Kalk reactor

[Fonchy]

Im new to the Reeftank so I want to say hello to everyone.

I got a couple of questions:

1. does anyone have any plans for Kalk reactor with pictures. I kind of know how to do one but I want to see what other did with theirs.

2. How much Kalk do you add to the reactor, I heard 1 tspn per gal, 2 per gallon and half a bag. would it matter how much I add. (Mrs. Wages pickling lime is going to be used).

3. how do you supply water to your reactor. I was thinking of plumbing it to my 100 GPH RO/DI unit.

Thanks
Armando

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!



where is Broadway, NC? Pittsboro here.

here are my plans and instructions.

G~

[Horace]

I am hearing it is not a good idea to use food grade pickeling lime because it is MUCH more granular than the stuff you get in the LFS. I know it is alot cheaper but it supposedly will destroy your pump very quickly. Just something I thought you should know ahead of time.

[jesspaul]

Originally Posted by Horace

I am hearing it is not a good idea to use food grade pickeling lime because it is MUCH more granular than the stuff you get in the LFS.

Doesn't seem likely. I've been using Ball's for about a year now and its so fine that a sneeze will scatter it far and wide. The biggest problem is keeping the participate from destroying the pump.

[Fonchy]

Hey Geoff, I live like 30 minutes from you, Broadway is about 54 miles from Sanford. I know someone that lives in Pittsboro, His name is Shane. I was going to build something like yours but I dont know how much kalk to use. Is it 1 tspn, 2 tspns or half a bag to the reactor.
Going back to my questions. Can someone give me more input or answer any of the questions. Thanks

[Geoff]

i just put in a couple teaspoons every month or so. i can tell when to change it by the changes in pH in the tank. this was much more obvious when i was running a DSB. now that i am running a BB it does not seem to be near as important. the pH is much more constant.

the pump that i use for my Kalk reactor is the cleanest pump i have. i have gone through a couple of pumps, but most were my fault. check the price of the kalk compared to what a new pump is.

G~

[wanareef]

Originally Posted by Fonchy

Im new to the Reeftank so I want to say hello to everyone.

Welcome

I got a couple of questions:

1. does anyone have any plans for Kalk reactor with pictures. I kind of know how to do one but I want to see what other did with theirs.
No plans but I used a PH on mine just to recirculate the water. It's made form 6" tube, flanges and "O" ring and it's about 26" tall. I can take a pix of it when I get home.

2. How much Kalk do you add to the reactor, I heard 1 tspn per gal, 2 per gallon and half a bag. would it matter how much I add. (Mrs. Wages pickling lime is going to be used).

I just add about 5 teaspoons to the reactor and not worry about it. And I use ESV kalkwasser. Nice fine white powder like substance, oh got carried away.

3. how do you supply water to your reactor. I was thinking of plumbing it to my 100 GPH RO/DI unit.

I have a float switch in the fuge that turns on a PH in the ro/di trash can that feeds the kalk reactor and then into the sump. I manually fill the ro/di can every so often - soon to be automated. I have heard on RC that it's not good to continuelly cycle the ro/di off and on. Chance of "junk" coming through the filter. Also someone in TX did this,hooked up the ro/di to the top off and the water co was cleaning it lines out, with chlorine concentrated amount and killed her tank.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=260522

http://www.weatherson.com/photos/157_top-off.jpg

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&pagenumber=32

Thanks
Armando

[Horace]

That res tank contraption seems to be WAY more complicated that it really needs to be. All this thing really needed to do was to turn on the RO system to fill the bucket when its empty. Why not have a float that when it gets to a low point it turns on the switch and doesnt turn it off until its full???? This is a pretty basic design needed. In fact I think the float mechanism inside a toilet tank works exactly this way does it not??? It just needs a point at which it starts the water to fiill and then another point at which it turns off the water. If you make those two points far apart I think you would have the same effect. Below is a design that I am thinking of....