cal reactor regulator?

[rogergolf66]

What pressure do u run ur reactor at?

Roger

 

[rogergolf66]

Bumb.... nobody???

 

[Garage1217]

You do not pressurize a reactor. The pressure on the gauge is generally the pressure prior to the needle valve / solenoid. The needle valve is adjusted to provide CO2 to the reactor. You adjust the needle valve for the desired bubble count. The required pressure before the needle valve / solenoid totally depends on the brand / type of regulator. Some cheapies like I run require around 35psi or a tad more for a steady bubble count. Some very high quality units can supply a steady bubble count at a pressure of 2psi or so and are accurate enough to be run without a solenoid or controller. More money than I want to spend though

 

[rogergolf66]

Cheep one I'm guessing? Was part of used reactor I bought

 

[sirreal63]

Milwaukee, the valve and gauges are not horrible but the solenoid and needle valve need to go. I have the same one, pulled off the solenoid and needle valve and used the Aquarium Plants add a box and it has been rock solid ever since. That needle valve will drive you crazy.

 

[rogergolf66]

Can u post me a link for what I need to buy please? The solinod is newly replaced. Can I change just the needle valve?


Roger

 

[sirreal63]

Yes, and quality varies. Send Rex an email and tell him what you are doing, he will get you the best.
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/CO2.html#needle

 

[Garage1217]

I use the same Milwaukee. No issues with it at all for 2+ years. Was in dry storage for the last year and fired up without issue. Definitely budget but she works

I removed the bubble counter and hooked my line directly to the needle valve. Many screw up and put tap water in the bubble counter which ruins the needle valve and water can get back into the solenoid and cause it to stick over time. If you keep the bubble counter, only put rodi or distilled in it. On the Milwaukee reg, you need to run it at 35psi or so to maintain a steady bubble count and I would only use it with a controller as the bubble consistency is not perfect as sirreal63 pointed out but it is not terrible either if setup properly.

Last note, make sure you use a check valve off the reactor, many screw up and do not run a check valve. Saltwater can flow back into the needle valve and reg which really screws things up.

 

[tkeracer619]

It almost takes a mad scientist like garage to get a milwaukee regulator to work right :lol: His advice is spot on.

Personally I would get the whole regulator from aquarium plants. It is pricey but a darn good piece of equipment. One of my best purchases. I couldn't toss the milwaukees I had fast enough once I saw how the ap regulator operated. It is one of those products that speaks for itself. Pretty much all of the advertising is done by happy customers.

 

[Garage1217]

 

[karsseboom]

I have the aquarium plants regulator and it is not very consistent. The pressure in the second gauge moves all the time. I will set the pressure at say 5 psi and after a few days the psi will be at 4.5 psi and it keeps wondering. The only way I have been successful at keeping things consistent is with a controller.

 

[geo11]

I've got the aquariumplants one. I've got it set at 12 lbs and 3 seconds per bubble...is that too low?

 

[tkeracer619]

Karsseboom have you contacted them? They will shift as the unit warms up but once in operation it should be stable.

geo11, if its holding your levels correctly then its just fine.

 

[karsseboom]

Karsseboom have you contacted them? They will shift as the unit warms up but once in operation it should be stable.

geo11, if its holding your levels correctly then its just fine.

Yeah I did and they told me they have no idea why it would do that. What happens is the pressure increases causing the bubble size I get larger and then the ph in the reactor lowers. Then I have alk swings. it's so annoying since I bought this regulator to end my battle with regulators failing and not being consistent.

 

[Garage1217]

Overall and the bottom line IMO is one should always use a controller with a CA reactor. I would not run one without a controller. Helps take away all the BS and annoyances people have with ca reactors and if people used a controller, 3/4 of the complaints would disappear on here.

 

[needmore-reef]

5 psi

 

[rogergolf66]

Overall and the bottom line IMO is one should always use a controller with a CA reactor. I would not run one without a controller. Helps take away all the BS and annoyances people have with ca reactors and if people used a controller, 3/4 of the complaints would disappear on here.

Agreed. That is the first purchase I made was for a controller. I was just tring to get it to closer to balanced on its own, but I don't think this regulater can handle that small amount of co2 output.

Thanks for everyones help

Roger

 

[tmc1313]

Overall and the bottom line IMO is one should always use a controller with a CA reactor. I would not run one without a controller. Helps take away all the BS and annoyances people have with ca reactors and if people used a controller, 3/4 of the complaints would disappear on here.

+1^^^ on this comment. I would never even have thought about switching to a calcium reactor without a controller. Hardest thing I have to worry about is dialing the reactor in to match my tank parameters. Here's my setup:

By tmc13 at 2012-03-02

 

[tkeracer619]

Send it back to them for warranty repair/replacement.

 

[Garage1217]

TMC1313 - Ah the milwaukee SMS122, heck of a good little controller! Loved mine. Rock solid little device. I use my apex now but if I ever went back to standalone, it would be to an SMS122.