Measuring Kalk/Lime Reactor Output - Just Do It!

[mcarroll]

I'm really glad I got into this discussion.

As a result, I bumped into a really old, great article touching on the subject as well as conducting a lonely poll. Still useful as I was able to survey the available options. Unfortunately for me, all of the options have a pretty unique set of features to recommend them, leaving none a clear "winner".

I ultimately ended up with this meter as it was on clearance here. (Still is as of this writing.) Serendipity, as I'm on a budget! Decision made.

So I tested my ATO/lime reactor's output when I got home: 0.9 mS

That's closer to RO water than limewater!

I added roughly a few teaspoons of powdered lime last night just to see what difference it would make and after just measuring the reactor output again today, it's at 2.67 mS

I'll finish recharging the reactor today! Shooting for 10+ mS

The moral is that it's impossible to run a limewater reactor at maximum effectiveness while guessing on the maintenance/recharge schedule. I use a lux meter to tune my lights, drip tests to measure my water - why wouldn't I have thought to look into testing my reactor before running into that thread?

If you are using limewater/kalkwasser and not using an EC meter to test it, you're just winging it - get a tester!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good point.

It surprises many people how little their reactors may actually be delivering.

 

[john.m.cole3]

It appears that amazon is not selling the hanna PIST 4 anymore, grainger site says it has been discontinued, found 1 site that sells it for 52.00. I'm surprised this isn'y covered more in the kalkwasser threads. Thanks for creating this thread.

 

[dragon99]

Just how many articles has Randy written about limewater??? Somehow I missed the one about measuring it for potency. This is great!

I've been using kalk at a low dosage (1/2tsp per gal) and some days my alk increases, some days it decreases. I think the potency of my limewater is fluctuating, but didn't realize there's an easy way to test it!

 

[jason2459]

Well, on the flip side does potency of limewater and needing to test for it mater if what ever potency is being dosed is keeping up with the tanks demand for Ca and Alkalinity? Some people purposely do not want fully saturated limewater.

It's not like the kalk is being discarded. It's eventually all used up or precipitated.

 

[mcarroll]

Whatever works, of course.

Making it fully saturated I think is just a nice standard solution from which you can make nice, known-quantity doses.

 

[jason2459]

I've always dosed fully saturated limewater myself but have never tested its output. But then again I use a still water reservoir not a reactor.

It was just a counter point/question.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I test my alk daily and use its reading to determine whether it's time to add more kalk or not. Right now I keep it at 10.2. If it drops to the 9s, I reload the dispenser and manually dose to bump back up to 10.2. If I had a meter to measure my output, I could potentially be able to catch the need for more kalk before my alk drops and skip the manually dosing part. Not a huge convenience, but one none the less.

 

[jason2459]

I can definitely see the usefulness for those using a reactor to understand how their reactor is performing or not.