emissary November 23, 2006 November 23, 2006 At some point in the I hope not too distant future, I will buy a Kalk reactor of some sort. Maybe even the overpriced Deltec one. Which raises a question -- is there a Kalk reactor you recommend? Secondly... I can hook the thing up directly to my RO system. Should I do this? IIRC there's a risk here that potentially it could just keep kalking and kalking... So what other equipment do I need? I've seen float switch and dosing pump. If I'm not using the RO direct hookup then I could keep a freshwater resevoir in a 5G bucket with a dosing pump yah? But If I go the RO direct hookup then I'd have to use a float switch? I'm not very familiar with some of the technologies here so I'd appreciate any information/pointers you can provide. Or... would the Tunze osmolator with calcium dispenser fit the bill all by itself? In comparison to the Deltec, it seems cheap for the functionality/reliability that you get. Thoughts?
mutley29 November 23, 2006 November 23, 2006 (edited) Hi Yanek I have my Geo's reef Kalk reactor hooked up to my RO/DI reservoir which is controlled by 2 Reeffanatic float switches, and to prevent accidental jamming/malfunction of the float switch it's on a timer which allows 10 mins of top-off a couple of times a day then shuts off. So far coming up on 1 year with this setup, no problems in over dosing Kalk, the only trouble i did have was a faulty check valve which allowed kalk water to siphon back into my reservoir and gave me an instant snow storm when i mixed a batch for a water change. As for which brand to recommend, i've only ever used this one and had no problems, it has a MJ as a mixing pump on a timer that stirs 4 times a day for 10 mins, i don't think kalkreactors have to as fancy as skimmers or Ca reactors, having said that i love my Deltec PF501 Ca reactor. HTH Anton At work, unable to stuff my face with turkey Edited November 23, 2006 by mutley29
emissary November 24, 2006 Author November 24, 2006 Hi YanekI have my Geo's reef Kalk reactor hooked up to my RO/DI reservoir which is controlled by 2 Reeffanatic float switches, and to prevent accidental jamming/malfunction of the float switch it's on a timer which allows 10 mins of top-off a couple of times a day then shuts off. Ok, so let's compare. Geo's Reef Kalk Reactor: $225 Level Controller with dual float sensors: $90 GeoTotal: $315 Tunze Osmolator: $175 Tunze Calcium Dispenser: $100 TunzeTotal: $275 Pretty close. Is this apples to apples?
dbartco November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Want to talk DIY? I have the same motor/controller as deltec, just need to come up with the acrylic and a few parts. Let me know if interested. Cost around $120. I like tp put with dosing pump and resevoir, and not with the ro unit. That makes me nervous
emissary November 24, 2006 Author November 24, 2006 Want to talk DIY? I have the same motor/controller as deltec, just need to come up with the acrylic and a few parts. Let me know if interested. Cost around $120 Potentially; I'm actually just trying to price stuff out to put on my wishlist. If Christmas doesn't work out, then I'll be more open to the DIY approach
dhoch November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Ok first of all Dougs been talking about doing that since before MACNA (let's see that elbow greese douggie!) As for kalk addition. I'm not really big on it except with dosing pumps (just my 2 cents). The nice thing about a dosing pump is that you will NEVER get too much kalkwasser added to the tank. Nothing to fail etc. And if you get a controllable one you can dose only at night (dan found a good medical grade one for $150...)... Just my 2 cents... Dave
flowerseller November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Emmy, Doug, Elbow grease is available during January in McLean. I have a few paint color stirrers which do similar to the deltec if that's your goal. I haven't found any reason to knock the PH models. I think most failures are operator error induced by a plan not well thought out. I'm on 15 years with the same float switch, still as stable as any doser to this day.
Ghazanfar Ghori November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 I'm using a tunze osmolator w/ a lifeguard? fludized bed filter which has a 3" layer of Kalk sitting at the bottom. So far its been running w/out any problems.
kngfisher November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Emmy, Doug, Elbow grease is available during January in McLean. I have a few paint color stirrers which do similar to the deltec if that's your goal. I haven't found any reason to knock the PH models. I think most failures are operator error induced by a plan not well thought out. I'm on 15 years with the same float switch, still as stable as any doser to this day. I have the Geo Kalkwasser Reactor and it works well....exept the powerhead that runs the unit is making alot of grinding noises after only about 4 months....have not cleaned it and will try to take the thing apart and hope it is not too late.
dbartco November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Ok first of all Dougs been talking about doing that since before MACNA (let's see that elbow greese douggie!) As for kalk addition. I'm not really big on it except with dosing pumps (just my 2 cents). The nice thing about a dosing pump is that you will NEVER get too much kalkwasser added to the tank. Nothing to fail etc. And if you get a controllable one you can dose only at night (dan found a good medical grade one for $150...)... Just my 2 cents... Dave It's been $$$, not the elbow grease that has kept me from completing! In the hobby where everything is $100 (seems like), just have had other priorities. Anyway, Craig is getting itchy, so I hope to finish by Christmas.
ErikS November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Single float & run from the topoff tank - years w/o an issue, though I do clean it on a regluar basis. Like to see the stir design. Plan on building a GEO clone this weekend - just because.
flowerseller November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 Single float & run from the topoff tank - years w/o an issue, though I do clean it on a regluar basis. Like to see the stir design. Plan on building a GEO clone this weekend - just because. I brought 6' of 6" tube and a bunch of sheet to OH for the same reason. Little to do and lots of time. Don't have much glue but I can still cut. Making a new 54" reflector also.
mutley29 November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 kngfisher Mine did the sameonce, after a good cleaning it has worked fine since I have the Geo Kalkwasser Reactor and it works well....exept the powerhead that runs the unit is making alot of grinding noises after only about 4 months....have not cleaned it and will try to take the thing apart and hope it is not too late.
kngfisher November 24, 2006 November 24, 2006 (edited) kngfisher Mine did the sameonce, after a good cleaning it has worked fine since good to know. update.....GEO is powered with a maxijet 400...great pump but mine has already failed....problem with impeller luckly one from mj600 fits in a 400 body :-) really like the work quality of the geo Edited November 25, 2006 by kngfisher
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