Calcium Reactor/pH controller question.

[MarkS]

I've noticed that some manufacturers have included a fitting so that the probe from a pH controller can be installed inside the reactor. My knowledge of calcium reactors is limited, but it is my understanding that the pH of the water in the reactor stays pretty stable once the reactor is dialed in. It is also my understanding that the controller is supposed to monitor the water in the main system for pH drops and shut off the reactor in that event.

So, why would anyone need a controller testing the water in the reactor? I could possibly understand using a monitor is this application, but I really cannot see the justification in that either. I'm in the process of building a large reactor and would like to know the reasons for including either a monitor or controller before I go through the laborious task of drilling and tapping a 3/4" NPT hole in 3/4" PVC plate.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[reef bloke]

Couple of reasons:
1 You can get the best ratio of CO2 to Media ie if your media is designed to give best results at 6.5 then the controller will hold it at that.
2 No need to overdrive with CO2 to make sure you getting the best out of your reactor without continually testing the effluent.Much more efficient use of your CO2.
3 Wont lower the Ph in the main aquarium if the feed pump starts to fail on the reactor as it will shut down the CO2 at point of source before output Ph becomes a problem..
Regards Tony

 

[Anemia]

If the feed pump on the reactor failed, no water would be coming out of the effluent side to lower the tank pH anyway... Right?

I don't know. I can see the benefits to having it both ways. Personally, I have the probe in the sump rather than the effluent so that my co2 will shut down even if it isn't the cause of low pH. Sometimes when I burn fires in my fireplace the pH of the tank will drop. If I had the probe in the reactor it would keep on truckin because it would have no idea that my tank was lower than I would like it to be.