Calcium Reactor Question I'm close

[thysrof]

Ok,here's my water tests for the last five days and I haven't adjusted the bubble counter or drip in almost 3 days or add 2 part

Alk CA
10/2 156ppm 405
10/3 160 430
10/4 140 405
10/5 153 405
10/6 160 395

Should I add a little CA part 2,increase the bubble count,or wait one more day to make an adjustment. I feel like I was making too many adjustments whether it was bubble count,Affluent drip, Or two part to really see how the reactor is handling it.

Thanks Bob

 

[corndogg]

I'd add a little 2 part CA and see what happens. If it drops again I'd do one of two things. Depending on the pH of your reactor? If it's on the lower side of where you are targeting I'd increase the effluent drip rate slightly. If pH is higher, than I'd increase the bubble count.

Your alk is in a completely acceptable range but I wouldn't getting too much higher. Which could happen if you have to turn up the reactor output. 7-11 is the range but you want to pay attention the the ratio of CA also.

Here are you current ratios.

 

[northbay-reefer]

alk 160 what Bob ? according to my chart 160 is dkh of 4.5 and that is too low, your alk need to be atleast 7dkh or in your case 251. I think its better if you list your dkh becuz that's what we are familiar with.

Anyway assuming that it is low,but from your list its looking like the calcium reactor is stable and able to maintain the level atleast. Test the ph of your effluence to see if its 6.7, then the next thing I would do is use two parts to start adjusting your alk and calcium up slowly until it reaches an alk of 8dkh and calcium of 420. The calcium can be adjusted to 420 now, but the dkh will need to be increase slowly 1dkh at a time in a 24 hour period until you reach 8dkh.


How is your corals looking by the way? wiht alk this low they might be stressing out.

 

[corndogg]

I'm guessing 160 ppm which equals about 9.4 dkH.

So don't add any alk supplement. It's plenty high! Just get your CA up and see if will stay there on it's own. If it won't then make your adjustments. Depending on the reactor's pH.

 

[northbay-reefer]

my chart is off them :lol:

 

[corndogg]

Yeah, if you look on the screenshot from the reefnerds.com chart in the previous post, you'll see it has the conversion for ppm, dkH and Meq/L on the right side.

160ppm = 9.4 dkH = 3.3 Meq/L

 

[corndogg]

BTW, how was the swap? Get anything good?

 

[northbay-reefer]

Yeah it was a fun swap, lots of people attended and Pam was a great host. I won a piece of Lemonaide acro, picked up on my first pick the pink jade, and then latter got a rose milli and some other unknown with some potential.

 

[thysrof]

I just tested Reactor PH and it was 6.7,So I'll try adding some two part.

I 'll start posting my test results in DKH. Jason was correct that 160 ppm is 9 DKH. I use the Lamotte Alk test kit and It reads in PPM. But i have a chart that converts.

 

[corndogg]

Based on the reactor's pH, if CA drops again I'd probably increase both effluent drip and bubble count slightly. Try to keep the pH about 6.6 - 6.7. Remember, only the slightest increase will be necessary and you're only adding CA right? No Alk!

 

[corndogg]

Another thing...if you continue to have trouble with Calcium only, I'd take a look at your magnesium. It should be between 1300/1500ppm. It can cause calcium problems when low.

Since calcium reactors dissolve ca/alk in equal proportions, you shouldn't need to continually dose just one product of the two part.

 

[thysrof]

Jason,
yes I only dosed a little Ca. tested and the Ca was at 420.If it drifts lower I'll slightly increase Afflunent and Bubble count.

Bob

 

[thysrof]

Just tested again DKH 9.0 Ca 395. So I'm slightly increasing afflunet drip and bubble count. I added Ca part 2 yesterday and it tested Ca 420 and then dropped to 395 again today.

Also just tested Mag 1290. I need to make Mag supplement. Just want to confirm Randy's Recipe,Just mix 71/4 cups magflake and 3/4 cup Epsom Salt. Owe and mix them seperately in water and then combine.

Does HD carry magflake?

Thanks Bob

 

[northbay-reefer]

!290 is not bad, you are very close. Where did you get the mag flakes bob ?

 

[thysrof]

I need to buy the Magflake I'm asking where to buy it? 3 weeks ago the mag was 1320,so I just want to bump it back up.

 

[corndogg]

So it looks like you need to turn up your reactor's output one notch cause it's not quite keeping up with consumption.

Take it slow. It is easier to turn it up a little and have to dose again than to turn it up too much and then have to turn off co2 while you wait for it to drop cause you increased output too much initially.

That magnesium could be alittle higher but is close enough that we know that it isn't causing any problems.

 

[thysrof]

I increased the Affluent drip and Bubble count slightly

Alk went from 9.0 Dkh to 9.4

Ca went from 395 to 405

I feel like I'm pretty right on with the Bubble count and the Affluent drip. I was thinking of adding a little Ca 2 part and that should drop the Alk and raise the calcium and the Reactor should be able to maintain the levels for a more extended time.

Make sense?

 

[northbay-reefer]

Dont make anymore adjustment, you are on the right track, now go get more corals so they can bring down your alk :lol:

 

[corndogg]

A small dose of Ca won't drive down your alk.

I agree w/ Tom. I would just leave it alone for a day or two and keep an eye on the alk so it doesn't go up anymore.

It it continues to creep up, I'd decrease the bubble count slightly ( by a few bubbles per minute) and leave the effluent alone. This is of course after you shut of the co2 for a day or so so that the alk can drop back down to your desired level. If you have to shut off the co2, obviously you want to shut off the solenoid not the needle valve so you don't mess up your adjustments. Also, don't forget your going to need to supplement CA while you wait for the alk to drop down.

BTW, what's your reactor's pH look like?

Don't worry, you're just about there!

 

[thysrof]

Ok, Glad you told me if Alk needs to drop unplug the cylenoid,I didn't know.

I'll let it go for a couple days and see where I'm at.

Reactor PH 6.5 last test a week ago 6.7,so pretty consistent.