Reef octo kalk reactor help?

[Bdial]

I have a reef octo kalk reacto new in box I won several several months ago. How the heck do I use it? Dosing 2part is getting expensive. I dont have a lot of space for a cal reactor and I'm not really sure how to use either. I understand a lot I just for some reason can't figure this out. Do I use it as ato? If so how? I go through maybe a gallon Evap a day. That seems like a lot of kalk every day. Do I plug it into my reefkeeper and use it for additional dosing? Can anyone explain the process to me and/or show me some pics of your kalk setups. I have an understanding of how the universe works but for some reason I can't figure this stupid thing out. Here's the link to what I have.
http://coralvue.com/kr140/

 

[insomniac2k2]

Just as the description on it states (not meant to sound like a smarta**). You would want to have a fresh water resevoir that you run your ATO from. You just intercept the output from your ATO with the reactor. The water then gravity feeds from the reactor into your sump.

There are other ways, but this is the easiest and most efficient by far.

 

[AcroporAddict]

Read this:
http://coralvue.com/kalk-stirrer-instructions/

 

[Bdial]

Ok. So I get the reactor filled and running. Then I use my ato pump (aqualifter) and hook it up to the reactor. When my float switch turns on my ato the aqualifter runs pumps water through the reactor then into the tank. Right?

 

[insomniac2k2]

Yep

Ok. So I get the reactor filled and running. Then I use my ato pump (aqualifter) and hook it up to the reactor. When my float switch turns on my ato the aqualifter runs pumps water through the reactor then into the tank. Right?

 

[Bdial]

Is there a certain amount of kalk to use? Is this goin to be ok for such a large amount of Evap a day?

 

[AcroporAddict]

One other thing. The instructions you read are for a stirrer that has a very slow turning stirrer that runs 24/7. Your kalk stirrer uses a powerhead. You do not want to run it 24/7. I'd recommend you have the power head come on like 4 times a day for a couple minutes. Use your Reefkeeper and program a multi-timer to stir every 6 hours for a couple minutes.

The main threat to a tank with a kalk stirrer is that the ATO will activate when the kalk is being stirred, which can lead to a lot of milky white kalk slurry being pumped into your tank. I have an MRC kalk stirrer that operates like yours. I have an RKE controller. To deal with this, I have the kalk pump (power head in your case) PC4 outlet set up programmed as a multi-timer that is on for 2 minutes, then off for 5:58 minutes, set to oscillate. Program an alarm to turn the ATO pump off when the kalk powerhead turns on. Program the PC4 outlet function the ATO pump is plugged into as a metal halide light, which activates the DA "Sure on", which delays the start of the ATO for 15 minutes after the Kalk pump goes on. This allows the kalk to settle back into the reactor bottom after the powerhead stirs it, so you don't pump slurry into the tank.

I have mine set up this way, and it works great.

 

[AcroporAddict]

Is there a certain amount of kalk to use? Is this goin to be ok for such a large amount of Evap a day?

I have the MRC small Nilsen Reactor, and they recommend two cups of kalk powder, and replace when it gets down to almost being used up.

 

[Bdial]

Acro man thanks a ton. Best advice so far. I'll set it to turn off two minutes before and 5 minutes after to allow settle time. How do I know when it gets near empty? Can I use any kalk powder? I have a container of kent marine kalkwasser Layin around. When I add it do I just pour it straight in and let the reactor stir it?

 

[AcroporAddict]

Acro man thanks a ton. Best advice so far. I'll set it to turn off two minutes before and 5 minutes after to allow settle time. How do I know when it gets near empty? Can I use any kalk powder? I have a container of kent marine kalkwasser Layin around. When I add it do I just pour it straight in and let the reactor stir it?

I'm not sure you can set an ATO pump delay on your Reefkeeper like that. The DA Forum had several questions about this type thing, and the only thing you can do is set the ATO pump up as a halide light (function), then whenever the power to it is cut off, the light on the PC4 flashes for 15 minutes, then resumes power. If you successfully program your ATO pump to delay after power is cut off to it, LMK how you did it.

Just look a the settled kalk slurrry on the bottom of the clear reactor (not when it is stirring). When it gets 1/8"-1/4 thick, probably time for new stuff. Unplug the kalk mixing pump and your ATO pump, then remove the tubing connected to the kalk reactor from the ATO pump and the tubing going to the sump from the Kalk reactor. I usually keep a spare piece of tubing and connect it to the connection on the lid that puts water into the kalk reactor from the ato, then start a siphon and lower the water level in the kalk reactor a bit so you don't get spillage when you open the reactor to refill it. I empty out the old water, add new kalk powder, then refill almost to the top with RODI. Replace the lid and reconnect everything, then start the ATO until it refills the kalk reactor, then turn on the powerhead (using the controller) and let it mix the new kalk, then business as usual.

One caution: the kalk will release dust into the air...be careful not to breathe it in. It hurts.

One other thing you can do with your Reefkeeper that I do is if you have an in-sump pH monitor (probe), is to program a separate alarm that if the tank pH rises above 8.5 or so, will turn the ato pump off. This is very handy if you do end up overdosing kalk into the tank and can save your fish and corals. I have this on my RKE that controls my 465 gallon tank.