I DIYed a kalk reactor setup with my ATO with Apex pH control.
The reactor was made with a sewage 4" PVC 5 feet tall, the base from a PVC cap. I drilled 4 holes on the side. 2 holes were to plumbed to an Eheim pump for mixing the kalk many times a day, the other 2 holes allow fresh RO/DI water from the ATO to flow into the reactor pushing kalk water out to drain by gravity into the sump. It is not sealed and there is no pressure.
I initially hard plumbed the ATO input, but after problems with siphoning, I simply placed a 1/2 inch PVC pipe inside the reactor and inserted the ATO line inside the pipe. Water flowing through the pipe will exit at the bottom of the 1/2inch PVC and push kalk water out the top of the reactor.
I was concerned about maintaining a relatively stable pH range, and with significant fluctuations in the amount of RO/DI ATO needed during the day due to variable evaporation of water came up with a simple solution.
I obtained 2 solenoid valves, one NC, the other NO. The 2 valves are powered by the same Apex outlet. The line from the ATO was split into 2, one through the NO valve which then drips into the kalk reactor, the other line goes through the NC valve and drains directly into the sump. The Apex outlet is programmed to turn on when the pH is higher than 8.35. If the pH is lower than 8.35 the flow goes through the kalk reactor as the outlet is off and the path will be through the NO valve, if the pH is more than 8.35, the NO valve closes, the path will be through the NC valve directly to the sump.
The reactor was made with a sewage 4" PVC 5 feet tall, the base from a PVC cap. I drilled 4 holes on the side. 2 holes were to plumbed to an Eheim pump for mixing the kalk many times a day, the other 2 holes allow fresh RO/DI water from the ATO to flow into the reactor pushing kalk water out to drain by gravity into the sump. It is not sealed and there is no pressure.
I initially hard plumbed the ATO input, but after problems with siphoning, I simply placed a 1/2 inch PVC pipe inside the reactor and inserted the ATO line inside the pipe. Water flowing through the pipe will exit at the bottom of the 1/2inch PVC and push kalk water out the top of the reactor.
I was concerned about maintaining a relatively stable pH range, and with significant fluctuations in the amount of RO/DI ATO needed during the day due to variable evaporation of water came up with a simple solution.
I obtained 2 solenoid valves, one NC, the other NO. The 2 valves are powered by the same Apex outlet. The line from the ATO was split into 2, one through the NO valve which then drips into the kalk reactor, the other line goes through the NC valve and drains directly into the sump. The Apex outlet is programmed to turn on when the pH is higher than 8.35. If the pH is lower than 8.35 the flow goes through the kalk reactor as the outlet is off and the path will be through the NO valve, if the pH is more than 8.35, the NO valve closes, the path will be through the NC valve directly to the sump.
