Passive Cal reactor

[aaronf30]

Can i use a cheap calcium reactor with no co2 to control my ph if attached to a reef keeper? Will this some how have negative effects or just accomplish fixing my low ph problem. does anyone know a cheap passive one
?

 

[biggyclops]

Can i use a cheap calcium reactor with no co2 to control my ph if attached to a reef keeper? Will this some how have negative effects or just accomplish fixing my low ph problem. does anyone know a cheap passive one
?

drip kalk..

 

[naturebatslast]

Can i use a cheap calcium reactor with no co2 to control my ph if attached to a reef keeper? Will this some how have negative effects or just accomplish fixing my low ph problem. does anyone know a cheap passive one
?

Can't do it. You need the Co2 for the reaction to create carbonate.
I'd look into kalk, simple, cheap and prebalanced Ca and alk.

 

[jbishop]

Keep in mind Kalk helps more with making your CA and ALK stable not raising so much. Do a search and I bet you find crazy amounts or info.

 

[MikeG]

Keep in mind Kalk helps more with making your CA and ALK stable not raising so much. Do a search and I bet you find crazy amounts or info.

This depends more on the saturation of limewater in solution. If you have a low demand it can definately raise levels. IIRC the saturation without making a slury or some other method is 2 tbs/gallon although I don't use it so that number could be way off. You are basically limited to the concentration of the solution and how much fresh water can be added to the tank.

 

[jbishop]

This depends more on the saturation of limewater in solution. If you have a low demand it can definately raise levels. IIRC the saturation without making a slury or some other method is 2 tbs/gallon although I don't use it so that number could be way off. You are basically limited to the concentration of the solution and how much fresh water can be added to the tank.

Makes sense. I believe you are right about the 2 tbs/ gallon

 

[jbishop]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php

A simple Kalk drippier with some more information regarding Kalk

 

[aaronf30]

Wow thanks for all the help. This Kalk will help get my PH up?

 

[jbishop]

Wow thanks for all the help. This Kalk will help get my PH up?

yeah Kalk runs something like 12.xxx depending on the concentration used. Thats why you dip so it doesn't cause a fast increase.

 

[aaronf30]

i plan on building this thing tonight looks incredibly easy. He uses it for a ten though...should i build two ? Its a 90 so im guessing that one drip per second wouldn't be enough

 

[jbishop]

You can use a 2 liter bottle, same thing just bigger. You could also add a air pump with a check valve that turns on ever 3 hours on the siphon starter to keep slight pressure in the bottle so you maintain the correct drip rate.

 

[aaronf30]

nice ill do that, a drip rate of 2 time a second probably ok?

 

[jbishop]

Start dripping slow at 1 a second. Then increase if you have to. If it was me i would keep the drip rate slow (1 a second) and adjust the concentration of Kalk to water as needed. Start with 2tbs/gal and do the 1 drip a second. From there if your parameters are not in check increase the concentration of kalk to water (3tbs/gallon) but keep the drip rate the same. Just my .02

Also you can use pickling lime instead of kalk.

 

[afboundguy]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php

A simple Kalk drippier with some more information regarding Kalk

This is what I'm using to drip kalk water right now. I currently upped it to a 1.89L container so I don't have to keep filling up the small bottle. Works great, keeps my calc and alk stable and get awesome growth... Just start out slow and then adjust from there...

 

[aaronf30]

anyone know if they have kalk at petco, just went to supermarket during my lunch and they didn't have pickling lime. That and petsmart are the only two places on my way.

 

[naturebatslast]

Check an LFS or a online reatailer. Maybe even post a WTB thread.

 

[JohnK]

anyone know if they have kalk at petco, just went to supermarket during my lunch and they didn't have pickling lime. That and petsmart are the only two places on my way.

This time of year you can usually pick up "pickling lime" at walmart in the canning section.

Just FWIW, be really cautious and carefully test any kalk drip set up. Too much too fast equals dead tank.....

 

[marine mike]

What is the total volume of your system? I have a 92 but my total volume is around 150. The more your total volume, the less careful you need to be just because it will take a lot more to cause any big changes or issues. I drip about 3 gals. 2-3 times a week with about 6-7 tspns. in the 3 gals. I do it right out of a 5 gallon salt bucket. I just have an air line out of the center of the lid, create the siphon and adjust the drip with a small ball valve at the end. About 1 drip per second or even 2 should be fine. As stated before, don't do it without the ability to monitor it closely so you don't accidently goof. I will drip the 3 gals. over about a 7-8 hour period and I find an increase in ph of about .3-.4 per bucket. I have yet to find the need for a reactor as mixing takes about 2 minutes, then let sit for a couple hours and drip away. I draw from about 1 in. off the bottom of the bucket to avoid the sediment that forms in the bottom. I then mix the next bucket right with the sediment left over from the previous. If your load is not too high on alk/calcium, it will definitely do the job.

 

[stevenp]

I bought mine at Walmart last weekend for $1.50/lb.

Agway normally carries it as well.

 

[biggyclops]

anyone know if they have kalk at petco, just went to supermarket during my lunch and they didn't have pickling lime. That and petsmart are the only two places on my way.

petsmart should have seachem kalk