Kalk reactor, what does it do, and how does it do it.

[witecap4u]

As the topic states, just looking for a breif overview of what it does and how they work. Not trying to build one, so you dont have to get indepth on it.

cs

[JimD]

Simple overview,,,,
A kalk reactor is a device that will allow you to add saturated kalkwasser to your system without the hassle of mixing it in a large container and dripping it. The device is usually a cylinder or a tube that is air tight with an opening on the top to allow for refilling kalk, a pump or a stir bar to mix the kalk with the water, an ro input tube and an effluent output tube. Usually the output is fed via a paristaltic (dosing) pump and regulated by a float switch. The main uses of kalk addition are a more stable Ph (saturated kalk's Ph is 12.4) and the maintenence of Ca and Alk....
Jim

[matt]

You are asking about a kw reactor, not a calcium reactor, right?

Matt

[OldSalty]

BTW, It's also the only really safe way to dose kalk. This stuff can be dangerous if used improperly (Tank Wipeout). Better to use a calcium reactor IMO.

[DustinWayman]

wow, I was just going to ask for some help with my kalk reactor. Mine is made using a 3" PVC tube with a mixing pump on it. I probably have a 1 gallon capacity on mine and so far its working great! I am just trying to get my PH down as teh solution seems to be super saturated. I use a about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar in mine to hopefully make it to a lower PH. Who knows, I am just tying some stuff out right now.

~Dust

[JimD]

Your Ph level can be adjusted by dialing in your mix time, and not dosing until at least 2 hours after mixing. I set mine to mix an hour after the lights go off so it doses a more saturated effluent at night and a less saturated during the day. my Ph is usually 8.1 at night and 8.35 during the day.

[eleyan]

I know this is an old thread i'm repling to, but I was also intrested in knowing how a kalk reactor works. So basicall it keeps mixing the white powder that settles in the bottom of the kalk water back into the mixture to make sure more of it is used? Does this have to be used along with an RO/DI filter/water supply, or can the RO/DI water be manually toped off in the reactor? or maybe a small holding tank feeding to it?
I guess also, the effluent output tube is taken from the top of the reactor, where the clear water is. This prevents any powder kak from entering the tanksince it settles in the buttom becase of gravity.. So is the design always a tall cylinder, or are there other designs where its a small tank (running out of room under my aquarium)? I remember a design for a comercial one that looked like it had some sort of a mesh bag to hold the powder. anyone seen this before?

[JimD]

uhh, lemmee read that a few more times, Ill get back to ya.

[eleyan]

here is a link to the kalk reactor that uses a mesh bag to hold the powder kalk:
http://www.aqua-medic.com/products/filtercomponents/kalkwasserreactor.shtml

has anyone tried one of these before? does the bag actually hold all the powder, or do you still some that presipitates in the bottom of the container?

[JimD]

I personally am not familiar with that reactorso I cant comment on it. Most reactors that Ive seen, used, are tall cylinders fed with ro via a holding tank then into the sump/tank. Do a search here using 'kalk reactor" as the title and youl find a lot of good information.

[Richard]

I've seen some good reviews on the Aqua Medic kalk reactor. You can find the instruction manual at http://www.aqua-medic.de/eng/support/Kalkwasserreaktor-e.pdf . Looks interesting.