Kalk Reactor Vs Dosing

thewbell · Apr 8, 2016

I have a 120 gallon tank and so far I have a BTA, 1 SPS frag, 1 Duncan, frogspawn, torch and 6 other LPS frags. I am currently dosing kalk with my ATO (6tsp per 5 gallons) and I am ramping it up to keep up. Everything is growing quick and I am trying to decide if I should go with a kalk reactor or dosing system. I am planning on making this an LPS and SPS tank and would prefer to just have one system. Is it safe to say that kalk alone would or would not keep up with demand in the long run? I would like to get the kalk out of my ATO but the last thing I want to do is invest in a kalk reactor then end up with dosing pumps anyway. I know the pros and cons to each system but have not seen any good information to predict if kalk will be enough.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 8, 2016

I used only limewater (kalkwasser) for 20 years, but it was not an SPS heavy tank, and kalk won't be enough for such systems. The max depends on evaporation rates, but if you evaporate 2% of the water volume daily, the max amount you can deliver daily is about 0.8 meq/L (2.3 dKH). That's a bit shy of what some tanks use.

Why do you want the kalk out of the ATO?

kyle1284 · Apr 8, 2016

In your opinion Randy, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having a Kalk reactor vs just mixing it in the ATO container?

thewbell · Apr 8, 2016

I use 5 gallons of ATO water every 4 days so I'm a little over a gallon a day. My plan is to run an RODI line to my ATO reservoir so I don't have to haul buckets any more. This will make mixing the kalk a little more difficult since it will have to be done in the ATO reservoir. I also don't like the additional wear on my ATO pump but since I have not seen any issues yet this is a minor concern.

pirate2876 · Apr 8, 2016

Por que no los dos?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 8, 2016

kyle1284 said:
In your opinion Randy, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having a Kalk reactor vs just mixing it in the ATO container?

In a reservoir, which I used, you may have better control over the concentration. Some users of reactors are surprised when their water is not saturated, and if you want less than saturated, that may not always be easy to control.

You can also ensure that a reservoir is actually settled and no solids are getting to the tank. Reactors can often do that too, but again, perhaps not as easily.

Finally, if you choose to mix vinegar into it, that doesn't work well engineering-wise with a reactor

The big plus for reactors is when you do not have space for a large settled reservoir of limewater (IMO).