Calcium Reactor and PH

[builderguy]

Okay....

Got the calcium reactor up and running, but it's lowering my ph too much.

What's the best solution...a second chamber for the reactor, Kalk in the top-off, or a Kalk reactor?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How low is the pH?

The most effective solution will likely be limewater (kalkwasser) or more aeration with fresh air. I don't prefer limewater rectoers, but some folks use them. A second chambe can help, but not always enough.

These articles have more info:

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm


What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

 

[builderguy]

Not real low...in the a.m. it's at 8.05 or so....but after the Halides have been on it's at 8.2...maybe it's fine and I'm worrying about nothing?

 

[builderguy]

In reading the articles it occurred to me I could have a larger swing because I just removed a bunch of Macroalgae from the fuge (which is on reverse daylight)....about 1/2 of it actually.

Also I need to check my alkalinity in the tank again, it was low (part of the motivation for the reactor) and the reactor has only been running a few days, I'm sure it's dropped since I added buffer on Saturday.

 

[builderguy]

Randy,

It sounds like I'm shutting my CO2 of early than I need too...I have the controller set to shut off at 8.1...should I lower it to 7.9 so that I can continue getting the benefit of added Alk from the reactor?....what would you set it at? and when should it turn back on....over 8.0?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Not real low...in the a.m. it's at 8.05 or so....but after the Halides have been on it's at 8.2...maybe it's fine and I'm worrying about nothing?

I think that is fine, especially if you cna keep alkalinity at the higher end of normal, but going below 8.0 is less desirable, IMO.

8.0 sounds like a good cut off if your system can manage it. Are you not getting enough alkalinity from the reactor now?

 

[builderguy]

I'm still getting it dialed in...alk in the effluent was 41dKh last night, but ph in the effluent was 6.4 last night so I'm trying to raise that a bit...then I'll start testing tank water to make sure enough effluent is getting into the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Raising the pH in the reactor is a fine idea if the tank pH is low and you are delivering a lot of alkalinity (which you are).

These resources may help:

Calcium Reactor setup calculator (CaCO3/CO2 reactors)
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.html

A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm