Kalkwasser damage to acrylic media reactor

[imustbenuts]

Hey all,

I pulled my converted media reactor that I use for kalkwasser to clean and the bottom fell off. Has anyone heard of or experienced this?

 

[BigJohnny]

Hey all,

I pulled my converted media reactor that I use for kalkwasser to clean and the bottom fell off. Has anyone heard of or experienced this?

No, that's odd. Cheap or impure acrylic? How exactly do you use a media reactor for kalkwasser?

 

[imustbenuts]

I converted an Avast Marine Works reactor. It uses 1/2” threaded fittings. I removed them and installed 1/4” push connect fittings so I could run my ATO pump through it first then to the sump. A check valve keeps the water from back siphoning.

 

[anthonywesty]

I used a maxijet powerhead to mix the kalk solution a few minutes every 12 hrs and the impeller desintegrated.

 

[scuzy]

Never seen that happen I use a mrc kalk reactor though.

 

[anthonywesty]

Well, I disassembled the kalk reactor because the pump was not moving water and to my surprise the impeller disappeared. I never heard this before either.

 

[Bacon505]

In my experience, the high ph in kalk will crack or corode certain type of plastic. I used to run kalk in plastic containers and it crack after 2-3 time used. Switch to blass is your best bet

 

[Jeepguy242]

Well, I disassembled the kalk reactor because the pump was not moving water and to my surprise the impeller disappeared. I never heard this before either.

I had the same happen in a diy reactor I made just like that

Either the high ph or the kalk powder eroded it to nothing like sand blasting it

 

[imustbenuts]

So how are kalk reactors made with acrylic if this is what happens? It just ate right through.

 

[scuzy]

Probably as different types pure of acrylic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Polycarbonate is not stable at the high pH of limewater, and is not a suitable material.

Polymethylmethacrylate should be OK in limewater at room temp.

 

[imustbenuts]

Polycarbonate is not stable at the high pH of limewater, and is not a suitable material.

Polymethylmethacrylate should be OK in limewater at room temp.

Is the Avast Marine media reactors polycarbonate? I thought they were acrylic. I’ll reach out to Avast Marine.

 

[salty joe]

Wow, had no idea kalkwasser could tear up plastic. I just made a kalk stirrer using PVC, a fiberglass rod (driveway marker), and a piece of FRP for the stirring paddle. Fingers crossed.

 

[Synodontis]

We have only been dosing kalk for a couple of months using an Avast dosing barrel.
I refilled it last weekend & checked it after reading this post, it seems to be doing OK but will check it every couple of days now lol.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is the Avast Marine media reactors polycarbonate? I thought they were acrylic. I’ll reach out to Avast Marine.

I have no idea. I was just supplying some background facts. [emoji3]

 

[imustbenuts]

I emailed Avast and they replied this is unusual. They have some kalk stirrers in operation 10 years with no issue. The email reply suggested there was previous damage, based on the crazing, and had been repaired. However, I am the original owner and it wasn’t damaged. I purchased the diy MR5 kit and glued this together myself. I didn’t get a good water tight seal on first attempt so I added a bead of glue on the inside and outside to seal it up. They didn’t offer any other help. Since this is, “unusual” I was hoping they might offer a new base or reduced cost to help get it fixed. Oh well, I’ll figure it out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What sort of glue did you use?

 

[imustbenuts]

What sort of glue did you use?

Craftics #33 is what is provided by Avast with their kits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Craftics #33 is what is provided by Avast with their kits.

OK, thanks. I don't see anything in that which would explain the problem.

 

[Anthony1958]

Just finished my DIY kalk reactor yesterday and was testing it out with kalk before stating it my system. I noticed some crazing last night then this morning woke up to massive cracking and small leaks. Got the acrylic from Amazon, anyone else having this problem? Very disappointed.