My slow 135g build - Page 75

JoJo · 07-22-2008, 09:00 PM

ok, i'm still lost...part of being simple minded. so what would yall suggest i do?

i started wiring electrical to simplify water changes, i'll post pics tomorrow

framerguy · 07-22-2008, 11:30 PM

JoJo, keep it simple. You can't go wrong with JFK's build and it obviously works like a champ as he has my most favorite tank of all. kalk reactors are simple by design. Water flows through and pics up calcium hydroxide on the ride.
Does this help or make it more confusing?...

JoJo · 07-23-2008, 06:34 AM

gotcha, thanks alot! what would be the difference in building one like yours and using a 5g bucket in the same way? i know the bucket would hold more volume but is it a down fall to it. JFK has it as his ATO, i would use it just as a kalk reactor. does that make sense?

framerguy · 07-23-2008, 10:07 AM

Yeah, it makes sense and as long as you have an airtight seal on the lid it will work I think. The unit needs to be airtight to keep the calcium in suspension and keep it from hardening and clogging the pump. Put a little cock valve on it so you can drain it a little before opening the top so water doesn't go everywhere (and that is for whichever unit you build).

Octoman · 07-23-2008, 10:12 AM

Sorry to threadjack Jojo, but I have a question about the Kalk reactor...

Wouldn't the reactor provide a level of kalk that decreases in concentration with each dose? Doesn't this make it more difficult to maintain a steady level of Alk in the tank?

framerguy · 07-23-2008, 10:19 AM

It's really more of a pH regulator than a calcium replenisher. Yes, the concentration is reduced after a while and that is how you tell it needs reloading. You put more Mrs. Wages in it than it can dilute. Only so much is going to be absorbed into the water for a full concentration. It doses into the sump to keep the pH up. Once the pH stops staying where you want it, its' time to reload. The "Calcium" reactor keeps the calcium/alk/mag at tank levels but lowers the pH due to the CO2 injection. Kalk helps offset that. ...does that make sense?

Octoman · 07-23-2008, 10:23 AM

It does make sense now Greg! I was thinking you had a set concentrated amount that decreased over time. Now I see that it is constantly replenishing that amount with undissolved lime (at least until it runs out). Thanks! I think I'll be setting a DIY reactor up soon. I really like the idea.

Be sure to post pictures of your setup so I can follow along JoJo!

JoJo · 07-24-2008, 02:41 PM

will do Mark.

i'm ready to acclimate my fish, whats the best procedure?

Octoman · 07-24-2008, 05:37 PM

Drip acclimation is best. You can set up a drip by siphoning through some airline tubing. Tie a loose knot in the tube and make it tighter to slow the drip down.

JoJo · 07-24-2008, 08:22 PM

Thanks Mark, the transfer went good. everyone is being surprisingly active, the 3 Homies as Kim calls them are schooling and enjoying the current. the lawnmower blenny John Deer (again, Kim) is picking at the LR in search of food.

rmlevasseur · 07-24-2008, 10:23 PM

Jo I just use a brute rubbermaid and a powerhead for my kalk reactor. It serves as my ATO. I have one of those cheapie luft pumps that is controlled by the float valve in the sump. The powerhead is set to mix a few hours around noon, and the ATO is on a timer so it only comes on at night when the PH drops a little. I just throw a little kalk in the brute every now and then. Seems to work fine for me. People say those little pumps can clog because of the Kalk but I haven't had to clean mine yet.

Craig Manoukian · 07-25-2008, 12:43 AM

Pics of the fishies JoJo?

JoJo · 07-25-2008, 06:34 AM

Thanks Rob, do you have any pics of it? and how do you determine how much kalk to use?

sorry Craig, here they are

rmlevasseur · 07-25-2008, 10:10 AM

I'll try to snap a pic for you today or this weekend, but its no big shakes. As for the Kalk, I'm really not fussy. I just keep enough in so that the water looks milky when it is mixed. It drips at such a slow rate that it really doesn't do much to my PH at all.

Tru2nr · 07-25-2008, 12:11 PM

hey jojo lookin real good guess what...next sunday im pickn' up my 75g RR tank and stand hahahahahaha

07-22-2008, 11:30 PM	#1112 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,651 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build JoJo, keep it simple. You can't go wrong with JFK's build and it obviously works like a champ as he has my most favorite tank of all. kalk reactors are simple by design. Water flows through and pics up calcium hydroxide on the ride. Does this help or make it more confusing?... __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

07-23-2008, 10:07 AM	#1114 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,651 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build Yeah, it makes sense and as long as you have an airtight seal on the lid it will work I think. The unit needs to be airtight to keep the calcium in suspension and keep it from hardening and clogging the pump. Put a little cock valve on it so you can drain it a little before opening the top so water doesn't go everywhere (and that is for whichever unit you build). __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

07-23-2008, 10:12 AM	#1115 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,652 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: My slow 135g build Sorry to threadjack Jojo, but I have a question about the Kalk reactor... Wouldn't the reactor provide a level of kalk that decreases in concentration with each dose? Doesn't this make it more difficult to maintain a steady level of Alk in the tank? __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

07-23-2008, 10:19 AM	#1116 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,651 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build It's really more of a pH regulator than a calcium replenisher. Yes, the concentration is reduced after a while and that is how you tell it needs reloading. You put more Mrs. Wages in it than it can dilute. Only so much is going to be absorbed into the water for a full concentration. It doses into the sump to keep the pH up. Once the pH stops staying where you want it, its' time to reload. The "Calcium" reactor keeps the calcium/alk/mag at tank levels but lowers the pH due to the CO2 injection. Kalk helps offset that. ...does that make sense? __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

07-23-2008, 10:23 AM	#1117 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,652 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: My slow 135g build It does make sense now Greg! I was thinking you had a set concentrated amount that decreased over time. Now I see that it is constantly replenishing that amount with undissolved lime (at least until it runs out). Thanks! I think I'll be setting a DIY reactor up soon. I really like the idea. Be sure to post pictures of your setup so I can follow along JoJo! __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

07-24-2008, 05:37 PM	#1119 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,652 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: My slow 135g build Drip acclimation is best. You can set up a drip by siphoning through some airline tubing. Tie a loose knot in the tube and make it tighter to slow the drip down. __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

07-24-2008, 10:23 PM	#1121 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build Jo I just use a brute rubbermaid and a powerhead for my kalk reactor. It serves as my ATO. I have one of those cheapie luft pumps that is controlled by the float valve in the sump. The powerhead is set to mix a few hours around noon, and the ATO is on a timer so it only comes on at night when the PH drops a little. I just throw a little kalk in the brute every now and then. Seems to work fine for me. People say those little pumps can clog because of the Kalk but I haven't had to clean mine yet. __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

07-25-2008, 12:43 AM	#1122 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 18,343 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build Pics of the fishies JoJo? __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

07-25-2008, 10:10 AM	#1124 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My slow 135g build I'll try to snap a pic for you today or this weekend, but its no big shakes. As for the Kalk, I'm really not fussy. I just keep enough in so that the water looks milky when it is mixed. It drips at such a slow rate that it really doesn't do much to my PH at all. __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

07-25-2008, 12:11 PM	#1125 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: My slow 135g build hey jojo lookin real good guess what...next sunday im pickn' up my 75g RR tank and stand hahahahahaha __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

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