my new kalk reactor (sort of)

[Mchava]

Well here is what I finished installing this weekend. Its an old kalk reacto that I got from Hugo. It use to have a magnetic stir stick in it but the motor was dead and was not working, also the lid was missing. So what I did was drill two 1 1/4" holes in the body and installed some 3/4" male adapters. Then I installed a quiteone 1200 pump and leak tested the unit for 24hr upside down. So once it passed the leak test I installed yesterday. So here is it.

 

[glaudds]

How long and often do you stir that puppy up?

 

[Mchava]

its stirs up twice a day for 30min each time. Ph coming from the reactor is 12.5 tank has had a better ph since then. Before it would go from 7.8-8.0 now its 8.1-8.4

 

[glaudds]

I just got a used MRC reactor and wasn't sure how often to stir mine up. I've been stirring mine up 6 times a day for about half an hour. Even then, the kalk stays pretty clear up top. You right about the Ph...much more stable.

 

[Mchava]

yeah the MRC are great units. I just had this old reactor just sitting ther and not being used so I riged it up to what you see. Hope this helps with some of my issues i've been having in my tank.
Well good luck on your reactor.

 

[glaudds]

Nice save, how did you install the adapters into the body? Are they threaded in bulkhead style or cemented in?

 

[Project Reef]

Is that the one I gave Hugo? Looks like you did a good job with it.

 

[Mchava]

Hey Glaudds the adapters are glued on using weld-on. I had to make two wholes 1 1/4" each and then sand the adapters down alittle to make them fit.

Project Reef, Thanks it took me a while to get this working mostly cuase I was lazzy, I think its the same one but I was under the improssion he got it from Ali but not sure.

 

[ReefLife1680]

Great job! what are you using to feed the reactor?

 

[Mchava]

reactor if fed using gravity. It flows down from a 10g container that is elevated above the unit. Then when the sump level goes down a kent marine float valve opens and let the kalk water in. I just got home about 45min and my tanks ph is at 8.2. It was never this high before when lights where off. I am so glad that I did this, but wish I've done it earlier. Well thanks again and will keep you all posted to see what happens
Mario

 

[ReefLife1680]

AWESOME! have you ever had a magnetic stirrer or is this your first kalk reactor? opinion either way (ph v. magnetic stirrer)??

 

[Mchava]

Never had a mag stirrer so not sure what to tell you. I know hugo replaced this one with the MRC and I think theyre great but have always liked the ph versions not sure why. I used to have a sqare one but did not work as well and a little afther I installed I broke the pump and never fixed it. Then I got this one and put it together again.

 

[ReefLife1680]

awesome. I was also thinking of the MRC but then keep seeing various ractors out there and am just hesitant to commit to ANY ONE of them ... LOL

 

[loc01]

Mario, can you make me one? j/k. Make sure that you clean the float valve regularly to prevent the build up causing flooding.

Loc