Geo Kalkwasser Reactor setup

[arc eye]

Hi guys,

I am incorporating a GEO kalk reactor into my ATO system. My plan is to power it with an aqualifter pump. I have tested it out on the reactor and the output is about 2.64 gallons per hour. It's pretty slow, but not dripping. Do you think this is too fast?

Also, how much Kalk are you guys running in your reactors? The instructions said to about a half a cup...............this seems like a pretty small amount to me. Wouldn't this require frequent additions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DonW]

You can put a valve on the aqualifter outlet to slow it to a steady drip. To fast will just precip the kalk. To much calk will cause to much clouding in the reactor so you have to fill more frequently with that mixer design.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Hi guys,

I am incorporating a GEO kalk reactor into my ATO system. My plan is to power it with an aqualifter pump. I have tested it out on the reactor and the output is about 2.64 gallons per hour. It's pretty slow, but not dripping. Do you think this is too fast?

Also, how much Kalk are you guys running in your reactors? The instructions said to about a half a cup...............this seems like a pretty small amount to me. Wouldn't this require frequent additions?

Thanks in advance.

Dose depends on your system. Unless your tank is huge, you are probably currently spiking the alk and PH as that IS a lot!

 

[DonW]

The thing with kalk is that is wont do any good if it precips. If you can keep the high ph effluent from pooling in the sump you wont have precip. You wont have your pumps getting all crudded up with the calcium and magnesium it will be going into the tanks solution instead.

I take the highest evaporation rate and convert that to ml. Divide that by 24 then again by 60. That value is what I attempt to for target the drip rate.
With this the ato will last many times longer. The floats dont get a daily work out and the relays never burn up. Your return pump will thank you also since there will be no high ph water causing loads of precip. Also you will be able to go longer before you max out the ability of kalk to completly supply the system.

Don

 

[arc eye]

Sounds like I need to get myself a valve for the output.

The unrestricted aqualifter/reactor combo took 18 min. to fill a 3 Liter bottle. I believe I am currently topping off around 3-4 liters per day one liter at a time (i.e. the ATO kicks on 3-4 times a day)

With an unrestricted flow rate of 3000ml/18min.= 166.66ml/min.
It would take 1000/166.66= 6min. to dose 1000ml.

I believe your suggested rate would be 3000ml/24hrs/60 = 2.08Ml/min.
At this rate it would take 1000/2.08 = 480min. = 8hrs to dose 1000ml.

8hrs seems a bit extreme. If the tank were to evaporate more than normal, the drip rate would be unable to keep up. The ATO would stay on, but the tank would be evaporating faster than it could be filled.

Did I mess something up or miss something?

BTW the system is about 80g total.

 

[DonW]

Figure over your average evap a little in case you need it the ato will stop the flow anyways. The ato running all day with no precip is better than cycling and precip. Every time the ato turns on shortens its life. So if only turned on once or twice a day verses ten you can do the math. When you dose kalk look for the white cloud when it hits the sw. That is precip. Give it a shot drop a few ml in your sump then just a drop per second. You won't see any precip with the slow dose. The precip isn't doing anything but cause pump damage so why make it happen. Make sure you put the valve on the aqualifter not the reactor outlet.

Don

 

[arc eye]

There is currently a check valve between the reactor and the aqualifter, do you think it matters if the valve is before the check valve?

Thanks

Dan

 

[DonW]

There is currently a check valve between the reactor and the aqualifter, do you think it matters if the valve is before the check valve?

Thanks

Dan

I dont think it matters i dont have a check valve so dont know. Download the instructions for the deltec kalk reactor from deltec usa. There is a good diagram in the pdf file showing how to set up a slow flow reactor a few different way using a bypass, works great.

Don