JFK_Jr's 150 Gallon Starphire

[JFK_Jr]

Originally Posted by Melanie

I'm sort of confused and maybe you can help. I thought the Kalkawasser and the calcium reactor did the same thing? Am I wrong?

They are two different methods of providing calcium to your tank. Here's a simplified explanation.

A calcium reactor utilizes CO2 to lower the PH in the reactor and disolve the media that's in it.

A Kalkwasser reactor basically stirs Kalkwasser powder with R/O water which is then slowly added to the tank via dosing, or as in my setup, through tank evaporation.

The Calcium reactor tends to lower the tank's PH due to the CO2 injection.

The Kalkwasser reactor tends to raise the tank's PH due to the high PH of kalwasser mix.

Bottom line... they offset each other and give you stable paramaters in your reef.

[Melanie]

Thank you for that easy to understand explantion.

So, do you test your Ca level? What does it typically run? Do you operate the Kalkawasser and Ca reactor 24/7?

[JFK_Jr]

Originally Posted by Melanie

Thank you for that easy to understand explantion.

So, do you test your Ca level? What does it typically run? Do you operate the Kalkawasser and Ca reactor 24/7?

My Ca level is usually between 400 and 425. The Ca reactor runs non stop. I usually top it off with new media every 4 months or so. I have a 10lb CO2 tank that lasts about a year between refills. I recently refilled it at a soda fountain supplier for $14.

The Kalwasser reactor is constanly topping off my tank. It has a powerhead that stirs up the powder from the bottom of the container twice a day. I refill it with Kalk powder every few weeks.

[framerguy]

Sweet! Kind of a K.I.S.S. principle on steroids. Thanks so much for the pics.

[framerguy]

I just read your last post. I had a DIY calc reactor with a 10lb CO2 canister and was filling the CO2 tank every month. I must have had a major leak somewhere! I thought it was using to much. I never did have PH problems though, so it must have been just leaking into the room. I've disconnected it since and am just using a similar kalkwasser reactor as yours.

[JFK_Jr]

Originally Posted by framerguy

I just read your last post. I had a DIY calc reactor with a 10lb CO2 canister and was filling the CO2 tank every month. I must have had a major leak somewhere! I thought it was using to much. I never did have PH problems though, so it must have been just leaking into the room. I've disconnected it since and am just using a similar kalkwasser reactor as yours.

Yeah... that definitely was a leak. A 10lb tank should easily last 9-12 months!

[Melanie]

I thought of another question, how do you keep from "overdosing" your tank when the Kalkwasser (and Ca reactor) adds itself and you aren't adding a specific amount? (Sorry for the thread hijack. Your tank is just magnificent and I want to learn from you!)

[JFK_Jr]

Originally Posted by Melanie

I thought of another question, how do you keep from "overdosing" your tank when the Kalkwasser (and Ca reactor) adds itself and you aren't adding a specific amount? (Sorry for the thread hijack. Your tank is just magnificent and I want to learn from you!)

Thanks...

Ok... the calcium reactor needs to be "dialed in". That means that you have to adjust the amount of CO2 being injected into the reactor, and the amount of effluent dripping out of it. You generally have it right when the PH of your effluent dripping out of the reactor is around 6.5. At 6.5PH, the media inside the reactor should be slowly disolving and supplying you reef with a steady dose of calcium and other trace elements. There really is not much danger of overdosing with a Ca reactor, as the media is slowly disolving. The risk of infusing too much CO2 into your tank as to drop the PH dramatically is low to none. The CO2 setup utilizes a precision needle valve to control the amount of CO2 entering the reactor. Also if the power goes out, the guages have an auto cut off to shut down the CO2.

Now... as far as the Kalkwasser reactor... there is a little more risk, not much, depending how you do it. Kalkwasser solution has a very high PH around 12 or something like that. I don't need to tell you what a PH that high would do to your reef...

Some people use a dosing pump, which could be risky if not done right (overdose). My method utilizes the Kalkwasser reactor to make the solution, and it is fed to my sump by gravity. My reactor sits higher than my sump, and when water evaporates from my tank, only that amount of Kalkwasser solution is being added to my system. So there is really a low risk of my tank ever being overdosed with Kalkwasser solution. The only thing that could fail in my setup would be the plastic Kent Marine float valve, which controls the flow of Kalkwasser solution into my tank. The only thing I need to do is keep it clean from calcium buildup. And even then... a failure of that valve would likely mean it gets clogged up and doesn't allow ANY solution from entering my tank.

So as you can see both methods are slowly providing a constant supply of calcium to my reef, which my corals and corraline are constantly using up.

These two methods are nothing like the calcium additives, that can raise your calcium level quickly. It also depends on the demand for calcium your tank has. The more corals you have, the more demand for calcium there will be.

[Melanie]

Thank you so much for your patient (and thorough) explanation.

[JFK_Jr]

My FTS for the day...

[jhnrb]

Nice shot of the system. looking very healthy and clear. congrats.

[JFK_Jr]

Originally Posted by jhnrb

Nice shot of the system. looking very healthy and clear. congrats.

Thanks...

Some macros of my acros...











Millepora pink



Hydnophora

[Frankie]

Looks great!

[lcstorc]

So when I come to visit, how many frags can I take? LOL
Everything looks spectacular as always. Some great new pieces. You have a beautiful variety and all of it looks great.

[Craig Manoukian]

Fabulous as always!

And now from the reef symantics police, the Gonipora is hosting the clowns. The fish are not the hosts.