Running Kalkwasser & Calcium reactors in tandem

[Mouse]

Does anyone here run a kalkwasser & a Calcium reactor in tandem? If so could you please explain the procedure of running them together. I plan to do this eventually with the 'new' IKS aquastar, apparently it has functions for this. How do you incorporate the topping up of fresh water, is this only done with the Kalkwasser Reactor, or is there a second pump? Appanrently this system kicks out some sereous calcium levels without affecting PH. And the Kalkwasser reactor can even be used to controll PH drop at night.And because the PH is managed by running in tandem you can have both reactors really pelting it.

Who's dunnit?

 

[Titus]

Hey Mouse,
I don't run both Kalk and Ca Reactor. If you are concerned with pH drop, have you considered running a reverse lighted refugium in your sump or something similar to that? I mean, going for Ca Reactor is to avoid mixing Kalk. At least that's one of my reasons.
For top off, you can top off using pure fresh water. Nothing needed to be fancy here. There are auto top offs you can get for like $60 or less.

 

[ReefMon]

I've been running my K2R and adding Kalk via a dosing pump for 2 years now.

It's the best, you get the advantage of the reactor with the minimum of CO2 used, and the kalk keeps my pH up in the 8.1-8.3 range, plus you get the phosphate removal benefits of kalkwasser to boot!

Mouse, I have never heard of this IKS aquastar, so i cant help on that... what's it all about, got a link?

[ July 05, 2001: Message edited by: ReefMon ]

 

[Mouse]

Titus, thanks for your reply. I will also be running a 24 hour photoperiod refugeum aswell as the Kalkwasser and Calcium reactors. I shouldn't have to mix the Kalkwasser because the reactor creates the mix for me.

Reefmon, glad to hear some praise about this system. I thought it maybe allong the lines of overkill, but the thought of running both reactors at break neck speeds and playing the PH differential off of each other sound really good. And with the 24 hour refugium and the Phosphate removeing properties of the Kalk hopefully i should get by without any chemical media. Hooray!

Heres the link for the IKS Aquastar. Please be aware that this is the old style. The new one so i hear is coming out very shortly and uses 3 PH probes to controll the two reactors. I think i might be in for some sereous calcium PPM without any affect on PH.

web page

This link should take you to IKS's web site. There centrafugal pumps are made for them by Tunze and the only difference is they have a purple top to them. And there paristaltic pumps are some of the best arround, i would personally place responsibility of the safe keeping of my reef on one of these, v good gear. Also check out the Lunar simulation software on the computer. Its far more advanced than any i have seen, you can even set the longitude and latitude and it will set the moon light to that point on the globe. Im gunna get my little reef spawning, im certain of it. Wish me luck!

 

[SPC]

Mouse thanks for all the great info. I have a question about this technique that I can't understand. It has always seemed to me that Kalkwasser has advantages over Calc reactors, with this system you have shown why is there any need for the Calk reactor? Is the reason to try and get calcium levels to a higher level than any one method can achieve? I understand the convienence aspect of Calk reactors, but with this system it appears that the addition of Kalkwasser has been made alot easier.
Steve

 

[Mouse]

Because the affect Kalkwasser has on pH, conventionally you can only add it at night when the pH of the aquarium drops. If you were to add it in the day it would have a far greater effect on pH than Calcuim reactors ever would. Therefore when making the choice of using one or the other the Calcuim reactor makes more sence for ease of use and overall system stability. But if you use the Calcium reactor at a higher rate of production then it will affect pH because of the ammount of C02 being injected, this then allows the addition of the Kalkwasser in the day because the pH is in need of perking up to counter act the increased C02 level being released into the tank.So eventually you can run it so that they both run at full whack bouncing the pH up and down between user defined peramiters. Nice!

 

[Nathan1]

It seems to me you are taking the Rube Goldberg route to the achieve the same ends that people who only use kalkwasser or only calcium reactors can already achieve.

It's an interesting idea, yes, but is it really necessary to go to such complex and extravagant lengths just to have your levels so damn high that you get micro precipitation or even worse a massive fallout? You can only go "so high", there *IS* a cieling limit you know.

I know a lot of people that use calcium reactors and STILL GET A PH OF 8.2-8.4, with very high calcium and alkalinity levels. And this is even before the "invention" of dual chamber reactors, which allows your reactor to use up extra CO2 and not depress your pH as much.

Also I know a few people who use kalkwasser reactors with very little trouble and maintain a low enough pH to be able to have very good calcium and alkalinity levels.

Help me understand the point of all this complexity and how it will be significantly better than a simple calcium reactor or dosing kalkwasser via kalk reactor.

Thanks!

-Nathan

SPC, "Calc reactor? Calk reactor? "Huh? Do you mean Calcium reactor or Kalkwasser reactor?

[ July 06, 2001: Message edited by: Nathan ]

 

[jdeets]

I run a calcium reactor ONLY. My morning pH is 8.3 and evening is about 8.55-8.60.

I do have a refugium lighted with a 27W LOA fixture only during the dark period. Lighting is 3x175W MH and 440W of VHO over a 180G system.

I recently upgraded from a 115G system to the 180. I had terrible pH crash in the old system and had to use kalk to keep it stabilized. Not a problem in the new system.

I drip the effluent from the Ca rxr into the refugium, as presumably the macroalgae in there will synthesize some of the excess CO2 before it ever gets into the main system.

 

[dfladermaus]

I run a precision marine reactor and a Kalk doser in tandem. They are hands down awesome. I pass all my top off through the kalk reactor while still getting the benefits of the ca reactor. Reefmon is right that you get all the benefits of both this way. I wouldnt run my tank any other way.

Nathan, I dont dose heavy on either side. I figure, I have to add top off, why not treat it extra special with some kalk, gets out leftover po4 from rodi, plus it boosts the pH, Ca, and alk in the tank. Also, I dont run the reactor as hard, saves on CO2 and lowered pH from effluent. I dont get mineralization or ultra high ca levels either. Ca is around 450ppm, alk around 275 ppm caco3.

[ July 06, 2001: Message edited by: dfladermaus ]

 

[SPC]

Nathan, sorry I meant calcium reactor.
I ran a thread last week asking the question if anyone had used a Kalkwasserreactor but got no response, is this what some of you guys are talking about and some another method? I am a bit confused.
Steve

 

[dfladermaus]

I specifically made a reactor for Kalk. I basically followed some directions found in a thread on reef-l, sorry dont remember who posted it or the website. I used a 5 gal bucket, a 3/4" p-trap and whala...i had a reactor. Very simple and I use my autodoser as my mixer so it keeps it real simple. I will try to post pics.

I found the page I got it from,
Kalk Reactor However it doesnt seem to load. Again I will try for some pics

[ July 06, 2001: Message edited by: dfladermaus ]

 

[cstar]

Mouse,

Sorry for the off topic post but I noticed you live in London, as I do. Can I ask where you like to do your shopping?

Regards,
cstar

 

[Anonymous]

{}