Kalk Reactor and Neptune Solenoid

[Coolcasino]

Hello all. I thinking of attaching 2 Neptune Solenoids on my kalk reactor and auto top off. 1 solenoid would open if the ph was under a predetermined value and would allow water to go into the reactor and top off with kalk while the second solenoid would remain closed. If the PH would go over the predetermined value it would switch and not let water enter the reactor and just top off with fresh water. The auto top off is the ATK. I attached a pic with a very rough sketch of what im thinking. The orange blocks are the solenoids. A would go into the reactor. B opens to allow water to bypass the reactor. Or could I just do it with 1 solenoid and let the path of least resistance take over? Thanks in advance.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Bump

 

[Coolcasino]

Anybody?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I wouldn't dose limewater (kalkwasser) in this way. The hobby complains that limewater is dangerous and can crash our tanks, but that's because a majority of reefers deliver limewater with an ATO. Topoffs do okay at keeping our water levels stable. They're not nearly precise or safe enough to dose any alkalinity supplement, particularly a high-pH one like limewater. I recommend you dose limewater with a dosing pump, like you would with any other alkalinity supplement.

I would run one freshwater line to the reactor and use the solenoid to operate it like a dosing pump. Have your controller open the solenoid every hour to dose a little bit of limewater. If you notice your alkalinity rising, dial back the hourly dose. If you notice your alkalinity falling, dose more per hour. Let the ATO handle what the limewater dosing doesn't replace.

The only thing you need to watch with this approach is your water level. It's possible to dose more limewater than your tank evaportates per day. But, with an Apex and an ATK, it should be easy to monitor and control the solenoid based on your tank's water level.

 

[KilnCorals]

Anybody?

1) I wouldn’t recommend “plumbing” it that way if you go that route. Kalk can clog lines really easily so I’d recommend separating the two. Program apex also that if the Kalk line got clogged and unit wasn’t topping off, it’d just default and open the straight RODI line.

2) Not sure if you are doing Kalk to replenish Ca\Alk or just buffer pH. Kalk is good and I’ve used that Avast Marine unit. 2-Part is a better option in my view unless you are pairing Kalk with a Calcium Reactor. If you are having ph issues, also check out CO2 scrubber.

My 2 cents. Hope that helps!

 

[Coolcasino]

I wouldn't dose limewater (kalkwasser) in this way. The hobby complains that limewater is dangerous and can crash our tanks, but that's because a majority of reefers deliver limewater with an ATO. Topoffs do okay at keeping our water levels stable. They're not nearly precise or safe enough to dose any alkalinity supplement, particularly a high-pH one like limewater. I recommend you dose limewater with a dosing pump, like you would with any other alkalinity supplement.

I would run one freshwater line to the reactor and use the solenoid to operate it like a dosing pump. Have your controller open the solenoid every hour to dose a little bit of limewater. If you notice your alkalinity rising, dial back the hourly dose. If you notice your alkalinity falling, dose more per hour. Let the ATO handle what the limewater dosing doesn't replace.

The only thing you need to watch with this approach is your water level. It's possible to dose more limewater than your tank evaportates per day. But, with an Apex and an ATK, it should be easy to monitor and control the solenoid based on your tank's water level.

Yes! Dosing kalk is dangerous but im hoping my APEX would make it less risky. Im basically dosing kalk right now with my DOS mainly to help with my low PH. Im basically dosing the excact amount the tank evaporates as the ATK hardly turns on. Was just thinking of doing it this way as maybe I could bring my PH higher as even with a CO2 scrubber my PH is barely 8.0. Thanks for the ideas. Gives me more options to factor in.

 

[Coolcasino]

1) I wouldn’t recommend “plumbing” it that way if you go that route. Kalk can clog lines really easily so I’d recommend separating the two. Program apex also that if the Kalk line got clogged and unit wasn’t topping off, it’d just default and open the straight RODI line.

2) Not sure if you are doing Kalk to replenish Ca\Alk or just buffer pH. Kalk is good and I’ve used that Avast Marine unit. 2-Part is a better option in my view unless you are pairing Kalk with a Calcium Reactor. If you are having ph issues, also check out CO2 scrubber.

My 2 cents. Hope that helps!

Crap! I hadent thought about the line clogging up. They havent clogged up with the DOS yet so maybe it will take even longer with the ATK PMUP? My kalk dosing is mainly for PH. No Carx. I do have a CO2 scrubber and it has helped but the media burns quick and is expensive and only really brings my PH to just over 8.0. I dont think I can maintain my PH with a 2 part.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Yes! Dosing kalk is dangerous but im hoping my APEX would make it less risky. Im basically dosing kalk right now with my DOS mainly to help with my low PH. Im basically dosing the excact amount the tank evaporates as the ATK hardly turns on. Was just thinking of doing it this way as maybe I could bring my PH higher as even with a CO2 scrubber my PH is barely 8.0. Thanks for the ideas. Gives me more options to factor in.

Yeah unfortunately with limewater you're limited either by your evaporation or your alkalinity consumption.

If alkalinity is not a concern, you can try increasing evaporation either with a dehumidifier or with more surface agitation. You can also switch to Randy's high pH DIY two-part. This recipe uses sodium hydroxide and has the same pH rise as limewater, but it's a lot more concentrated. Since it's more concentrated, you can dose more than you could with limewater, which should get you a higher pH boost. Again though, you will be limited by alkalinity with this approach since this supplement will also increase your alkalinity.

 

[Coolcasino]

Yeah the ALK and CAL is what I will have to keep an eye on. My main concern is the PH. Thankfully all this can be tracked and controller with the APEX and Trident. There's also a way to do it with the Trident and DOS but that gets really technical.