Why does kalk need a reactor?

[fryman]

I've used kalk a long time. Originally in the topoff water, then more recently using a doser. Nowadays I just mix up 5-10gallons of kalk at max concentration and dose this to my tanks.

I keep seeing advertisements and reviews for kalk reactors, and I can't figure out what advantage they have over a 5gallon bucket. They seem more expensive and more work than the bucket/doser combo. Are they able to dose more kalk, maybe like a slurry? I do have a tank that needs AFR in addition because the alk consumption is too high for just kalk. So if a kalk reactor is able to somehow get more alk in the tank per day then I could understand that.

Please educate me.

 

[PPBlimpy]

kalk reactor is smaller basically. Just dump a ton of kalk powder, it will mix to saturation and you push RO water thru it to feed the tank. Once a week or so depending on useage, you refill the reactor with more kalk.

I used to run a 50g drum of saturated kalk So I only had to mix every month.
a kalk reactor takes up a lot less space, but no you can't shove any more thru it then drum / bucket and doser.

If you need more it sounds like its time for a CalRX, or some big fans to up your evaporation as a temp solution allowing for higher dosing of Kalk daily.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The only advantage to a reactor is space. It does not allow any more alk to be dose, and may actually deliver less since many reactors seem to not saturate the effluent.

 

[helmsreef]

You don't need one, I used to use a 30 gallon container and premix my kalk for a month at a time but switched to a GEO kalk reactor. They use a pump instead of a stirrer to mix properly. I did this so I didn't have two reservoirs next to my tank

 

[exnisstech]

I may be wrong but I think a kalk stirrer can deliver a super saturated kalk salution allowing kalk to be used if the amount needed is more than then tanks evap rate.

 

[fryman]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't consider the space saving aspect. Sounds like it's just not for me.

The tank that I can't keep up w/ alk consumption via kalk is just 16gallon, so I think a calcium reactor would be overkill. Kalk + all for reef seems to work well though.

 

[exnisstech]

Many run AFR and kalk, often dosing kalk at night to help with pH.

 

[areefer01]

The only advantage to a reactor is space. It does not allow any more alk to be dose, and may actually deliver less since many reactors seem to not saturate the effluent.

Not only that it needs more attention, refills, than a larger container. Market driven need In my opinion anyway.

 

[Project1004]

I recently switched from fully saturated kalk in a 5Gallon buckets dosed via kamoer continuous doser to avast Kalk stiller with versa continuous doser due to kamoer pump failure.

But I had another reason to consider changing. I was mixing bio-fuel with Kalkwasser solution…. I am no longer mixing solutions… Simple carbon like vinegar is known to be okay (used it for few years) but not the complex carbon sources like bio-fuel or bacteria ball etc…. (Used for last year).

I am under impression the high pH of Kalkwasser will interact with other compounds from the carbon sources when mixed… resulting in mixture that has precipitated and is probably not the best.

I had this kalk stiller and the kamoer doser in hand from barter I did with mp10’s. I was mixing 5Gallon buckets and will change it out once a week. I would rinse the bucket and mix (carbon and kalk) for 3-4mins and have it ready. Worked good. But I do travel for work and there are times I do travel longer than 2 weeks. To make this simpler, I have gotten 15Gallon ATO and am using the kalk stiller. I will just put a cup of kalk into the reactor and should be sufficient. I also am using ESV 2pt for complimentary dosing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I may be wrong but I think a kalk stirrer can deliver a super saturated kalk salution allowing kalk to be used if the amount needed is more than then tanks evap rate.

Ok, yes, one can do that with either a reactor or a stirred reservoir, but I urge people to not go that route as it will be extremely hard to control and/or reproduce that potency day to day.