| Skimmers/Equipment/Reactors Archive Threads about skimmers, auto top off, kalk and calcium reactors, etc. |
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08-04-2002, 09:52 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Van Buren, Michigan
Posts: 190
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Kalk Reactor.
I just finished constructing a Kalk Reactor today for my 120 gallon. I am runnuing a CA reactor and the ALK stays at 12 and the CA is always 350-360. I was thinking about using the Kalk for top off and heard this is the best way. ANYONE else use a kalk reactor?
MROK12
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08-05-2002, 10:20 AM
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#2
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Reefless Reefer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 20,561
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I just got most of the pieces for one over the weekend. I hope to work on it this weekend. What I am going to do is run it inline after my RO. I have my RO tapped into one of my cold water lines in the basement. I then run it upstairs where it will go into my Kalk Reactor. After that it will go to Kent float switch to add it whenever water is low.
G~ |
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08-07-2002, 08:25 AM
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#3
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 49
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I have read that dripping calcium will help maintain your calcium levels but you have to bring them to the proper level first.
I too was going to purchase a calcium reactor...that is until I bought and read Anthony Calfo's book. His method is tested and seems to work and is much easier........mix 1/16 tsp of Kalk in a little cold water (it dissolves quicker in cold water) and add to the main tank over one minute after sundown. That's right....just dump it in slowly. Page 185 if you want to check it out.
Gonna try it...will let you know.
Jacqui
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Romans 3:23
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08-07-2002, 08:37 AM
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#4
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Van Buren, Michigan
Posts: 190
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I have been trying that. I have a Digital meter and have be ndoing that for a month without any real success. I am plumbing the reactor set up into the tank today it will compliment my CA reactor. Here is a pic taken with the Baby CAT LONDON. She loves to be in pictures.
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08-07-2002, 11:08 AM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 49
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Anthony does mention that you hve to test and adjust for your tanks daily needs. Did you do that as well?
Also I use pickling lime instead of Kalk.....so you use Kalk?
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Romans 3:23
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08-07-2002, 05:05 PM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Van Buren, Michigan
Posts: 190
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I tested daily and it did not work out for me. I also use a CA reactor. My alk is always 12 and CA is 350-360 without any supplements.
MROK12
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08-07-2002, 05:18 PM
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#7
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 49
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What should the alk actually be?
There are plenty of people who post that the ideal alk is 3 or 4. What is the truth? I thought mine was high at 9.
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Romans 3:23
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08-07-2002, 07:13 PM
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#8
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Snellville, GA
Posts: 2,224
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It depends which method you are using to measure.....if you are using DKH, you want about 10-14, if you are using meq/l you want about 3-5.....
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08-07-2002, 10:05 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 49
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Ah ha....I didn't know there were two ways to measure, thus my confusion. I am low then because I use DKh. I will correct this directly. Thanks for the clarification.
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Romans 3:23
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08-07-2002, 10:07 PM
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#10
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,155
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Heavenly Damsel, Welcome 
Most people find that using a good 2 part alk/buffer to get the numbers where you want , then using kalk, wherther dripping or a Nilsen style reactor helps, kalk is good at maint but hard to raise alk without problems, FWIW
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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