B-KALK4us.DOC, Seite 2, Aug. 11
Instruction manual of AquaCare
Turbo
Chalk Reactor – Ca-Reactor
Principe of the
Turbo Chalk Reactor
s
In the CO
2
tube (1) CO
2
is dosed to lower the pH of the water
(about 5,2 to 5,5). The circulation pump (8) pumps the water into
the next tube - the calcite tube (2). In this compartment the calcite
material is dissolved. The calcite is split into calcium and hydrogen
carbonate (alkalinity). The enriched water flows back to the CO
2
tube (1)- the cycle is closed.
The same volume of incoming water flows out of the system - you
can see in inflow in the small transparent tube (6) above the CO
2
tube. The volume is controlled with the small ball valve (5). The
outflow reaches the neutralizing tube (3). In this compartment air
strips out the CO
2
(about 80%) with the help of an air stone (12).
The neutralized water flows to the sediment tube (4). Most of the
very fine sediment, caused by friction in the calcite tube, sinks
down on the bottom of the sediment tube. In this tube small amounts
of phosphate adsorbs (chemo sorption) at the sediments.
Mounting the unit
Best place for the reactor:
The
Turbo
Chalk Reactor must be mounted vertically to guarantee
the function. Please use the screws (in the plastic bag) to fix the re-
actor at a wall (stone or wood). If you have another wall please use
special plugs.
The AquaCare
Turbo
Chalk Reactor should be mounted in the near
of the aquarium or filter tank. The water outlet hose must be fixed in
a slope – the hose never should go uphill to the tank. Therefore the
sediment tube must be higher than the aquarium or filter tank. You
may mount the sediment tube away from the reactor for assemble
the tube to the aquarium downhill. But please consider, that you
need a stronger air pump for the neutralizing tube (each meter you
need 100 mbar more pressure). Additionally you must take a longer
hose from the neutralizing tube to the sediment tube.
Additionally you need an electrical connection in the near (within 2
meters). The best place is a dark place. If the reactor is in the sun
you have to cover a black foil around the transparent tubes to pre-
vent algae growth.
Connection of the hoses (see Fig. II):
For mounting the hoses cut them with a sharp knife. For the push fit
fittings only use the black AquaCare PE hose/tube. Otherwise use
the connectors to other hoses (PVC or silicone).
The pressure hose is pushed into the push fit fitting until it cannot
be pushed further. The tube should be gently pulled to ensure that
the connection is sound. The connection can be released by pushing
back the collet and pulling the tube out.
Water Outlet: (see Fig. I)
The water outlet (B) of the reactor will be made with the 10mm
hose. Please take care to assemble the hose downhill from reactor to
tank/aquarium. If not the water will flow out off the reactor (C). The
hose must end over the water level! To prevent turbid water in the
aquarium caused by very fine sediments you can direct the water to
a sediment filter filled with fine material, e.g. filter floss. You may
assemble the air outlet (C) parallel to the water outlet hose – if the
water outlet hose is blocked the water will flow through the air
hose. The air hose should never be under the water level! Otherwise
the CO
2
in the air will lower the pH of the aquarium water and bub-
bling sound will occur.
Water Inlet: (see Fig. III)
You can realize the water inlet (A) with an extra circulation pump
or with a bypass from the main circulation pump that pumps the wa-
ter from the filter tank to the aquarium. The pump must have
enough pressure; the water flow does not matter. The best solution
is a bypass: you do not need an extra pump and the water from a
bypass contains less sediments that are able to block the water inlet
valve. A water pass meter (option) is a very easy way to regulate the
right water inflow. The water inlet (A) of the AquaCare
Turbo
Chalk reactor is at the top of the CO
2
tube (1). You can see the in-
flowing water at the inspection glass (6).
Turbo
Chalk reactors with
built in water pass meters must be supplied at the bottom of the pass
meter. If you do not use the original AquaCare PE hoses you can
use the hose adapter (packed in the plastic bag). If you have ques-
tions or problems with the connections please ask AquaCare.
CO
2
supply: (see Fig. IV)
For operation the
Turbo
Chalk reactor needs a CO
2
supply, too.
Please use CO
2
pressure tanks – other systems with pressures below
0,5 bar (7 PSI) will not work properly.
Please read the instruction
manual for the pressure tank and pressure relief valve care-
fully!
The pressure of the pressure relief valve should be between
0,5 and 2 bar (7 and 30 PSI). Never raise the pressure above 5 bar
(45 PSI)! Never work without a GOOD check valve (check valves
for air are not suitable!). Back flowing water will destroy solenoids
and pressure relief valves. Please assemble the CO
2
hose with a se-
curity loop with minimum 1 meter.
Air supply for neutralizing tube:
The air inlet (D) is at the top of the neutralizing tube (3). Assemble
the air hose with a security loop of minimum 1 meter, too. Check
valves normally reduce the air pressure drastically and they will not
work 100%ly. Back flowing water will destroy the air pump. If the
pH of the out coming water is below 7,0 the air pump is to weak! In
that case use a stronger air pump.
Electrical connection:
For operating the
Turbo
Chalk reactor you need an electrical supply
and a simply timer. Please control the voltage of the electrical com-
ponents (pump, Chalk reactor control) with the voltage of the sup-
ply! Connect the
Turbo
Chalk reactor pump and the
Turbo
Chalk
rector control unit to the timer. Air inlet and water inlet should run
all the time.
For optimal efficiency please program the timer with a short brake
after two hours. In the break time all foreign gases like oxygen and
nitrogen will go out off the reactor.
The probe connector (9) is for installing a pH sensor. It will meas-
ure the pH of the internal water. The pH should be about 5.0 to 5.5.
Putting into operation
Please read this part carefully to prevent work and failures. In-
correct use of the reactor may destroy the circulation pump.
1. Be sure that all inlets and outlets are connected (incoming water,
out coming water, air and CO
2
)
2. Start the water inlet pump, open the water inlet ball valve (5) and
fill the reactor completely with water. Put the
Turbo
Chalk Reactor
circulation pump (8) into operation for a short time to bring out the
air off the pump.
This step is important to minimize the work.
Only if all air is out of the pump it can produce the pressure for the
calcite bed. Maybe you have to wait for half a minute and start the
pump again. If all air is out off the system, stop the pumps and drain
the reactor half.
3. Open the calcite tube (2). Unscrew the cap of the calcite tube and
take out the filter sponge (11).
4. Fill up the calcite tube to the maximum filling mark (upper edge
of the label). Do not use more or another material. Otherwise the
system does not work correctly. Close the calcite tube - don’t forget
the filter sponge (11)! Please use AquaCare
Turbo
Granules – it is
the most effective material. With others the efficiency will fall
down.
5. Open the water inlet ball valve (start the incoming pump) and fill
the reactor with water completely.
6. If water reaches the sediment tube (4) put the circulation pump
(8) in operation. The ball valve (13) at the CO
2
tube should be open.
7. Reduce the ball valve at the CO
2
tube that only the very small
Turbo
Granules will be in motion. Heavy movements of the Gran-
ules will cause turbidity in the aquarium.
