Nilsen Reactor

[bruffin]

Is anyone using a Nilsen reactor?

Here's my idea of how I want to use mine, please send me a critique. I'm not sure if this is correct:

1.) It'll be connected as part of the evaportation top-off system.

2.) I want to use a pH controller to decide when it comes on and
goes off.

3.) The reactor will be fed by a dosing pump.

4.) There will be a powerhead in addition to the dosing pump
to top-off the majority of the evaporated water.
[separate from the reactor]

5.) The powerhead will be regulated by a float switch.

The main question I want to ask is - By controlling the reactor based on monitoring pH and not evaporation, will that keep the Ca and dkH intact, too?

--Thanks

 

[8BALL_99]

I probably wouldn't have the Kalk come on anytime your ph is low.. I would think that could lead to either high or low Ca and DKH. I think the Ph controller would be good idea as a back up.. I would probably have the dosing pump set to how much kalk you want to dose.. IE 4 cups a day or what ever.. Then have the PH controller Turn the Dosing pump off if the Ph gets to high in the tank. Almost the same idea just have a set amount of Kalk dosed everyday Inless the ph is to high, insted of dosing Kalk anytime the ph is low. Maybe also have the reactor on a timer to only dose at night?

It might not matter But to me if the Ph contoller ever missread or the probe went bad it would just start pumping in kalk non stop till you caught the problem. Thats why I would just use it as backup.. That way if the Timer messes up the Ph controller would be a back up to keep from crashing the system..

 

[bruffin]

Thanks, that helped a lot
I didn't even think about the drop in pH at night!
Will do . . .

 

[8BALL_99]

NP. What reactor did you get? I've had one on order for about a month :eek1: I started to just DIY one but I really wanted one with a Stir bar like the Deltec. So I ended up buying a Aquamedic Stirrer 1000. They just now got them back in stock about 3 days ago.

If you dont have a PH controller yet you might want to look into a Neptune Aqua controller.. I've got a couple of them. Thats what I used to moniter my tanks PH when I was running my CA reactor. I had mine set to turn of the CO2 going to the reactor if the Tanks PH droped below7.8. The really kewl thing about them is they do the same job of a Temp Controller, Ph Controller, Plus they replace every timmer in your system.

The AC JR is around 200.00 another 70 for DC8..

 

[bruffin]

Sounds like a good investment . . .