Two Little Fishes KW-300 Kalkwasser Reactor

[apuhl20]

Does anyone use one of these? Seems like a straightforward inexpensive way to dose Kalk. I have a 300 gallon system with a calcium reactor so it is on the low side of my volume requirements, so its main use would be to maintain pH.

http://www.aquacave.com/Two-Little-Fishes-KW-300-Kalkwasser-Reactor-P3095C869.aspx

[kevensquint]

I maintain my ph at 8.2 mostly thanks to this. I used the tunze mixer before on the osmolator, what a rip-off. Save 30 bucks and get a better mixer, like the two- little fishies. Easy to add the lime, use the pump of your choice and a little mixing device inside to stir the kallwasser. 10/10

[apuhl20]

do you run a calcium reactor on your system as well to maintain everything else or just the kalk reactor

[6Speed]

do you need to use a slow pump like a doser to use this as part of your ato? just wondering if using a maxi jet or some other pump to push your top off water through the reactor would cause a problem with tank?

[kevensquint]

Well first my tank is way smaller than yours, so I'm not sure how helpful my info will be. But no, I maintain Ca and Alk with a DA reefkeeper and 2-part dosed with BRS pumps. My PH was stuck at about 8 due to my skimmer pumping in CO2 from my tightly sealed up home. The day after putting in the kw-300 the PH went up to 8.2 and stayed there. I am very happy with it. P.S, I use the maxi-jet 400 with it, 3 feet of 1/2" hose away. Mixer inside spins and all is good.

[tkeracer619]

I use the aquamedic. It has been very reliable and works well.
http://www.aquacave.com/Kalkwasser-Stirrer-1000-by-AquaMedic-P199C481.aspx

It is best to use a slow peristaltic pump to feed the reactor. The slower the better.

A lot of people just use a 5g bucket and a peristaltic. I would go that route over the reactor you linked.

[dotcommer]

I have been reading this thread and was wondering why such a big price difference between these reactors.

http://www.aquacave.com/Two-Little-Fishes-KW-300-Kalkwasser-Reactor-P3095C869.aspx

http://www.aquacave.com/Kalkwasser-Stirrer-1000-by-AquaMedic-P199C481.aspx

I am looking to purchase one, but don't want to be buying something twice

[Charlene]

I have been reading this thread and was wondering why such a big price difference between these reactors.

http://www.aquacave.com/Two-Little-Fishes-KW-300-Kalkwasser-Reactor-P3095C869.aspx

http://www.aquacave.com/Kalkwasser-Stirrer-1000-by-AquaMedic-P199C481.aspx

I am looking to purchase one, but don't want to be buying something twice

The biggest difference is the AquaMedic has a motorized stirrer. The TLF also has a stirrer but it's powered by the top off pump. It rotates off the pressure similar to a garden sprinkler head. This accounts for some of the cost difference. I've owned the TLF model and it works fine however it's meant to hang directly off the sump. If you want the reactor to sit away from the sump you might be better off with the Aquamedic. Regardless. I'd say the biggest hassle with Kalk reactors is the mess. You should refill them every couple of weeks and Kalk can be very messy. I don't know any way around this however.

[SGT_York]

I've had mine for about a year now, it works fine on my 120G. I run it on a timer every three hours for three minutes. To get it to work on a 300 you would probably have to get a good timer if you don't have a controller. If it goes on for more than three minutes the undisolved kalk raises and starts to enter the tank. With a controller you could have it coming on every hour or so, which will let the kalk settle.
A good controller would work wonders for your PH, especially if you used two pumps for ATO one for kalk, one for freshwater, with this reactor you can use one fresh water supply.

I use a Mag 7 for the pump needs near 300 GPH to stir the kalk. The frequent cleaning almost dissapeared when I reduced the kalk from 2 Tbsp's to 1Tbsp, no change in calcium supply just needs to be added every week or so instead of every two weeks.

In summary I'm very satisified with it. Lots of SPS and it keeps up just fine for a fraction of the hassle and cost of two part dosing that I was doing.