Adding a Kalk Reactor! Whats the Best way to dose?

[Biglurr54]

I am switching over from 2 part to a calcium reactor. With the switch, I am adding a Kalk reactor in hopes to keep PH high and stable. What’s the best way to go about this? I have many different thoughts and they will all work but I’m not sure which is ideal.

Should I maximize the amount of Kalk I dose? If I do this, then the calcium reactor will be difficult to dial in to dosing only the limited amount needed at this time. As the system grows, it will be more dependent on the Calcium reactor. I will not benefit from the trace elements from the CaRX with this method but my ph would be high and stable. It is also more expensive to run Kalk at saturation vs CaRX.


Should I dose 1/3 of my calc alk requirements through the Kalk reactor and let the Calcium reactor make up the rest? This will add more of the trace elements and save some money from the calcium reactor.


Should I dose mostly the calcium reactor and have the apex dose Kalk if the ph falls below a set point. This will use very little kalk but will not be stable as the calcium and alk will increase when dosing kalk. This will maximize the cost savings and trace elements of the CaRX but will not be stable.


I am using a Geo KR618 and BRS Pharm Kalk. I have a 20 gallon ATO container that the kalk will pull from. I’m not sure what to use for a pump to push through the reactor. I was originally going to use a Masterflex and run a 24 hour drip that will make up for the evaporation. I have also been thinking about doing a meterliter or masterflex and have it does every hour for x amount of time.


Im not sure of the best approach to dose the kalk in relation to a calcium reactor. Any advice from those running CaRX and KalkRX?

 

[jda]

The first approach for me would be to tune your CaRx appropriately so that no excess co2 is in the effluent - this will keep your tank pH from barely moving. Mine moves less than .05 and that is all. This requires checking dKh and measuring MLs of effluent and bubbles to get a baseline.

If you do not want to do this, then I would keep the two separate and dose the kalk SLOWLY at night when the co2 drops after photosynthesis is over.

Dosing both can get tricky. If you use a pH probe, then you might cut off some kalk early and then not add as much calcium and carbonate and you can fall behind. If you do not use a pH probe and just program a steady supply, then you can drive the pH too high if you add too much on a day when your pH is not low (like when the windows are open).

I would seriously just get the CaRx running and tuned (without a pH controller) and see if the pH is a problem in the tank. Then, figure out the kalk reactor if you need to.

 

[Biglurr54]

I'm hoping the carx will be stable. It's running off a masterflex and I'm building a custom co2 reactor so it should be stable.

I'm running a fuge opposite light cycle as well. I figured the addition of kalk can't hurt keeping things stable.