Ca Reactor Experts...need your help

[SPotter]

I run a ca reactor with TLF reborn and Zeo mag and no matter what I do I cant keep my ca and mg above 400/1170. Right now all of my corals are in my frag tank (long story but basically had to start system over) and I am trying to get my levels up and stable before moving them back into the DT. I have tested my salt and that comes in at 430/1300 so I know its not my salt. I add buffer to bring the levels up hoping that the ca reactor will maintain those levels once attained but within a week the levels drop back down. My bubble count is less than one per sec and my drip rate is very slow too. What am I doing wrong?

 

[skratchiechan]

add more bubbles to lower ph in the reactor and also increase flow of effluent after you've adjusted your ca and mag... where is your alk at? goodluck

 

[ganjero]

What am I doing wrong?

My bubble count is less than one per sec and my drip rate is very slow

It's nothing wrong really, but you need to dial your reactor to your needs. Whats the PH in the reactor or effluent?
If the levels are falling you need to bump up the CO2 and effluent rate as well. Falling levels mean that whatever amount you are "dosing" is not keeping up with the consumption, so you need to "dose" more which means increase the co2 to dissolve more media and increase the effluent to put more of the dissolve media in your tank.

Slowly adjust until it keeps up, in the meantime use 2 part dosing to bring levels to where you want them and once the reactor is keeping up with the levels stop using the 2 part.

I'm pretty sure you have read this but I will link it anyways.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/

 

[sirreal63]

What is the alk at? FWIW I had very limited success with ZEO Mag unless the ph was at 6.5 or less.

 

[SPotter]

One thing I dislike about the MTC procal reactor is that there's no ph port on the reactor. I need to set up an effluent drip cup so I can put a ph probe on it and measure the ph constantly. I just checked it and its high....7. I will increase the bubble count and start raising the levels and then increase the flow rate. Thanks again Jack!!!


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[sirreal63]

There is enough in the lid to install one, it makes life so much easier with a probe in the reactor. I did the cup thing for years and it is a pain.

 

[SPotter]

There is enough in the lid to install one, it makes life so much easier with a probe in the reactor. I did the cup thing for years and it is a pain.

I will take a look at the lid and see where I could put it. Does it matter what chamber I put it on?


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[sirreal63]

The main chamber is best. GEO used to have them for sale on his site, but I haven't looked for them in a while. You have to drill and tap the lid for 1/2" pipe thread.

 

[sirreal63]

http://www.geosreef.com/index.php/products/replacement-parts

 

[SPotter]

my alk is 10 which is much higher than i like it to be. really want to get the levels dialed in and stable before moving the corals back in.

 

[SPotter]

http://www.geosreef.com/index.php/products/replacement-parts

just read how to do this and I see a cracked lid in my future....its definitely intimidating. I have some extra pieces of acrylic laying that maybe I could practice on.