer does? I always just assumed it was dosed or dripped.

It allows a higher level of saturation over a broader period of time. The calcium hydroxide powder will fall out of solution to the bottom of the container it was mixed in. The Kalk stirrer periodically (or even continuously) mixes the powder to a dissolved state maintaining higher levels of saturation.

The kalk stirrer is usually used as part of a topoff system controlled by a float switch and even a pH controller.

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10822559#post10822559 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stony_corals
Reefmania

I looked at reefmania but only saw pump driven reactors. Do they have a kalk stirrer?

I want to find more of the stirrer type reactors that have the stirring wand or magnetic stir bar.

 

[VaderWS6]

I'm interested in a stirrer as well. I think I may go with a kalkreactor instead of the calcium reactor.

 

[sammy33]

Another one:

Barr Aquatic KR1020 (6x18) $299

There must be others.

 

[jmait769]

<a href="http://www.reeftek.com/Nilsen_Reactor.htm" target="_blank">ReefTek</a> for $179.00. 6" diameter & 18" tall. Pic of mine:

HTH

Jay

 

[bureau13]

I have the Aqua Medic, and I've been pretty happy with it. I like the idea of the mechanically-coupled stirrer, which it and the Deltec have, rather than the magnetic coupled version, which I think is what everyone else uses.

jds

 

[VaderWS6]

The Aquamedic and Nilson look good. What problems usually arise when useing a kalk reactor? I'm thinking of going with a kalkreactor instead of a calcium reactor.

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10822833#post10822833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sammy33
It allows a higher level of saturation over a broader period of time. The calcium hydroxide powder will fall out of solution to the bottom of the container it was mixed in. The Kalk stirrer periodically (or even continuously) mixes the powder to a dissolved state maintaining higher levels of saturation.
.

Not true. Kalk can only reach a certain level of saturation. This can be easily achieved in a simple container mixed @ 2 teaspoons/gallon. That is max saturation. The only way to increase saturation above that is to add vinegar, which can be done in a settled container, but not with a reactor.

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm

 

[Rouselb]

I agree with SJM, I mix Mrs Wages Piickling Lime in a 35 gal trash can for 5 min. Then I put the lid on it, and let my LiterMeter Dose for the rest of the wk. I never stir more then the initial mixing. Been using this method for 6 months, Ca=430, Alk=8.8Dkh

 

[sjm817]

A little OT, but do you get a brown residue in the container from Mrs Wages? I've used Kent, ESV, Mrs Wages, and Mississippi Lime (currently) and only had the brown residue from Mrs Wages. Not sure if it was something harmless like iron, or what is was.

 

[Rouselb]

I have not seen a brown residue in the container. I do usually clean out the container every 2 or 3 months. I will look closer this time. I was using Kent for awhile, but Mrs W. is much easier on the checkbook. Ill let you know if i see any residue next time i clean it. Where are you purchasing the Miss Lime?

 

[sjm817]

http://www.twopartsolution.com/

 

[Rouselb]

I have used them before, thats where i bought my LiterMeter III from. They have good prices.

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10832569#post10832569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Not true. Kalk can only reach a certain level of saturation. This can be easily achieved in a simple container mixed @ 2 teaspoons/gallon. That is max saturation. The only way to increase saturation above that is to add vinegar, which can be done in a settled container, but not with a reactor.

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

The Degradation of Limewater (Kalkwasser) in Air
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-...ature/index.htm

Thanks for the great links.

I agree with you that kalk has a maximum saturation level. When adding more freshwater (from top-off) to a kalk mix the saturation will of course go down. You will need to mix in more kalk (this is where the kalk reactor comes in) to increase saturation back towards the maximum.

 

[sammy33]

I decided on the AquaMedic Kalk Stirrer. I have been using it on my 28g Nano Cube for about two months now with an ATO and pH control from my ReefKeeper2.

This unit has done a great job of keeping up with calcium demands of my nano reef. Levels are typically 450ppm since I started using the kalk stirrer. My calcium demand is medium right now but I have been switching to mostly SPS and frags are starting to grow. I think this unit will have no problem maintaining calcium levels in this size tank.

I have had to dose Alk supplements manually to maintain alkalinity but I may have been only having a problem with a funky test kit. I think once I get the Alk up to around 10dKH it should hold fairly well with only water change dosing required.

Using this Kalk Stirrer inline with an ATO and a peristaltic dosing pump seems to work well. I have the kalk stir rod running continuously. The evaporation rate on this tank is slow so the top-off vs. kalk dosing seems to be fairly proportioned and if anything a little heavy on the calcium. The ReefKeeper2 keeps the kalk stirrer from spiking the pH over 8.4. It is set to turn of the ATO unit (thereby turning off the kalk) at 8.4 and turn back on a 8.35. This keeps my pH steady at around 8.3 to 8.4 from day to night.

The build quality of this unit is pretty good. It seals very well with the top taking a good effort to remove/install. I did have some issues with the setup as the input line check valve was installed upside down at the factory - flipped it over for a quick fix. The instructions seem to be a translation (German?) and the wording is funky. There was some confusion about the input and output but I was able to figure out the functions.

Overall the AquaMedic Kalk Stirrer 1000 is pretty straightforward to setup and operate. The top down motor with the mechanically coupled stir rod and the bottom up water feed gives the best/easiest results of any kalkwasser dosing method (manual dosing, drip, DIY reactor/doser) I have used!

 

[dp0350]

I think that this is the exact setup that I am going to use on my 90g. I do have a question. I have a couple of gallon evaporation a day. If I hook it up to a pH controller, it will prevent the ATO from refilling the evaporated water. I will prevent pH spikes but stop the ATO from doing its job. Does this never happen or what?

 

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10834459#post10834459 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sammy33
Thanks for the great links.

I agree with you that kalk has a maximum saturation level. When adding more freshwater (from top-off) to a kalk mix the saturation will of course go down. You will need to mix in more kalk (this is where the kalk reactor comes in) to increase saturation back towards the maximum.

That's right. The stirrer periodically restirs the lime at the bottom of the reactor maintaining full stauration. It is usefull if space is an issue. However, as noted in his articles Randy Holmes Farely tested limewater in a large (30gal or so) still resevoir and discerned that very little saturation is lost over a week's time if there is extra lime in the bottom of the resevoir.So it is possible to dose limewater (kalk) at very near full saturation levels without a reactor by using a covered garbage can full and stirring it once a week. There will be some loss of saturation due to reaction with the air and the uptake of CO2 but it will be minimal. So if you have room a still resevoir might be a usefull alternative to a reactor.