Ca++ reactor help

[timgrah]

Getting ready to set up Korallin 1502 and have a couple of questions:

When using a pH probe in the reactor what settings are best for the controller? On at 7, off at 6.7(just pulling numbers out of the air)?

Would it be better to leave the pH probe in the tank and use tank pH as a guide to turn the solenoid on and off?

Is polyethylene tubing CO2 proof, if not does any place in StL carry CO2 proof tubing?

This should get me started.

Roy, do you still have copious amount of Mg and would you like to part with some? My Mg level is 1020 and I'd like to boost it before starting the Ca reactor.

Thanks, Tim

 

[mpcart]

My Milwaukee SMS122 controller just has one set point. It runs CO2 until it gets to 6.3 and then shuts off.

I would use the pH probe to measure the effluent pH and not that of the tank.

Be careful with the CO2 tubing. The stuff I got was too small for my JG fittings.

Here is a great way to calculate quantities of Mg additives.

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

-Mike

 

[sirreal63]

And from the same website...one of the best Ihave found for setting up a calcium reactor.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.html

 

[DrBDC]

I'm getting down in quantity now. As far as I know unless you can find MgCl only salt melt packaged by Scottwood ind. in KS the the best place would be harveysalts.com or harveysalt.com (I don't recall which it was).

I'm no help on Ca reactors as I'm going to have to learn about them since I have one now but haven't set it up. Once the numbers are corrected though I've read about putting some dolomite in the ca reactor although I think I'll still use the MgCl instead since I don't really see any exact ratio/amount to add in any of the reading I have done and I like a little more control on exact parameters.

 

[timgrah]

Roy,
Which did you use the pellet or the flake?

http://www.harveysalt.com/prod01.htm

Thanks, Tim

 

[DrBDC]

Magflake.

 

[mpcart]

For a 75G tank you need about 800g of Epsom salts to raise your Mg to 1350. That doesn't cost more than a couple bucks.

-Mike

 

[DrBDC]

Provided you are doing an average of 30% water changes per month epsom salts is adequate and your sulphate/chloride balance won't be too bad. Keep the daily raise to about 100 per day. I'd order the magflake for long term use. It's more than worth it for the price. Especially for all of those using the brand named bottled versions.