Salt Reactor for WC?

[elaak]

Hello all,

Quick question/idea, has anyone ever tried to automate their water changes using a reactor filled with salt? The process would be automated with a controller such as an Apex (conductivity module/probe attached).

If you want to do a WC, one would simply siphon off the correct amount and allow the Apex to choose whether to replenish the tank with saturated salt reactor water OR regular ATO water based on the conductivity reading of the tank (closed loop control).

Thanks,
Eric

[disc1]

If you're asking about automatic water changes that is trivial. Tons of people do that. If you're talking about a reactor like a kalk reactor that will hold way more salt than will dissolve at once so that the new water gets salt mix then that is a different story. What you'll end up with is some elements (like sodium chloride) that dissolve way faster than others (like sodium carbonate) and in the end you'll end up with a very poorly balanced salt water.

[Fishbulb2]

I'll just add some some other elements will likely never even dissolve as you'll create some precipitates that you wouldn't otherwise create at lower concentrations. For example, you'll probably form a lot of calcium carbonate from having a big lump of salt sitting at the bottom of the reactor. This is why when mixing up a batch of saltwater, you want to add salt after the entire water volume is added. Don't pour in your salt then add water. You will precipitate out the calcium which won't redissolve later.

FB