Kalkwasser...

[jnarowe]

Nice stirrer. So you keep it stirred all the time and about 4" below th etop, or is hat just on a periodic stir?

I don't really like the pump driven ones which is what led me to mine. It is 8" tube, 26" high. You can see it here between my sumps:

This is after a stir so it is still a bit cloudy, but when in normal operation mode, it is crystal clear when dosing.

 

[matts125]

Nice stirrer. So you keep it stirred all the time and about 4" below th etop, or is hat just on a periodic stir?

I don't really like the pump driven ones which is what led me to mine. It is 8" tube, 26" high. You can see it here between my sumps:


This is after a stir so it is still a bit cloudy, but when in normal operation mode, it is crystal clear when dosing.

nice stirrer as well, I know the problem with the pump ones is pump failure but its just a $15 maxijet and it is easy to clean once every couple months, my stirrer runs for 15 minutes 10 times daily. the drip is crystal clear even when dosing with the pump on.

I think that the pump driven reactor has the advantage over the magnetic ones when it comes to volume of kalkwasser used, if you look where the pump pulls water from is 1/2 to the top so it forces that water through the (mud) and stir's it into a nice slur. the magnetic bars will get stuck with to much kalk...

Just my 2 cents

Matt

 

[ziggy]

Here are pics of my "Pump style". The first is at rest, the second is while mixing. Like Matt, I can also add clear effluent to the tank while it is mixing. I do 20 min. of mixing 7 times a day due to my landscape sprinkler timer.

 

[ziggy]

sorry this is the pic of the reactor at rest. Notice the residue.

 

[jnarowe]

And you sure can keep a lot more in there! My reservation about the pump type is not really the pump problem but the way it mixes. I am really more concerned about kalk fines going into my system. My next reactor will be a stir bar Deltec style.

I don't want to turn this into a debate about reactors, but I do have to say that currently mine seems to be going through the Two Little Fishes much faster than I have ever seen before. Not sure why that is, but perhaps a "purer" kalk will saturate more/faster?

The good news is that my tank pH is on average up by about .10

 

[jnarowe]

sorry this is the pic of the reactor at rest. Notice the residue.

That's barely any residue from what I can see. I guess I really should have taken pics of my reactor with the ESU in it. It basically was about a 1/2" layer on the top of the kalk.

 

[ziggy]

Ix Nah on the Debate Eh.

So do you think it is a "purer" kalk or that it consists of a smaller particulate allowing it to saturate quicker. Refering to coffee, you have course, medium, and fine, which all produce a different saturation level/or "drink" with different potency levels.

 

[jnarowe]

Even better news this morning. My tank did not go below 8.0 pH last night. In fact it was still at 8.04 at 8:30 am. But my alk is slowly climbing and tested at 9.8 last night. I will have to dial down the stirs to level it off.

 

[jnarowe]

Another nice step forward. A full day with no emails from my tank about out-of-spec. pH. That's a first for a few months. I am loving the "higher quality" kalk powder. There MUST be some difference between them for me to get such drastically different results.

 

[ziggy]

So do you think it is a "purer" kalk or that it consists of a smaller particulate allowing it to saturate quicker. Refering to coffee, you have course, medium, and fine, which all produce a different saturation level/or "drink" with different potency levels.[/QUOTE]

 

[Scooterman]

nice stirrer as well, I know the problem with the pump ones is pump failure but its just a $15 maxijet and it is easy to clean once every couple months, my stirrer runs for 15 minutes 10 times daily. the drip is crystal clear even when dosing with the pump on.

I think that the pump driven reactor has the advantage over the magnetic ones when it comes to volume of kalkwasser used, if you look where the pump pulls water from is 1/2 to the top so it forces that water through the (mud) and stir's it into a nice slur. the magnetic bars will get stuck with to much kalk...

Just my 2 cents

Matt

Matt, you got some pics of the unit installed?

 

[jnarowe]

So do you think it is a "purer" kalk or that it consists of a smaller particulate allowing it to saturate quicker. Refering to coffee, you have course, medium, and fine, which all produce a different saturation level/or "drink" with different potency levels.

I think that is possible, but not knowing enough about chemistry, I can't say for sure. I just got through another night without going below 8.0 pH.

 

[GoCougsKev]

The Rowa Kalk lasted about 4 days for me. Over the weekend, my pH did not go above 8.08 on Saturday, so my calcium reactor did not turn on for the day. I also noticed the powder was no longer bright white and had a slight brown color to it and when it stirred, it looked like a rust color. On Sunday, my pH peaked at 8.13 so my calcium reactor turned on for a few hours and then turned off after my pH dropped below 8.10. Monday through Wednesday my pH peaked at 8.07 and my pH fell to 7.79 last night. I dumped the Rowa Kalk which had a rust color to it and cleaned out the reactor this evening and refilled the reactor with 1/4 of Mrs Wages pickling lime. My alk dropped to 7.5 so I used to buffer to bump it back up to 8.0. My calcium levels also dropped to 410, so I bumped that back up to 420.

 

[jnarowe]

Thanks for the update Kevin. I am surprised to hear the Rowa is showing residue so early. When I dialed down my stirrer, the tank alk dropped to 8.0 but the kalk powder is still white as can be.

 

[plack]

OK Whats the problem of kalk fines going into the tank?

I had to look at my older pump kalk reactor to see how it WAS made as it is now a second chamber for a CA reactor and wouldnt ya know it ---it started leaking :-O

Anyway I use a 20 gallon brute and a pum on the bottom every 2 hours its on for 1 minute and then a pump for auto topff pulls it out closer to the top but I am SURE it is not that clear.

I use mrs wages and all thru this thread I kept thinking.

Kalk top off is limited to evaporation so ----

The tank stays the same temp but the room changes a bit seasonaly, as I dont keep my tank room at the same temp all year. But I do keep the tanks temperature constant.

so wouldn't the top off vary and there fore the alk vary depending on the season if ALL u use is a kalk-- also at some point You gotta have a ca reactor or just be dripping constantly calcium as well ?

Sorry if I am rambeling but I really HAVE to nail down my CA/ALK swings They are too big and stunt growth and even getting stn from it ..

I will stop now before I end up messing with anothers post

Paul

 

[jnarowe]

Paul,

So true that kalk top-off is dependent on evap so you will have changes due to that. I allow my tank temp. to swing between 76.5F and 82F. Everyone I know that uses kalk is also running a Ca reactor. That's sort of the whole point to boost calcium addition by maintaining pH at acceptable levels. The Ca reactor pushes pH down, and the kalk pushes pH up. So when you get them to balance each other, you have more calcium going into solution and maintain the alk levels in an acceptable range.

I too have had many issues with corals and alkalinity swings, mostly because I just have not entirely figured out the "perfect" balance. I would give you one suggestion though, and that is to check into the balling method. Your system is well sized for using this system for augmentation and since you maintain very stable water temps., it may be a better way to go. You would get greater control and much better growth and colors by using this method (IMO).

As far as kalk fines getting into your system, there are differing opinions on this, but I err on the side of ZERO. Some people will claim they add kalk powder right to their sumps with no issue, but I have a hard time believeing that based on my own experience as well as of every skilled reef keeper I know.

 

[ziggy]

Hey thanks for calling me a skilled reef keeper:razz:. I to allow no fines into my system. Ive heard that coral may pick it up like plankton. Not sure if thats true, but with it's reactivity(12.5 PH or so in solution) better to error on the side of caution.
Chad

 

[jnarowe]

Ever try to run it through a sock?? :shock:

 

[ziggy]

Ever try to run it through a sock?? :shock:

Tube sock or dress sock?

 

[danno14]

I allow my tank temp. to swing between 76.5F and 82F

Must not be using the Medusa then! That's part of what drove me crazy with it..... the one degree swing allowed before the annoying "beeeeeeeppppp".

Tagging along
D