Kalk is letting me down

Devonjevon · Mar 30, 2012

Ok I am a very strong supporter of kalk but I am having issues. I have a heavily stocked sps and I actually had no problem maintaining calcium and alk. But since my latest LED purchase my tank does not get hot anymore. 78 degrees at the most. I've gone from 1.5 gallons evaporation to less than .2 gallon a day. In 24 hours my JBJ ATO turns on once. Kalk isn't enouph at this evaporation rate.
I have 2 part going now to suppliment but im going threw 500 ml a day and it will start to add up quickly.

So with heavy heart I think I need a calcium reactor.
So what's a good one out there?
What's recommended if you were to get one?
Where locally do I get C02?

Oh yeah 110 gallon tank 40 gallon sump
Don't yet have a controller so ima need that to I guess.
So when do you start seeing a profit when changing to LED?

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Dowtish · Mar 30, 2012

Haha....Most folks already have a controller and calcium reactor first.

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pickupman66 · Mar 30, 2012

Devon, you can get the CO2 at any welding gas/ welding supply store. the tanks are somewhat expensive, teh gas is like $17 a tank. If it were me doing it, I would check out the sales forum for a name brand used reactor. it should come with everything you need. As for the controller for it, you can:

1. run them without a controller and base the Co2 off the bubble count
2. get a stand alone controller form Milwaukee or Pinpoint that will just control the Solenoid valve alone ( I use this method)
3. get a full tank controller and use that to control the solenoid valve on the CO2.

fwiw, I have a MRC reactor it is a MASSIVE one. make sure you get the ARM calcium media. that is the good stuff. For someone who HATES to dose anything, I love my reactor.

mixer911 · Mar 30, 2012

As far as far as C02 goes I get mine at AirGas in the boro. I only use beverage grade C02.

As lindsey said, you don't have to use a controller, you can use a bubble counter, old school way. That's how I used to do it on my old 300 gal system. You have to just test the alk output of the reactor.

I will disagree with the ARM media. Reborn by 2 Little Fishes is much better. P04 is a lot lower in the reborn by.

chadfarmer · Mar 31, 2012

i have owned over 7 brands of calcium reactors and have gone back to geo, they are super easy to use------ u can get a 612 or 618 and be done i suggest a controller ----

gmoney243 · Mar 31, 2012

I get a lot of evap using my algae scrubber and leds. Maybe you should try running water over some thin screen or something similar to increase evap. I go through 1.5-2g/day on my 180 this way. Just a thought

VegasRick · Mar 31, 2012

Add fans to increase evaporation

haysanatar · Apr 1, 2012

add some vinegar to the top off water..
it makes more kalk stay in solution so you can have a more concentrated solution
Not to mention carbon dosing is good for water quality bacteria eat it up corals eat up some bacteria its win win

Devonjevon · Apr 2, 2012

Oh yeah i am using vinegar with my ATO. Not keeping up

CJO · Apr 2, 2012

I really like using a calcium reactor, but be careful because they will drop your pH and raise your alkalinity. +1 on a fan in your sump to help with evaporation.

CJ

haysanatar · Apr 2, 2012

you must have one intense sps load

VegasRick · Apr 2, 2012

If your tank ca/al load was handled by kw before, simply adding a fan to increase evaporation should fix your problem. Additionally you can add a kw stirrer and feed it from your tank instead of your top off, with a timer or ph control so you don' overdose.
Ca reactors bring about their own set of headaches. The biggest issue seems to be keeping such a small stream constant. It has to be checked regularly. Geo Seems to be popular and easy to use.

phil519 · Apr 2, 2012

+1 to Adding a fan to help facilitate evap.

Seems to be the easiest solution...

xcorallusx · Apr 2, 2012

add fans to your display and sump, I do this and it keeps my tank at a nice temp.

Reefer5060 · Apr 3, 2012

Saw this in our for sale thought I'd share
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83473

haysanatar · Apr 3, 2012

i know I've put a koralia in my ato to keep more kalk in suspension as well..

Poseidon · Apr 3, 2012

Cheap and easies route would be to add a fan as others have suggested.

I used to only use Kalk in my tanks as well, but once I added a Ca Reactor, my SPS really took off! I made a DIY reactor, it was WAY HUGE for what I needed it for, but it worked very well. Here is a gallery link to the build:
DIY Ca Reactor - Mike LaPorte (PerfectPix)'s Photos | SmugMug
You can see in that gallery what happens when you limit the output rather then the input of a pressurized vessel too! (KABOOM!)

I think I spent about $70 in materials, and about $200 in controller, CO2 tank, etc.

If you are not handy, then a GEO reactor is really the way to go!