Ca reactor-CO2 ?

[kokxy]

This is all new to me as I just purchased a 120 full functioning SPS tank 4 weeks ago. I currently have a 5# CO2 bottle hooked up to a Koraline 1502 reactor. I also read the Reef Keeping Guide to using CA reactors however, I recently after doing a test on my water found that my Alk was at 8.4 dKh and Ca was very low at 300. I inspected the CO2 bottle as the possible culprit. Its operating pressure was at 0 and the bottle pressure was at 1000psi. Not sure why?? My effluent drip is 40 DPM with a PH of 7.0 and for some reason I can't seem to adjust my bubble count at the needle valve. It produces 6-7 bubbles per minute as counted in the bubble chamber. Am I in need of new regulator? Do I need new CO2??? Can I adjust the Selonoid at all???.....Any clue as to why this may be the case, please feel free to chime in. As if it matters, all of the corals and clams in tank look well with good polyp extension. Thanks for looking!

 

[kokxy]

sorry for double post.

 

[loc01]

Please look at your regulator, 1 is to tell you how much pressure you have left in the co2 tank and the other is the applicable pressure and it should have a knob or a screw, you can turn the knob or screw clockwise to increase the applicable pressure to 5-10 psi, now you can adjust your needle valve you will have countless bubbles to regulate.

Loc

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I recently after doing a test on my water found that my Alk was at 8.4 dKh and Ca was very low at 300. I inspected the CO2 bottle as the possible culprit.

That is not a problem of the reactor. It is not possible for the reactor to cause or correct such an imbalance where the alkalinity is fine but the calcium is very low. If the alkalinity is OK, then the reactor is doing its job correctly, since over or under dosing will show up as too high or too low of alkalinity.

The calcium needs to be raised with calcium chloride. Add it all at once, or half on two days. This calculator shows how much to add, and this article guides you through the process:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[kokxy]

calculation for Turbo Ca

calculation for Turbo Ca

so by this calculation if my Ca level is 300 and I want to get it to 410 then it tells me to add 27 teaspoons of Turbo Calcium. wow, seems like a lot. Is this right???

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It does take a large amount, yes. Ignore the bottle directions, which are just for maintaining levels, not raising them rapidly.

 

[kokxy]

thanks for your help, I will let you know how it goes

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.