Calcium reactor issue

[bucfan]

I have a Ca reactor running for 3 years. My pH controller broke last week. I have a new one on order. In the interim I am having a hard time regulating my alk. How does one control the alk without the pH controller? I turned my effluent rate down and also my bubble rate down but that has not done the trick. What must I do?

[Vinny Kreyling]

READ THIS:
http://reef.diesyst.com

[scuzy]

Less effluent and co2 means less alk into system


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[bertoni]

That link should have good information. In general, reducing the carbon dioxide is where I'd start, since just decreasing the flow might drive the pH too high, so I think your first step is fine, but you probably need to drop both rates more. If the alkalinity is very high, you might need to stop the reactor entirely for a while. Be careful, though, a lot of tanks can go through 2-3 dKH per day.

[C.Eymann]

Originally Posted by bertoni

That link should have good information. In general, reducing the carbon dioxide is where I'd start, since just decreasing the flow might drive the pH too high, so I think your first step is fine, but you probably need to drop both rates more. If the alkalinity is very high, you might need to stop the reactor entirely for a while. Be careful, though, a lot of tanks can go through 2-3 dKH per day.

+1.
While a pH controller is always a good idea, you should have the reactor tuned to where it acts only as a fall back, you dont want the controller running the reactor per say, you should almost never hear the solenoid snapping on and off.

Many run reactors with just pH meters, just have to tune it really precisely and have consistent effluent and bubble count rates.

[Bpb]

I have a failsafe on my ph controller to shut it off if it gets too low but it never happens. I just tune it to be stable to where the solenoid doesn’t need to cycle,


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[outy]

Originally Posted by bucfan

I have a Ca reactor running for 3 years. My pH controller broke last week. I have a new one on order. In the interim I am having a hard time regulating my alk. How does one control the alk without the pH controller? I turned my effluent rate down and also my bubble rate down but that has not done the trick. What must I do?

The easiest method by far is to set effluent to just past a small drip and leave that alone. setting it like that keeps it from clogging. To low the valve clogs easier.

next is to start at 35-45 BPM of co2

Monitor daily or every two days for alk.

Changes are made by reducing or increasing bubbles to match the tanks needs.

No need for a controller at all, but I still have one to keep media from turning to mush.


If you find you cannot get enough alk, you can turn effluent rate up a hair, and reset bubbles to match tanks actual demands.

Not sure if you have a second chamber, if not I highly recommend one which cuts down on co2 usage.

[bucfan]

Originally Posted by outy

The easiest method by far is to set effluent to just past a small drip and leave that alone. setting it like that keeps it from clogging. To low the valve clogs easier.



next is to start at 35-45 BPM of co2



Monitor daily or every two days for alk.



Changes are made by reducing or increasing bubbles to match the tanks needs.



No need for a controller at all, but I still have one to keep media from turning to mush.





If you find you cannot get enough alk, you can turn effluent rate up a hair, and reset bubbles to match tanks actual demands.



Not sure if you have a second chamber, if not I highly recommend one which cuts down on co2 usage.

Thanks for the info. What is a second chamber? Mine does not have one I guess.


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[bertoni]

Some reactors have a second chamber for media. That gives a bit more time for the carbon dioxide to dissolve some calcium carbonate, which mostly helps a bit with tank pH. The output also is a bit higher in alkalinity.

[outy]

Originally Posted by bucfan

Thanks for the info. What is a second chamber? Mine does not have one I guess.

just a 1-2G chamber the low pH effluent passes through to help raise PH and raise alk as Bertoni mentions.

You will want a good gallon or two of media which will last a very long time compared to the first chamber.

It will save you Co2 and raise PH so its a win win. Took me a decade to figure this out and finally build one. They can also be purchased from good companiess like GEO reef.

[scuzy]

Originally Posted by outy

just a 1-2G chamber the low pH effluent passes through to help raise PH and raise alk as Bertoni mentions.



You will want a good gallon or two of media which will last a very long time compared to the first chamber.



It will save you Co2 and raise PH so its a win win. Took me a decade to figure this out and finally build one. They can also be purchased from good companiess like GEO reef.

Bubble Magnus makes a cheap one for 69.99

C120-2


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[bucfan]

Originally Posted by outy

just a 1-2G chamber the low pH effluent passes through to help raise PH and raise alk as Bertoni mentions.



You will want a good gallon or two of media which will last a very long time compared to the first chamber.



It will save you Co2 and raise PH so its a win win. Took me a decade to figure this out and finally build one. They can also be purchased from good companiess like GEO reef.

Is this something I can add to my current setup?


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[outy]

Originally Posted by bucfan

Is this something I can add to my current setup?


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Yes you just run your 1/4" effluent line through the chamber and keep all your plumbing in tact the way it currently is, but save Co2 and have high alk

[bucfan]

Originally Posted by outy

Yes you just run your 1/4" effluent line through the chamber and keep all your plumbing in tact the way it currently is, but save Co2 and have high alk

What media goes in that second chamber? And can it be just a regular reactor?


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[Vinny Kreyling]

Same media, a simple cylinder where the top can be removed to fill it & have a fitting for the flow valve for 1/4" tubing.

[outy]

Originally Posted by bucfan

What media goes in that second chamber? And can it be just a regular reactor?


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Generally you want it plumbed with 1/4" johnguest fittings

It uses any aragonite media.

I used caribsea course sand substrate, which is "fine" sized for a reactor. I wanted more surface area.

[bucfan]

Originally Posted by outy

Generally you want it plumbed with 1/4" johnguest fittings

It uses any aragonite media.

I used caribsea course sand substrate, which is "fine" sized for a reactor. I wanted more surface area.

So I am not filling this second chamber with Ca media? Only sand?

[Vinny Kreyling]

Use whatever you use in chamber 1.

[outy]

Originally Posted by bucfan

So I am not filling this second chamber with Ca media? Only sand?

Ca media is aragonite media

Its more coarse then sand.


see here

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2657434

[bertoni]

I agree that sand will be too fine to make a good media. If it starts to dissolve, it might bind together, which would make a mess. Very coarse crushed coral can work, although it might contain more phosphate than you'd like.

[MJNTWise]

Originally Posted by bucfan

What media goes in that second chamber? And can it be just a regular reactor?


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This is what I did. I used reborn in it just like I did in the first.

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[bertoni]

I agree that a filter canister should be fine. Not a bad idea.