Calc reactor recomendations - Page 2

jquigley78 · 07-12-2006, 03:00 PM

Some of the DIY two part additives sounded like a good idea. I just didnt know for sure as to whether or not they could handle the calcium load over time, but I guess you could just add more to the tank as long as the two are balanced. I could get another dosing pump and use that to add the two part additives. Does anybody know if can I still drip Kalk as my makeup water while dosing with the two part additives?

Sea monkey · 07-12-2006, 03:06 PM

the two part should work for any amount of calcium uptake , it just requires more daily work than the CA RX . should keep the kalk top off up. it is one of the cheapest and easiest ways of adding calcium.

jquigley78 · 07-12-2006, 03:18 PM

I could get another Sentry II dosing pump with accessories and make enough 2 part additive for probably last 6 months for about $200.00 Vs. $600.00 for an entry level CA Reactor. That sounds good to me. I have been using a Sentry II for 6 months now dosing my kalk and it was worth every penny i paid for it and I would gladly buy another one if it was warrented. Now I just need to figure out about how much I would have to dose per day to keep the Ca over 420.

David Grigor · 07-12-2006, 04:35 PM

You would need 2 dosing pumps as you can't dose the CA and Alk parts together. They have to be seperate.

Definately the 2 part recipe will handle any CA/ALk load you can throw at it. Just not quite as automated as a reactor would be out of the box.

I'm thinking that a dosing pump would certainly work but could be even cheaper with the use of aqualift pumps on a timer to run say 1 or 2 minutes a day or probably every other day. You dilute the solution down to match you needs but the amount per minute flow from the aqualift pumps ( like $12 each ) should be consistant like a dosing pump.

My only thing right now if getting some of the Mag flake locally for 3 part of the recipe. I have plenty of the Calcium chloride portion if you need it since this isn't icemelt season probably hard to find.

jquigley78 · 07-12-2006, 05:20 PM

I think the Sentry has an optional 2-channel set that can be used that works on the same pump but can dose from two solutions. Not quite as cheap as the Aqualifter pumps but could be quite precise down the road. It is amazing how cheap you can do some of this stufff if you do some research and dont just buy things because you want to. That is why i have been asking questions usually a few months before I make any decisions or purchases so that my money is hopefully not foolishly spent (since I dont have much to foolishly spend anyways). I do think I am going to go with the 2-part system now I just need to start collecting some of the items for the recipe.

David Grigor · 07-12-2006, 05:39 PM

I've got lots of the icemel CA chloride you welcome to a 5lb container of it. I think I paid $6. The baking sode can be purchased just about anywhere.

If I understand correctly the 2 channel pumps still pump them at the same time don't they. If they are totally independant would be best so they don't cause precipitation by adding 1 too close to the other.

I'm using a LitermeterIII dosing pump but only have 1 expansion module left ( it will run up to 3 ) so I would have to get another dosing pump or the aqualifter. Since I have a AC JR. that should be able to use as a timer I will probably that first but like you say depends on how accurate day to day.

jquigley78 · 07-12-2006, 07:03 PM

David here are the links to the sentry dosing pumps (although they call them nautillis's). Take a look and tell me what you think.
Pump: http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/pr...nautilis2.html
Two channel adapter: http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/Pages/access.html

I use the sentry(sorry natutilus II) for kalk and I really like it.

HFG · 07-12-2006, 07:48 PM

Back on the calk reactor topic:
David mentioned that it does not have to be made of tube, it can be square. Thats where you can save some big bucks!

David Grigor · 07-13-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jquigley78

David here are the links to the sentry dosing pumps (although they call them nautillis's). Take a look and tell me what you think.
Pump: http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/pr...nautilis2.html
Two channel adapter: http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/Pages/access.html

I use the sentry(sorry natutilus II) for kalk and I really like it.

I'm sure you can get that to work. IMO it isn't ideal. Minimum flow rate is 5ml and hour so you talking 120ml a day minimum. I guess you can put that on a timer to only do 5ml a day ( whilch is probably all you need ). If you let if go 24/7, you would have to dilute your solution. The more flow for the 2 part the less Kalk you can use for top off. Also, I personally would prefer to dose the 2 parts at seperate intervals not at the same time. ideally I alternate the days and just dose one at a time. I don't know what the minimum flow for 1 miniute on the aqualifter would be but at $12 and a timers that can do 1 minute would certainly be cheaper and maybe a little more control as to when you dose.

stuckey_t · 07-13-2006, 11:10 AM

I'm running this pump on my tank right now
http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/pr...nautilis2.html

I currently have it set for 19 ml an hour running 2 channel tubing with Farley's 2 part recipe. With the two channel tubing set you don't get 19 ml of each it might be like 8ml each an hour.....I don't bother measuring it exact as long as my Calcium and Alkalinity levels hold stable from day to day. I'm pretty nerdy about my paramaters and I salifert test about every other day and it holds a calcium level of about 400ppm and 10dkh. I do touch up my levels by hand with kent turbo calcium or coral builder or b-ionic depending on what I have on hand if it wavers to far from what I want.

You can kinda see my pump in the lower right of this picture

jquigley78 · 07-13-2006, 11:35 AM

David, what kind of timer do you have the aqualifter pumps hooked up to? I imagine they would have to be pretty precise to control down to a minute. Just curious but why do you recommend dosing the two at seperate intervals instead of at the same time or even the same day. That doesnt cause ph, Ca, or Alk swings?

David Grigor · 07-13-2006, 12:40 PM

My fear is that dosed to close together ( I guess you can run one tube far away from the other ) may cause to precipitate some out but it Stuckey's working fine then I don't really have a problem with it.

You can get battery operated electronic timers that can be down to 1 minute intervals for about $19. That's what I used once upon a time on a kalk reactor but since have a controller that could do it for me.

jquigley78 · 07-13-2006, 12:59 PM

Which controller do you use? And it can run 2 pumps I suppose.

Sea monkey · 07-13-2006, 02:17 PM

aqualifters arent accurate enough for this are they ?

jquigley78 · 07-13-2006, 02:28 PM

Stuckey, that is what I use as well and I think I am dripping a little less then 1 gallon a day all day long. I havent had any ph issues since I have been mixing the kalk with vinegar. It has worked great since I figured out how much I have for tank evaporation. Nice tank, it looks like you have plenty of calcium in there judging by the corals and the front glass.