calccium & Alk question

[StupidsReef]

I have the Calcium Reactor back up and running again. My PH monitor has the chamber holding @ 6.5 and the solenoid is working. I checked both the Cal & Alk levels and this is the results:

Calcium ---- 260

Alk ----------200 mg/L !!

According to the GEO directions : Increasing the effluent drip rate will raise the effluent pH and lower the effluent Alkalinity.

If I do this then the solenoid will kick on, would I then have to raise the BMP rate to keep up?? Or should I just use Calcium buffer to raise the calcium and not touch the drip & BMP rates?? It claims to set those levels and then the reactor will keep them right there. ( I thought I had them in the right ranges, but then was informed to just hook up the reactor and it would stabilize them on it's own, is that true)??

Thanks.

 

[Markk96]

What media in the reactor are you using? The reactor will not raise the calcium levels so you will need to buffer it.

Alk 200mg?

 

[StupidsReef]

I'm using the stuff you sold me in the package. The CaribSea ARM Ultra High Purity Aragonite for all Calcium Reactors.

Yea I thought I had to buffer it up to the correct level. No problem I have the buffer so I'll get to work on it.

 

[Markk96]

I would have someone test your water, what salt are you using? 260 is really low.

Becareful with the ARM running at 6.5 you could mush it up, I would back it up to 6.7.

 

[sirreal63]

Next batch use the GenX media...it is far superior. I run my effluent from 6.2 to 6.5 and it works great...no threat of mush.

 

[Markk96]

I use Hydro-Carbonate Media, it dissolves great, and leaves nothing in the reactor after it is gone.

 

[dphins]

Where do you find Hydro-Carbonate Media?

 

[dphins]

Never mind, I found some at The Reef Stop.

 

[dphins]

What do you run your ph at with the Hydro-Carbonate Media?

 

[Markk96]

I keep it up around 6.8 it actually dissolves very fast and nice.

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10484641#post10484641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Markk96
The reactor will not raise the calcium levels so you will need to buffer it.

Im still foggy on this. Are you saying the Calcium reactor will NOT raise the calcium levels of the tank?? Im confused.

 

[dphins]

Calcium reactors are for maintaining your levels. They make your system stable. If your levels are off, you need to adjust it accordingly.

 

[Markk96]

You need to be careful with this if you do not understand, a Calcium reactor will raise your alkalinity if your calcium is not at the correct level.

 

[Nanook]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10495482#post10495482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
Im still foggy on this. Are you saying the Calcium reactor will NOT raise the calcium levels of the tank?? Im confused.

They will significantly increase BOTH calcium and alkalinity if set incorrectly. If set correctly, they will maintain calcium and alkalinity in balance with the tank's natural uptake.

The best way is to measure both calcium and alkalinity at baseline, then start with a dribble-stream (is that a word?) and a set BPM rate of CO2. Then, adjust one of the two (bubble count or dribble-stream) and wait 12-24 hours to give your effluent pH a chance to normalize. Meanwhile, daily or every couple days, check your tank calcium and alkalinity until you get a steady number that holds, then you can check less frequently. This is the way I do it...YMMV.

Here is a very good article by Simon on tuning a calcium reactor (it is a MUST READ for every new calcium reactor user):


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


And, another invaluable article by jdieck:


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

 

[mpcart]

If you are using a controller does bubble rate matter? I would think that, as long as the rate is fast enough to reach the desired pH, then it doesn't matter if you run it faster.

Once the pH is reached, the controller will turn off the CO2. Isn't that one of the benefits of a controller - that you won't have to fiddle with bubble rate as much?

For what it's worth, I run Gen-X media and use a two part to get my Ca/Alk at the right level, then use the reactor to maintain it.

-Mike

 

[StupidsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10495512#post10495512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dphinsx2
Calcium reactors are for maintaining your levels. They make your system stable. If your levels are off, you need to adjust it accordingly.

This is what I understood too.
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Markk96 You need to be careful with this if you do not understand, a Calcium reactor will raise your alkalinity if your calcium is not at the correct level.
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I didn't know this part though. And thank you for the articles Nook I will check them out. Thanks everyone for the info.