Who is using a Cal Reactor AND Kalk Reactor?

[ReefWaters]

Ive been running a Barr Aquatic 1200 Calcium Reactor on my 50 cube for a year now. It keeps up the Ca and Alk just fine but my pH is a little on the low side IMO. I just added an AquaController Jr so I can finally see what the pH of the tank is doing over time, especially at night. Im waiting for calibration fluid for my year old probe but I think it is pretty accurate. Its telling me that my pH ranges from about 8.00 at night to 8.15 during the day. It has had a low of 7.98 and a high of 8.21, but only once for each over a 2 week period.

I am considering adding a Precision Marine Kalk Reactor to the set up to raise the PH and help out the calcium reactor a little but I want some feedback.

Who is using either just a calcium reactor or a kalk reactor and who is using both?

Also, who thinks that the tank will do better with a little higher pH?

 

[loc01]

I am using both ca. and kalk. reactors and my ph stays at 8.1-8.3. I do believe corals doing better at ph 8 and higher.

Loc

 

[NaH2Ofreak]

I use a Korallin Ca reactor and a Precision Marine kalk reactor. All my top off water goes thru the kalk reactor. I still have a pH flux of about 7.75 at night and up to max of 8.05 or so during the day. Dont know why that is but...it seems to be working ok.

Dennis

 

[AlgaeMan]

I use an MRC Reactor and PM kalk reactor. My PH can fluctuate between 8.0 and 8.4. I have the PM cycle for 5 minutes every hour between 2:00 am and 10 am. This also helps with the alk and calcium levels.

 

[mike660r]

Im running a Barr CR 2200 and a GEO Kalk reactor. My PH was dipping to 7.90 at night. Now with the both systems running I am stable between 8.05 (night) and 8.32 (day). All my top off water goes through the Kalk reactor.

 

[Fatboy]

I'm running a Deltec PF501 calcium reactor and I find that it lowers too much the pH of my tank...... I just placed an order for a KM500 Deltec Kalk Stirrer. Hopefully the pH at night won't go below 8.0.......

 

[Wolfgang]

I used a MTC ProLime along with a Geo Reactor on my 120 with great Results!

 

[SPStoner]

I am using a dual Reeftek Calcium reactor and a MRC Nielson stirrer (all top off goes through the Nielson)
pH ranges from 8.05 to 8.3 daily.

 

[SunnyX]

I am using a GEO calcium reactor and a Deltec KM500 Kalk Stirrer.

Ph is now much more stable.

 

[ReefWaters]

WOW!!!!! :eek2: :eek1: Thanks for all the responses.

Okay, is anyone NOT using both with good results????


I guess you guys have made up my mind for me. Now I just need to decide which kalk reactor to go with. Im looking into each of the ones that you guys are using but Im leaning towards the Precision Marine. Any suggestions that were not mentioned here? Does anyone wish they had gone with a different reactor?

Also, Im thinking of running my Kalk Reactor on a straight timer and also adding top off via a float switch to replace any excess fresh water needed. I could be wrong, but I think this would stabilize the pH better for my set up because my evaporation varies widely from day to day being in the South.

 

[Kip]

if you are gonna use a c-reactor alone... look into running the effluent into your skimmer to counter any excess co2... if your skimmer uses an air tube (venturi injection).. run that air line to a protected area outdoors.

if your demand will allow it and you reactor can keep up... set up a solenoid on a timer and only let the co2 run part of the 24hr period (reverse photoperiod)

my c-reactor runs 24/7 and my k-reactor primarly runs at nite... my pH stays 8.0-8.2

 

[ReefWaters]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6601200#post6601200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kip
if you are gonna use a c-reactor alone... look into running the effluent into your skimmer to counter any excess co2... if your skimmer uses an air tube (venturi injection).. run that air line to a protected area outdoors.

if your demand will allow it and you reactor can keep up... set up a solenoid on a timer and only let the co2 run part of the 24hr period (reverse photoperiod)

my c-reactor runs 24/7 and my k-reactor primarly runs at nite... my pH stays 8.0-8.2

Thanks for the info Kip. I actually have tried running the CA Reactor effluent through the skimmer before. I could be completely wrong but I felt that it hindered the performance of the skimmer. I may try it again before I spend the money on the K-reactor. As for the solenoid, the reactor is being controlled by the AquaController Jr. It turns the CO2 off when the pH drops below 8.0 and back on when it raises above 8.0.

 

[Kip]

if you inject the effluent into the skimmer intake then yeah.. it holds back the skimmer performance.....

an easy/cheap alternative is to put a "tee" fitting in your drain line just barely above your sump and run the effluent in there. The air drawn down from the overflow mixing with the effluent will do the same thing as the bubbles in the skimmer for blowing off co2.

 

[Sparkss]

nice idea with the CO2 and the controller, but then I guess you don't use a probe/controller on your calc reactor. I could never get mine dialed in enough to make that work (Without the controller that is... our crappy regulator is to blame for that).

We use a PM kalk reactor on our top off and have been very happy with it so far.

 

[ReefWaters]

Kip... I have thought of that before too. And this reminds me of another reason why I dont really love the idea. You have to disconnect the effluent line to see if it is running. I prefer to make a quick glance at the effluent pouring into the sump to make sure that the reactor is doing its thing. Its rare, but mine has a tendency to lose its prime and stop the flow through.

I think Im okay there though. My skimmer drain is tee-d off right before the water line and this causes some good turbulence in that section of the sump. My fuge and tank drain into the same chamber as well. So I believe Im blowing off enough CO2, maybe not the most possible, but a good bit.

 

[ReefWaters]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6601843#post6601843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
nice idea with the CO2 and the controller, but then I guess you don't use a probe/controller on your calc reactor. I could never get mine dialed in enough to make that work (Without the controller that is... our crappy regulator is to blame for that).

What do you mean by this? Are you saying you use a "PH Controller"?

I was using a Milwaukee PH Controller and it was no where near as accurate as the AquaController is but it worked on the same exact principal. The Milwaukee had a turn dial so you never REALLY knew when it was going to switch on or off.

 

[Kip]

Its rare, but mine has a tendency to lose its prime and stop the flow through.

my c-reactor is force fed... also.. if the flow stops... the pH controller w/ probe in the main chamber will tell me and stop the co2 for me.

 

[ReefWaters]

Okay, I got the PM Kalk Reactor yesterday and hope to find time to set it up this weekend.

I had a few quick questions since you guys were so helpful.

How many times a day, and for how long, should I turn on the mixing pump?

Im not running it on a float switch, Im running it off of a timed AquaLifter pump. Any suggestions on how often and for how long I should start out running the dosing pump?