Calcium Reactor Question

[Mike Lemming]

Hey guys, I pulled the trigger on a calcium reactor today and have been researching a lot about these reactors. One quick question, a lot of people run kalk to keep their pH higher.. wouldn’t that interfere with calcium and alkalinity levels and be counter productive on a device that’s suppose to keep the tank stable? Thanks for the help!

 

[ndrwater]

Personally, I would get the CaRx up and running first before worrying about pH levels. I run a CaRx and have zero issues with my pH. Low is about 8.1, high is about 8.3 in a perfect wave..

 

[Mike Lemming]

I was just curious as I see a lot of talk about kalk and was hoping someone could explain..

 

[ca1ore]

Well you’re not running kalk through the CaRx so it really has no affect that I’ve seen. Kalk will actually add in some alkalinity.

 

[Mike Lemming]

Well you’re not running kalk through the CaRx so it really has no affect that I’ve seen. Kalk will actually add in some alkalinity.

I understand that but i feel like it would bring the tanks alk level up while trying to keep it at a stable number with the reactor..

 

[jda]

The CaRx will be able to keep the numbers as stable as anything all on it's own. You need nothing else to supplement carbonate, calcium, mag, strontium, etc when you use a CaRx.

If you tune the reactor correctly, then it will barely move the pH in your tank - this takes some effort and learning, but it is worth every second of time. If you dump in co2 with a pH controller and solenoid valve, then excess co2 can get into your tank and lower the pH - don't do this.

If you need to raise the tank levels while using a CaRx, then baking soda and dowflake (calcium chloride) are best since they don't have a pH of 12-13 like kalk.

 

[rlman41299]

I run calcium reactor and never had issues with Ph. Some new reactors now have seconday chamber to polish the CO2 out of the effluent (I think that is the purpose of the secondary ). Anyway if you are concerned with Ph, you can run an outside line to your skimmer to pull fresh air and will help with Ph or use a CO2 scrubber.

 

[ca1ore]

Nothing new about a secondary chamber - the better units have had them for decades. Whether a tank has a low ph problem is certainly not helped by using a CaRx, but the fundamental cause is elsewhere. Probably the best advice is to not chase ph, but kalk can be a useful tool used judiciously.

 

[Mike Lemming]

The CaRx will be able to keep the numbers as stable as anything all on it's own. You need nothing else to supplement carbonate, calcium, mag, strontium, etc when you use a CaRx.

If you tune the reactor correctly, then it will barely move the pH in your tank - this takes some effort and learning, but it is worth every second of time. If you dump in co2 with a pH controller and solenoid valve, then excess co2 can get into your tank and lower the pH - don't do this.

If you need to raise the tank levels while using a CaRx, then baking soda and dowflake (calcium chloride) are best since they don't have a pH of 12-13 like kalk.

Awesome! I don’t care for kalk for the simple fact that it’s so messy. I appreciate the help!

 

[Mike Lemming]

I run calcium reactor and never had issues with Ph. Some new reactors now have seconday chamber to polish the CO2 out of the effluent (I think that is the purpose of the secondary ). Anyway if you are concerned with Ph, you can run an outside line to your skimmer to pull fresh air and will help with Ph or use a CO2 scrubber.

Cool. I just got a reactor with a small secondary chamber so I hope it works as advertised!