My DIY kalk reactor...in progress :)

[Willie McDaries]

I'm in the middle of another DIY project,it's a kalk reactor this time...here's pics

5g water jug from Wal-mart,came with 5g of water that had to be drank before the project began

I cut off the neck down below the cap and a 1.5" PVC pipe fit snugly inside,I glued it in with the multi purpose PVC-ABS glue,that worked great...I then added the 1.5" cross joint and then the 1.5" to 1/2" reducers and the john guest fittings to each side,the input has a hose connected on the inside and the input water will exit on the bottom of the jug which should help to stir the kalk,the other john guest fitting is the output and will be connected to my float valve in the sump,and the threaded fitting and threaded cap on top to pour the kalk powder in.....this will all be gravity fed but I think I could connect my RO/DI directly to it,if the cap will seal without having to tighten it down beyond hand tight

 

[Willie McDaries]

I got it hooked up and running,it seems to be working great,it wouldn't gravity feed like I was hoping,the input to the jug is just too high for the water to flow,I did connect directly to my RO/DI and the jug kept getting bigger but the aqualifter pump is pushing water through it like a champ....I like this better anyway,now I have control as to when it is dosing,it will only run at night,to help with the PH swing

you can see here how I teed into my top off line to feed the jug,I have the aqualifter plugged in with my fuge light so it's only on at night.....the output tube has an air shut off valve to regulate the output to a fast drip...it's working great,I just need a way to stir the kalk now

 

[Willie McDaries]

this was an epic failure,for some reason the top of the jug decided to get some hair line cracks(maybe a bad reaction to the ABS-PVC solvent)and was leaking badly,my floor is soaked again.....it was working great tho...gotta find an alternative to the jug...back to the drawing board again

 

[Willie McDaries]

came up with a new plan....take one of these,the MR1 XL media reactor,and convert it into a kalk reactor

I removed the media strainers and sponges,teed into my ATO water line and connected the AquaLifter pump to feed it with,then added the ball valve to control the water flow into the reactor,this was working great except when the pump was off,gravity took over and it kept siphoning into the sump,I don't want it to continually drip,I want to add kalk at night time only,so I had to figure out yet another obstacle....

easy fix though,I added another tee on the output side to break the siphon and it is higher the my ATO tank so it stops as soon as the pump is off.....

now I just need to figure out a way to mix the kalk....I'm thinking about just ordering 2 Uni-seals and drill into the side of the reactor body to install a MJ 400,like some other kalk reactors are done....

I'd really like to find a slow turning motor like the stirring type kalk reactors uses.....the stirrers gently mix the kalk continually and it's still safe to use while it mixes.....with the pump design,the pump has to be used with a timer and the kalk has to settle back down before it's safe to use again....lots of room for error on my part there

it looks so much better than the big ugly jug though

 

[Jannkahon]

Wow this was cool. Its nice!

 

[Willie McDaries]

I got more done to my kalk reactor...

I used a heat gun and flattened 2 spots in the reactor body for the JG bulk heads,drilled and mounted the bulk heads and had a successful leak test.....

I hooked up the aqua lifter mixing pump and poured the kalk water back in it and got it hooked back in line.....
after the kalk settles back down,I'll plug the mixing pump in and adjust the ball valve until it gently stirs the kalk,it should work great but we'll see......

I'll try to get a video of it mixing after it's in operation and post it too.....

 

[Willie McDaries]

Wow this was cool. Its nice!

thank you,it's working great too

 

[Rhodes19]

Nice job Willie. I like the use for the 5 g jug. Now that's ghetto.

 

[Willie McDaries]

Nice job Willie. I like the use for the 5 g jug. Now that's ghetto.

I wish it has worked,it was a lot less expensive

 

[Willie McDaries]

here's a parts and price list as well as links to the pieces

reactor body--$99.99 NextReef MR1 XL Media Reactor

3/8"npt to 1/4"push connect--$2.99 x 2 Elbow 3/8" NPT x 1/4" Push Connect (Murlok)

1/4" Tee--$3.49 x 2 Tee Union 1/4" x 1/4" x 1/4" Push Connect (Murlok)

1/4" bulk heads--$3.99 x 2 JG 1/4 inch x 1/4 inch Bulkhead - Grey

1/4" ball valve--$6.99 x 3 JG 1/4 inch x 1/4 inch Union Ball Valve

AquaLifter pump--$13.49 x 2 Tom Aquatics Aqua-Lifter Dosing Pump

grand total is $168.88

1 ball valve and 1 Tee is optional,I just added those so I could drain some water out to refill with kalk...that added $10.98 to the total..so it could be built for about $160

 

[Willie McDaries]

I like how this turned out but if I were to do another DIY kalk reactor I'd go with this 1 AVAST Marine Works - K2 Kalk Stirrer Kit - Product Details