Kalk Stirrer

[rrasco]

The most common methods of application consist of mixing the KW in RODI and allowing it to settle before adding to the tank either via ATO, Reactor, or drip. The reason you don't want the particulate in your tank is not because of impurities but because the particulate is undissolved KW. KW can only saturate water up to 2 teaspoons per gallon without the addition of a carbon source, because of this, anything over the saturation level of KW will stay in a solid form, if this solid KW is introduced to your system it could wreak havoc on your pH because it will begin saturating your tank water. You only want to ever dose saturated KW.

This is why when you see KW being dosed via ATO the pump is normally suspended towards the middle of the reservoir, to avoid pulling any particulate from the bottom of the ATO res. At this point, the ATO becomes one large kalk reactor. Although, I want to avoid this method as constantly adding new RODI would cause the slurry to stir up and would need to be allowed to settle down for several hours prior to turning the ATO back on. Reactors handle this by keeping enough KW on hand that the water on top stays saturated and free of particulate allowing it to be dosed into your tank.

[Zen Reef]

I use the same method as Karin for regulating my kalk. And I use Kalk+2 as well. As far as the vessel, I can't see the point of mixing kalk into the ATO reservoir as I'm sure my tank's evaporation rate doesn't match my kalk demand. To me a reactor makes more sense. Saturated limewater is very hard on the lines and pump as well. I rather use more maintenance free methods. The reactor I am I am building will incorporate the benefits of both a stirrer powered by a motor as well as the overflow method powered by a pump. I will have a maxijet feeding the unit with RODI from my ATO reservoir and pushing the water up through the kalk slurry when it is turned on by the RKE --when the PH dips below 8.15. (I use this value because after monitoring it for about a month, I've found that my Ph will only rise to 8.3 max at the end of the light cycle if it starts the light cycle at 8.15.) The rest of the time the stirrer will be constantly on to keep the slurry from completely settling. My goal is to keep the bottom half filled with suspended kalk slurry while the top half is filled with clear and completely saturated limewater which overflows into the sump as needed. The motorized stirrer should be able to keep the kalk from settling. I've gone with this "design"(for lack of a better word as I'm sure I'm just copying ideas from various reactors) so only the discharge line is exposed to limewater while the feed pump and inlet lines will only see RODI. Excited now and will start building it after work.

[Zen Reef]

All done. So far so good. With the stirrer constantly on, the bottom half stays pretty suspended and the top is clear.

[rrasco]

You work fast Tuan. Looks good. I'm interested to know more details. Are you running it on your tank yet?

[Zen Reef]

Thanks..gonna wait till tomorrow to let it get fully saturated. Was a pretty simple build really. I took more time thinking about it then it took to make it..lol. Let me know what details you want, I'd be happy to help.

[Big_Pun]

looks good!!

[Zen Reef]

Thanks. Been running a few hours and I'm satisfied. It does exactly what I hoped.

[Zen Reef]

http://youtu.be/5bKZ038ci00