Having a kalk reactor and a calcium reactor?

[typrobin]

hi all...i am trying to build my own kalk reactor...and also thinkin of making a calcium reactor...

i did a search on kalk, and found that it helps to MAINTAIN calcium and dkh and also boost PH..

i did a search on calcium reactor,and found that it helps to constantly dose calcium and dkh but drops PH due to the carbon dioxide.

my few questions

1) since both works to do the same thing (to maintain calcium and dkh level at a constant level), does it mean that kalk is better as it does not drop PH?

2) i understand that kalk only MAINTAINS clacium and dkh but calcium reactor can help to BOOST it up, but isn't it better to MAINTAIN it at a certain level?eg 450ppm calcium and 11dkh

3) does kalk = calcium + dkh? if so then y calcium reactors?

4) some brands of kalk claim to have strontium and iodine in them, then y calcium reactors when it doesn't?

5) can i dissolve kalk in salt water?

6) issit feasible to have kalk reactor + calcium reactor together?

7) i see that most clacium reactor users have demanding corals like sps, but can i simply dose more kalk to obtain the desired calcium and dkh level?

8) some say that chances of kalk overdose is very little, but i've seen another thread that says kalk overdose is possible and it will cause percipitation and make the tank cloudy http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...c=17781&hl=kalk ...so wat's wat? will i overdose?

9) (constantly dosing calcium & dkh) and (maintaining calcium level and dkh), wat's the difference?

sorry for all these questions...need help as i am really in a lost...maybe some kind-hearted souls and provide me with good links to learn...thanks...

[Tanzy]

1) since both works to do the same thing (to maintain calcium and dkh level at a constant level), does it mean that kalk is better as it does not drop PH?

They have somewhat similar functions but maintain calcium levels by different means. A drop in pH will not be experience when using a kalkreactor (KR), more likely an increase in pH. For a calcium reactor (CR), the effluent is of a lower pH than tank water (usually < pH 7), but the dissolved carbon dioxide can be gassed off by dripping the effluent into a well aerated or turbulent area of the tank or sump. Overall, pH should not be significantly altered by the excess carbon dioxide as the tank seeks its own equilibrium

2) i understand that kalk only MAINTAINS clacium and dkh but calcium reactor can help to BOOST it up, but isn't it better to MAINTAIN it at a certain level?eg 450ppm calcium and 11dkh

Isn't it the other way round? The KR is just an automated way to top up evaporated water with kalkwasser. KR can be used to maintain levels of calcium and alkalinity if the amount added is similar to the amount used up. It will increase levels if more than required amount is added. Of course it will be good to maintain elements at a reasonably stable level.

3) does kalk = calcium + dkh? if so then y calcium reactors?

KR will add calcium and alkalinity in a 1:1 ration to calcification but it can only add as much kalkwasser as water evaporated from the tank. Some systems experience greater amount of calcium depletion (e.g. SPS tanks with high calcification rates) than can be supplied by the kalkwasser so there is a need to run a CR because CR can maintain levels independant of the evaporation rate as it use tank water.

4) some brands of kalk claim to have strontium and iodine in them, then y calcium reactors when it doesn't?

Because kalkwasser powder is largely artificially produced, such additives and supplements can be added. Whether they will continue to exist in a soluble form and utilised by organism of the tank in the high pH solution of calcium hydroxide is dubious. CR uses naturally mined aragonite or calcite but may be supplemented with dolomite to maintain magnesium levels.

5) can i dissolve kalk in salt water?

Yes and no. The kalkwasser will dissolve to a certain extent but it will precipitate nearly all your metal ions and the overall calcium level of the solution will be lower than natural levels. It's all about ionic equilibrium. That renders such form of kalkwasser unusable for the tank.

6) issit feasible to have kalk reactor + calcium reactor together?

Of course but do you need it?

7) i see that most clacium reactor users have demanding corals like sps, but can i simply dose more kalk to obtain the desired calcium and dkh level?

How much kalkwasser you can dose is determined by the amount of evaporation you get in the tank. SPS tanks have high demand of calcium and are usually chiller cooled such that they experience low evaporation rate. Kalkwasser will be insufficient to match the high calcification rates in such systems.

8) some say that chances of kalk overdose is very little, but i've seen another thread that says kalk overdose is possible and it will cause percipitation and make the tank cloudy http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...c=17781&hl=kalk ...so wat's wat? will i overdose?

If you are clueless as to what you are doing, you can easily overdose kalkwasser, especially in a small tank.

9) (constantly dosing calcium & dkh) and (maintaining calcium level and dkh), wat's the difference?

The former is what you do to achieve the latter.

[typrobin]

great wise sea turtle!!!

thanks a million...solved my worries...

my tank is 3ft, and not using chiller...using a fan to cool the tank so my evaporation rate is superb....shall use a kalk reactor for the time being...thanks a million!!!

[rickykoh8888]

Read somewhere that if premix kalkwasser with white vineger before mixing with water would be better . But the theory was too Chim for me to understand . Any bro kind enough to explain in layman terms .

[lightningstrike]

a good read here.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html

[dradttg]

a good read here.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/kalkwasser.html

Thanks bro.

Now I know why my dKH dropped even though I am using the Le Kalk.

[shoelevy]

damn this thread is good

haha

explained wat i need to know.

upz!

[pisces]

The brains questions and Tanzy's answers : Both seem worth Pinning in some FAQ here!!

Cheers.