calcium reactor

is there any reason that I couldn't feed a calcium reactor with fresh ro water, collect the effluent and then use it as topoff water?  I would first aerate it in buckets to release the co2 and raise the ph.

I am thinking that it may help avoid the low ph you get with calcium reactors and avoid the high ph you get with kalkwasser reactors.

I am assuming that the only problem with this may be in dissolving the caco3 media with freshwater.  I know you run into problems adding both parts of the 2 part soluion (alkalinity and calcium) at the same time.  would I run into the same problem dissolving caco3 in fresh water?

I know i would have to cycle it in a reservoir for awhile and increase the co2 bubble rate and the flow rate through the reactor.  I would do it in batches that would be good for about 2 weeks of topoff water.


Edited by ecfarr - August 31 2007 at 12:09am

ok.  in that case it sounds like it will be better to just feed it from the aquarium.
what are people doing to prevent the aquarium ph from dropping low?