G. Cheese Sandwich's Super Terrific Kalkwasser Reaktor

[Anonymous]

Hey I made my own kalkwater reactor. The design is untested, but I think it'll work. I made it using 6" clear PVC tubing - there's a rounded cap at the bottom, and a RIO pump will blow downwards to stir up the kalk (I'll put the pump on a timer & have it go intermittently). Fresh water will be dosed into the 3/4" pvc pipe glued on the inside, to come out at the bottom. I've inserted a 1/2" hose barb outlet at the top, where the kalk will overflow. My plan for the top is to cover it with a shaped sheet of styrofoam, followed by some saran wrap.

I have the unit sitting on a section of the same long peice of 6" PVC I made the unit from, because I wanted it a bit higher than it was (for anti-siphoning reasons). It's held against the wall by a PVC frame made from 1/2" pvc pipe, which sits loosely into the brackets screwed into the wall (this'll be behind the aquarium), so it can be lifted out. (The top of the unit is held snug in the frame with some zip-ties).

Submitted for your approval!

 

[Anonymous]

(one more)

 

[viper12775]

looks good let us know how well it works and where did you find the clear pvc

 

[Anonymous]

looks good let us know how well it works and where did you find the clear pvc

Thanks! 8)

I got the pipe here:

http://www.savko.com/portal/clearpvc.asp

It's not as clear as acrylic - it's bluish, blurry, and has a rougher surface texture, but it's clear enough to generally see whats going on inside.

 

[viper12775]

thanks alot for the link

 

[Anonymous]

Fire that baby up and let us know how it works. Looks good though Cheese. Nice job! How much did you spend?

Louey

 

[JeremyR]

Amazing, a reef related post!

 

[Anonymous]

Amazing, a reef related post!

Yes! 8)

Louey-

Actually I had the 6" pipe & endcap left over from an aborted mega-air-skimmer project I was planning a couple of years ago, so those were sitting around. Otherwise, I had to buy the hose barb, rio pump, small PVC piping, wall clamps, & digital timer, probably about $35-$40 for all that.

 

[npaden]

GSW,

You might have the rio a bit low - i bet you could raise it up 12" or more and still stir the kalk up well - with it that low it will be intaking straight kalkwasser and chew up the impeller in no time.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Anonymous]

GSW,

You might have the rio a bit low - i bet you could raise it up 12" or more and still stir the kalk up well - with it that low it will be intaking straight kalkwasser and chew up the impeller in no time.

FWIW, Nathan

Ok I'll start it out a foot or so higher & see how it does- I just wanted to make sure any kalk clumps got sufficiently blasted. The rounded bottom should help in that regard, though.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd replace the Rio with a MiniJet, those Rio don't like timers, mine didn't last long on my kalk reactor. As for the top, got to your local plumping supply place (not a HD or Lowes) and ask them for a test cap. It is a threaded male cap with a female rubber gasket and cost me about $5. You can glue the gasket on the inside of the PVC and then easily take the top on and off. I know others with DIY kalk reactors have had problems with regular end caps slight leaking or having to use telfon tape every time, but this has worked like a charm for me. Nice job though.

 

[AWD]

GSW,

I haven't understood the kalk reactors at all, but with that visual I am thinking about doing something like that, Thanks.
You could put a tube on your pump and lift the pump up as high as needed, just an idea.
Please post how this thing works.

 

[DKKA]

Cheese,

Nice design. My only concern would be that with only styro and seran wrap for a top you are risking a flood should Kalk precip ever block the outflow.

Dan

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everybody- I'll keep you updated.

SKBok-

OK I'll keep my eye on the RIO - if it gives me any trouble I'll replace it with a minijet.

AWD - I though about the tube idea, but I ran out of motivation so I just stuck with the simpler approach... :mrgreen:

DKKA - well I was hoping that by the tallness of the device such accumulations could be avoided (ie all particulate kalk wouldn't make it up that far), but you're right it's a potential hazzard - I'll look into SKBok's test cap idea, or maybe I can find a 6" PVC cap (like the one on the bottom) except with a small threaded opening on the other end...

 

[SPC]

Good job Cheese, I didn't know you had a reef tank :wink: .
Steve

 

[danmhippo]

I second minijet or a small mag too. If you are using IO salt, they include a minijet inside every bucket of IO salt now.

 

[Anonymous]

Good job Cheese, I didn't know you had a reef tank :wink: .
Steve

I don't, but I'm setting one up! A 29 gal...

I tried quitting reefing cold turkey, and was sober for almost two years (minus a brief lapse with an outdoor mangrove tank). Now I'm doing this modest tank just to take the edge off.

Danm-

Yeah I was thinking a small mag as well, but unfortunately I sold all the ones I owned to a fellow reefer... :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, these thing are getting so simple I may build one myself.

I was just at the hardware store and notice a 4" "Quick Cap", which was a solid rubber cap with a ring clamp attached around the outside. That might work as well...

 

[Anonymous]

GoCS- did they make you buy 5 feet of the clear pvc?

 

[Anonymous]

GoCS- did they make you buy 5 feet of the clear pvc?

I don't think so, but it was a while ago...