Calcium Reactor, kalk reactor?? which one?

[imcosmokramer]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

Another issue you might have is kalk back syphoning into your ATO water holding reservoir. I bring this up because its a problem that I have been having and if your fresh water tanks are using the same reservior they could end up being supplemented with kalk too... I've tried adding a small check valve. It jammed open within a few weeks so I dont know what you can do to prevent this.

I've used the new tunze check valve, it's worked well.
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MadamRedButterfly cam

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by xtreme

Have you considered 2-part dosing? If you already have a PLC it can't be that hard to set up a couple dosing pumps.

No, I havn't explored that avenue yet. Most dosing pump's I have seen are expensive. I'm a cheap, DIY kinda guy LOL

Is there a good read somewhere? Cause I got till Tomorrow Noon to figure out what which way I'm gona go LOL. headin to Van and the stores Wed.

[mark]

again no experience on this but from reading, seems a good DIY doser for two part can be a couple of Drew's Dosers or even a Aqualifter pump and individual timers or since you have a PLC, control the AC receptacles as required.

The Drew's come in a few different ml/minute sizes.

Check this thread, some pictures and gives an idea how much to dose

[banditpowdercoat]

I actually like the Aqualifter idea. Hmmmmm

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by imcosmokramer

I've used the new tunze check valve, it's worked well.

Thanks I'll have to take a look and see if I can find one of those. I used a Mur-Lok check valve. It added a lot of resistance and then became plugged pretty quickly. I tried cleaning it a few times but it just kept sticking open.

[banditpowdercoat]

So basically you make up a concentrated batch of Ca and a batch of baking soda, Use the Aqualifter to dose these? Thats cool. I allready use ChemMaster's Ca and Mg in my New SW and manual dose. Why didn;t I think of automating it I dunno?? LOL

[PoonTang]

Dan you could move your tank over to its own top up system if you have the room and then just use kalk in the top up resevoir. This is the system i have been using for the last 3 years. Old salt bucket, timer, MJ400. I just vary the amount of kalk i add to the bucket to match the uptake by the corals. I dont know if your wife will be ok with adding the powder and refilling the bucket tho? Having said that tho i will be moving to a 3 part dosing unit when my current supply of Kalk runs out. Pretty much set and forget and just refil the resevoirs as needed. You shouldnt have any troubles getting 3 weeks out of it before any attention is required.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya, no room. And I would like the sys to not need refilling for 15-30 days LOL, I don't want much. I'm working on a 1g/d auto water change too, that will last 30 days. but again, comes down to room. I'm pretty limited.

[o.c.d.]

I used 2 part for years then went to a dosing pump for 2 part and had nothing but problems. Constantly having to check the lines, the tubes, ect. They would crud up something fierce. The accuracy of doses was in question also small doses throughout the day just didn't work I had to do full daily doses all at once. Finally after spending way too much on the replacement tubes I looked into a Calcium reactor. Now I've been running it for about a year and love it. The Tank is happier than ever. I should say I also looked into Kalk unit and thought it to be too much of a risk.

[banditpowdercoat]

I'm gona try the Aqualifter style for a while here. I allready have controllers, accutate to 1/10 sec and programable for as many dosings a day as I want. It seems like the cheapest route for me