Kalk reactor question

[roundman]

I have one of the flying army DIY Kalk reactors and used in on my system before I upgraded to the fish room in the basement. I was using it with my ATO then but have over doubled my volume and don't want it on the ATO. I have it set up with an aqualifter pump and a timer just not sure how long or how often(multiple setting timer) per day to help with my alk.

I know there will be many opinions on this but would really appreciate the input.

Thanks

 

[weaglereefer]

On: enough

Off: not too much




It'll be something you have to mess with. Figure your old evap rate, and set it at that for now. Then adjust accordingly. For example, set it to add some water every 4 hours for like a minute or two (Aqualifters do roughly 3gph), so that will be between 1/3 and 2/3 gallon, give or take. Keep an eye on your alk levels. If they drop off, you need the kalk to come on more often or for longer.

 

[Jaycen B.]

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I just set mine up via gravity feed to do a constant drip 24/7.</span></span>

 

[weaglereefer]

Jaycen B.;537709 wrote: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 13px">I just set mine up via gravity feed to do a constant drip 24/7.</span></span>

That's the way I want to do mine, but as the water level in my top off water container goes down, so does the drop rate since the pressure drops. I'm thinking of hooking up a small pump like an Aqualifter and just valving it down.

 

[grouper therapy]

jaycen b.;537709 wrote: <span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">i just set mine up via gravity feed to do a constant drip 24/7.</span></span>

+1

 

[weaglereefer]

Grouper, does your drip rate vary with the amount of water in the top off container?

 

[Jaycen B.]

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I have a maxi mini in my ro reservoir with a ball valve before the reactor to keep a consistent drip rate <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">so it doesn’t matter what the water level is at.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: 13px;">We’ll se how long that lasts. </span>
</span>

 

[eric b]

au01st;537717 wrote: Grouper, does your drip rate vary with the amount of water in the top off container?

Groupers is not in his top off container. It is a separate system that drips 24/7....

 

[grouper therapy]

au01st;537717 wrote: Grouper, does your drip rate vary with the amount of water in the top off container?

no it is a fifty gallon tank that ato itself daily

 

[weaglereefer]

grouper therapy;537725 wrote: no it is a fifty gallon tank that ato itself daily

Ahh, ok.

My plan is to get a 1g jug to drip from, hang it inside my top off container, and use an Aqualifter to pump into that. Excess will just through a drain hole back into the water below. Either that, or valve the Aqualifter...I'm still on the fence.

 

[roundman]

Well I decided to just have a valve on the aqualifter and take water from the sump to feed the reactor and have a slow drip back into the sump.

Thanks for the inputs and discussion

 

[grouper therapy]

roundman;537940 wrote: Well I decided to just have a valve on the aqualifter and take water from the sump to feed the reactor and have a slow drip back into the sump.

Thanks for the inputs and discussion

You want freshwater feeding the reactor not saltwater.

 

[roundman]

OK not sure why but ok. Thought I had it figured out then. That makes it more complicated....LOL

 

[grouper therapy]

roundman;537973 wrote: OK not sure why but ok. Thought I had it figured out then. That makes it more complicated....LOL

Mixing it with saltwater will cause a precipitation of magnesium and calcium carbonates and hydroxides.

 

[roundman]

OK went and redid the plumbing and cleaned out the reactor. Now have to watch to make sure I don't overflow anything.