setting up kalk reactor

[PelagicMagic]

How does this sound...

The kalk reactor's pump and the sp3000 will be controlled by an aqua controller so that the reactor pump and the sp3000 do not turn on at the same time. I will time the sp3000 to match my evaporation rate and fill the kent dripper. This will be a safe guard against pure kalk entering the sump and will drip kalk 24/7.

[OIIIIIO]

Wouldn't you be defeating the purpose of the reactor by having it fill up the Kent dripper? This would expose it to CO2 prior to going into the tank.

[Elegance Coral]

I wouldn't run kalk through the dripper. The line from the reactor to the sump needs to be unobstructed. Kalk clogs to easy. If you want to use the dripper, why not have the dosing pump feed the dripper, the dripper feed the reactor, and the reactor feed the sump?

[PelagicMagic]

I could see the dripper clogging.

Plan B

Remove dripper, Hook a float valve to the aquacontroller to control the SP3000, same as before when the reactor pump is running and 2-3hrs after it has turned off the SP3000 will be disabled to allow kalk to settle. The float valve will allow a more precise top off rate.

[Elegance Coral]

That sounds like a better idea, if I understand the post correctly.

[Hop]

same as before when the reactor pump is running and 2-3hrs after it has turned off the SP3000 will be disabled to allow kalk to settle

Can you define this part a little better? I'm confused, I only run the pump in my kalk reactor twice a day for 1 minute each. As it saturates the water in the reactor there is no reason to keep the pump running.

I've actually thought about hooking my acIII into the ATO rather than gravity feeding the reactor. I was thinking of using a dosing pump to keep the pH more stable and then allow topoff as a separate gravity operated system system. But right now it works well, but my pH is alway pretty high due to the evap rate, especially in the summer.

[PelagicMagic]

The kalk reactor pump will only run for about a minute however when its on the dosing pump must be off.

I also thought about running a seperate top off system however there will be no need for it if I can manage with the kalk reactor and dosing pump.

[PelagicMagic]

Here is how it turned out. After trouble shooting and making sure there is no chance of a siphon this is what I came up with. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE IDEAS.

Aquamedic sp300 feeds the reactor. I connected a aquamedic sp3000 to a float switch to keep the water level. (BTW the aquamedic sp3000 is crap and I will need to replace it with a better dosing pump soon)

A Aquacontroller keeps the kalk reactor pump from turning on when the top off pump is on and vise versa. Kalk reactor comes on for 25 minutes at 02:05

The fresh water reservoir is slightly higher than my sump and if the sp3000 stops with only one wheel on the stantoprene hose a siphon is created. The kalk reactor and sump are almost level. The output tube of the reactor travels above the sump then travels horizontally to a tee fitting which allows air to enter the hose and break the siphon. I ran the system and shut it down with one wheel on the stantoprene hose and I could not create a siphon. However I still do not trust it....

Photos in order of water flow

1) fresh water reservoir


2) feed pump and float switch


3)To kalk reactor then up above the sump to T fitting


4) T fitting


5) From T fitting to sump


The Programming

TOP=Float switch hooked to aquamedic sp3000.
GEO= Kalk reactor pump

If time>02:00 then TOP off
If time >10:00 then TOP on

If Tmr GEO = on then TOP off
If Tmr TOP = on then GEO off

If time>02:05 then GEO on
If time.02:30 then GEO off

I realize that I will need to adjust the time the kalk pump turns on and I am looking for suggestions.

[PelagicMagic]

That did not work, there was still a small siphon. I need to have the reservoir below the sump to avoid a siphon, or go to a small powerhead and get rid of the dosing pump.

[Hop]

You potentially can have a siphon with the AM dosers at anytime due to their dual arm system. Sometimes it just stops in the wrong position. A buddy of mine almost lost his 1000 gallon system because of one. He now swears by the BRS scott's dosing pump or something like that due to it's 4 arm design.

[PelagicMagic]

Do you mean the Drews doser on bulk reef suppy.com's website? I am going to order one.

what do you think about the aqua lifter pump?

[fihsboy]

Steven, I ran a hose from a maxi jet to my sump, I was having major siphoning issues. So I tried to figure it out, ended up splicing the tube in a small spot in the resevoir and inserting airline tubing. Its just enough to break the siphon. I dont know if that helps or not....Ill pm you with pictures later.

[Hop]

Thats the one Sorry I don't keep up on dosers...

Have never had the need for an aqualifter, so I've never had one.

[PelagicMagic]

HOP, how does this look?

I ran the return of the ATO to a 60 gallon soft coral tank that is well above the fresh water reservoir. I ran it today for several hours and did not see a siphon. I even stopped the sp3000 with one wheel on the hose. Logic would prove that a siphon cannot push water above its point of orgin. Is this safe?

[Hop]

As long as the line isn't submerged in 60 gallon cube it should work well.