Nilsen Kalk Stirrers - Powerhead Questions

[dot]

Question: If you've followed this thread at all you know that I'll need a check valve between my RO/DI reservoir and the reactor. Why can't I feed the reactor on the return line used by the stiring pump? It comes in and makes a 90 degree turn that ends up right next to the bottom of the reactor. Seems like a logical modification.

Your thoughts?

[stinkyreef]

dot

sounds like a good idea, but I would only do it that way if you are using a positive displacement pump as your Rx feed pump. (paristaltic pump)

[dot]

English translation please ...

[stinkyreef]

Use a Litermeter to feed the Rx.

[Geoff]

dot-so you are saying when the feed pump turns on it stirs the kalk because it is facing at the bottom of the reactor? this would work. just keep an eye on the kalk and make sure it does not get high enough to make it into the display.

G~

[dot]

Close, but not exactly. I will still have the stirer. Man that's an odd word. Anyway, I just want to tap into the 3/4" return line from the stir pump to feed the tank with fresh RO/DI water. It's going to have a check valve on it anyway so kalk won't get back into my reservoir.

It was just an idea to tap that 3/4" pipe instead of the main barrel of the reactor. It probably doesn't matter at all. Just a thought.

Something else I've been wondering. Anyone have any ideas on how to feed the reactor with kalk closer to the bottom?

dot

[Geoff]

Originally posted by dot
Close, but not exactly. I will still have the stirer. Man that's an odd word. Anyway, I just want to tap into the 3/4" return line from the stir pump to feed the tank with fresh RO/DI water. It's going to have a check valve on it anyway so kalk won't get back into my reservoir.

It was just an idea to tap that 3/4" pipe instead of the main barrel of the reactor. It probably doesn't matter at all. Just a thought.

i do not think it will matter. why do you want to?

Originally posted by dot


Something else I've been wondering. Anyone have any ideas on how to feed the reactor with kalk closer to the bottom?

dot

why? kalk settles pretty darn quick.

G~

[dot]

Originally posted by Geoff
i do not think it will matter. why do you want to?



why? kalk settles pretty darn quick.

G~

1. Because I never was able to leave well enough alone! LOL

2. Just reading in the other DIY pages about how cloudy the water is after a recharge. No one ever mentioned how quickly it would settle.

[wanareef]

dot

The water that you want is from when the kalk settles out of the water. If you get the water from the bottom and (murrphy's law)by chance pump it into the tank and it settles on a coral, it'll kill it. Remote chance but why do it as Geoff suggested.

My impellor finally bit the "dust" yesterday and will be looking for a replacement. Any ideas?

TIA

[dot]

I wasn't suggesting getting the water from the bottom. I was just looking at alternatives for feeding the reactor with fresh water.

Take a great design and see if you can make it better. If you can't then you're not trying hard enough. Nothing is perfect. That said, I'm not saying my idea is better. Just looking for input.

Pros:

1. One less hole in the main reactor

Cons:

1. Maybe a back-pressure problem if the stir pump is on when the PH tries to feed fresh water.


dot

[wanareef]

My bad.

My water intake from the ro/di tank is on the intake side of the PH on the kalk reactor, so there is "one" hole out to the sump. But I have several holes in the "cylinder" part. If this helps.

Sounds like your kalk reactor is the same design as mine. Got a pix?

My kalk reactor is a diy out of 4" acrylic tube about 20-22" tall, two piece and the intake for the pump takes the water from near the top and forces it down to near the bottom. With a maxi=jet 900, it stirs up the kalk really good to almost the top of the tube. It's called a recirculating reactor.

Not had any pressure related problems with the two PH's.

hth