Calciu Reactor Question

[rutz81]

Decided to post in this forum because most user of calcium reactor have SPS.

I have seen others calcium reactors and the water inside in reactor is always clear. Mine is not, it is cloudy. I am using Gen-X large style media and there is often air inside the reactor chamber as well. I am running my PH inside my reactor at around 6.6. It is controlled by a Milwaukee PH controller. I'm almost positive that it should be clear, but, am not sure what to do to correct the problem. Also, what issues could this cause in my aquarium?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

[polypman]

i dont know what reactor you own but i have a GEO. It sounds to me like you have more CO2 gas entering the chamber that it can desolve therefore bubbles accumulate. Either increase your effulent rate or reduce your BPM. Increasing your flow would also reduce your PH in the chamber which should clear up your cloudy water. Make small changes and test you tank alk often. A correctly set Calcium reactor should have no CO2 accumulating in the chamber and the water should be clear. I would not change the BPM more than 6 bubbles per minute at a time. I also use the large Gen X media. My experience also is that it is easier to dial in the reactor when it fully loaded with the correct amount of media as opposed to half or 3/4 full. Wait a full day between making adjustments. I dont care about my PH in the chamber - focus on your TANK alkalinity- thats what you are trying to manage. HTH

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9279380#post9279380 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by polypman
i dont know what reactor you own but i have a GEO. It sounds to me like you have more CO2 gas entering the chamber that it can desolve therefore bubbles accumulate. Either increase your effulent rate or reduce your BPM. Increasing your flow would also reduce your PH in the chamber which should clear up your cloudy water. Make small changes and test you tank alk often. A correctly set Calcium reactor should have no CO2 accumulating in the chamber and the water should be clear. I would not change the BPM more than 6 bubbles per minute at a time. I also use the large Gen X media. My experience also is that it is easier to dial in the reactor when it fully loaded with the correct amount of media as opposed to half or 3/4 full. Wait a full day between making adjustments. I dont care about my PH in the chamber - focus on your TANK alkalinity- thats what you are trying to manage. HTH

Agreed!

 

[dsltech]

im just tagging along here...on the drip rate do u guys count it by the drop per min or ml per minute?

 

[polypman]

I would set the drip rate just before if becomes a broken stream and back it off a tad. (Steady rapid drip ) Now adjust your BPM to the proper Tank alkalinity desired. No need to ever have to adjust your effluent rate unless gas is building up in chamber. Only use your BPM to achieve your alk objective. I recommend you start out low on the BPM and sneak up on the desired tank alk through periodic testing. HTH

 

[rutz81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9279380#post9279380 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by polypman
i dont know what reactor you own but i have a GEO. It sounds to me like you have more CO2 gas entering the chamber that it can desolve therefore bubbles accumulate. Either increase your effulent rate or reduce your BPM. Increasing your flow would also reduce your PH in the chamber which should clear up your cloudy water. Make small changes and test you tank alk often. A correctly set Calcium reactor should have no CO2 accumulating in the chamber and the water should be clear. I would not change the BPM more than 6 bubbles per minute at a time. I also use the large Gen X media. My experience also is that it is easier to dial in the reactor when it fully loaded with the correct amount of media as opposed to half or 3/4 full. Wait a full day between making adjustments. I dont care about my PH in the chamber - focus on your TANK alkalinity- thats what you are trying to manage. HTH

Thank you very much for the response. I will try that right now. It sounds exactly what I am doing wrong. I had my bubble rate very high and I think that is what is causing the problem because I also have a bubble on top of my chamber all the time. Thanks again.

Dave

 

[McCrary]

This might make things a bit easier.

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

 

[dsltech]

thanks for the reply polyman...ok right now i set my drip rate rapidly and about bubble per second as my starting point...

 

[polypman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9282608#post9282608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dsltech
thanks for the reply polyman...ok right now i set my drip rate rapidly and about bubble per second as my starting point...

Your Welcome - Unless your system has a very high calcium/alk demand it sound like 1 bubble per second is a very - and i mean VERY - high starting point.

I have a 120 gallon SPS tank that's 3 years old and i only run 22 bubbles per minute. Every system is different but 60 bubbles per minute is really alot. Please make sure you test your TANK alkalinity often and keep an eye on your PH as CO2 will drop it some. (esp at 1 bubble per sec). If it was me I would start at maybe 25 bubbles per minute MAX and slowing sneak up on my ALK objective by testing often . HTH

 

[dsltech]

oh shoot thanks again...i didn't know that im glad u told me.. i only have about 12 pieces of acro a small ones and 3clams...im bringing it down now...