Aqua-lifter & Kalk Reactor

Checking to see if anyone is dosing Kalkwasser with a reactor using the Aqua-lifter pump? Any issues with back-siphon or lack of enough pressure from the Aqua-lifter? I've been dosing directly into the ATO water and looking to make it a bit more automated. I'm considering the Two Little Fishies reactor. Thanks for the input!

 

Considering I've had 2 clog while siphoning overflows, I'd suggest another pump. I just see the kalk clogging it up withing a couple months. Maybe a BRS doser...they have them on sale during GB for less than $90 and they are warrantied for a bit too!

 

Thanks for the input. As long as it doesn't back siphon, the kalk wouldn't reach the pump. Before I go the route of using a dosing pump to dose kalk, I'll resort to a calc-reactor.

 

I used it with a reactor for a long time without issue. I went back to premixed kalk though. Reactors aren't a good way to dose kalk. They are constantly stirring up the impurities and preventing them from settling. Also, people who measure the effluent pH tend to find them to be inconsistent. Mine was always dosing too much or too little. The aqualifter was great though. Still use it with the bucket. Haven't had clogging issues there either.


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Thanks for the input. Did you have the old style reactor with the mixing pump attached to the side? I can't see how that's an issue with a slow stirrer style.

 

Yes, the reactors are definitely junk IMO. Not as sure about the stirrers. They may be better, but then again, they are constantly stirring, so, will be stirring up impurities. Also, when water is added to the tank, new water is added to the reactor chamber. mixing more in, isn't going to instantly saturate it and let anything settle out. So, it will still either mix too much or too little. Odds of it getting it just right seem slim to none. I guess if it's too little, it shouldn't be a real issue, I'd be more worried about too much as that opens up a fairly big can of worms. It's an easy test though if you have a pH probe, as saturated limewater is an official pH standard. Should be 12.63 @ 68F. Will go down a bit with temp, 12.54 @77F. A small deviation though can mean a pretty big difference in concentration though.

 

Check out BRS's overview of the stirrer reactors.

Bulk Reef Supply

 

Can't really watch from work. I'll have to check it out when I get home. I've read quite a bit about them and talked to others quite a bit about them. Regardless of how good they make it appear it would seem to define the laws of physics to get it to mix perfectly instantly. I took a quick peak though and noticed one thing i can comment on. they are using a JBJ ATO. If you do kalk with an aqualifter pump, use the Reef Fanatic. The JBJ is designed to save pumps and has no failsafe if a sensor gets stuck. The RF you can use the second sensor as a high level shutoff in case the second gets stuck. No need to waste a sensor to save the aqualifter, as it will not be damaged by running dry. Also i have both on different tanks and the RF is just way better built and more reliable.

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Good info. I have RK's on both tanks setup with the DA ATO floats.

This is predominantly the reason why I prefer sticking with the aqua-lifter's. =)