may meeting work shop, DIY kalkreactor

[rklutt]

This sounds just like what I was wanting it to do. I can't wait to get this done and placed into my new sump room!

 

[Buckeye ME]

How many people run their topoff this way? Will constantly replacing evap water with kalk cause too much calcium for a small system (mine is about 30g water volume)?

 

[TacoKing]

How much water do you top off with every day?

For a while I ran my top off through my kalk reactor, but ended up with not being able to control my Alk as easy as I wanted. I was topping off 5-7 gallons a day.

Lots of people do it this way, it is a great way to run a kalk reactor; but it takes some tweaking to get it right. One thing I like to recommend is people run the mixing pump a tad bit more often at night than during the day. That way the kalk reactor corrects for the PH fluctuations a reef tank typically has at night.
-=Rob

 

[AcroSteve]

100% of my evap is replaced with Kalk. Probably about 4-5 gal/day.

 

[hollback]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7245366#post7245366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by geo
As water evaporates the float switch will trigger the solenoid to open feeding RO water into the reactor allowing kalkwasser to enter the sump.

The reactor is gravity fed.

I run my kalkreactor as my topoff this way.

 

[tye_c]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7245100#post7245100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TacoKing
tye_c, do you use a solenoid and a float switch for your gravity fed auto-top off? If so, this sucker will work great for you. It will actually just sit inbetween your reservoir and your sump.

Buckeye, I can't be certian, but my assumption is this does not come with a autotop of switch, solenoid, or powerhead to turn it into an auto-top off device.

I currently use a mechanical float valve. I have the one without the solenoid. Looks like I will need to purchase one. We might need to do a group buy for everyone that needs a float switch and solenoid.

http://www.kentmarine.com/waterfilters/fv.html

 

[jh2pizza]

Sammie and I use this pump and a cpl cheap microfloat switches. This pump is great. Run dry while I was in Louisville for the weekend, god only knows how long, but didnt seem to effect it at all.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...een=PROD&Product_Code=T5000.02&Category_Code=

 

[RokleM]

I have to tell you guys, maybe it's just my "newbiness", but I just don't understand the entire massive setup of a topoff system when a container and a gravity fed slow drip tube can be used...

Granted, for this use, I might have to change my thoughts.

 

[geo]

You can do that, many people do. The pita factor soon gets the best of most of us and we strive to automate as much of our systems as possible. Auto top off compensates for fluctuations in evaporations, and for the most part is hands off. Using a kalkreactor in line replaces top off water with kalkwasser. This can maintain and adequate calcium and alkalinity levels for many systems. It will also lessen the need of other supplements (calcium reactor) on aquariums with high demands.

 

[TacoKing]

RokleM, another reason is the fact that tuning that slow drip can be very difficult. With a floatswitch and powerhead it's automated quite simply. These systems really arn't that complicated.

For those interested in parts... Here's some of the equipment I've used.

Floatswitches.
http://www.aquahub.com/store/ifloatfloatswitch.html

And use one of the solenoids from McMaster-Carr.
http://www.mcmaster.com/ Part # 7877K5

-Rob

 

[RokleM]

Sounds good. I'll likely switch to seee how I like it after the build

 

[szwab]

and that's not even mentioning the coolness factor

 

[zanclus]

Wow this sounds like a great idea and I wish I was closer as i could use a " Kalkenstien" reactor .Any chance I could get a kit shipped to me? I would love to bring it to our little club the "Upstate reef society " We could then have a workshop of our own.

 

[geo]

We can send information to your club after our workshop

 

[Teddy Ballgame]

Anyone selling one of these after the meeting? I can't make it, but could really use one for my new top-off system.

 

[szwab]

get someone to build one for you I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers

 

[TacoKing]

If there are extra parts I could possibly build one for ya. I'm going and don't need one.

-Rob

 

[Teddy Ballgame]

That would be great, if possible.

 

[Buckeye ME]

I might have missed it, but how tall will the reactor be? I'm trying to determine a pump for my auto-topoff.

 

[geo]

The chamber will be18"