Calcium Reactor Question

[thysrof]

Calcium Reactor is maintainig Alk at 9 and calcium a little low. Is there any option besides adding calcium? I've been adding turbo calcium and randy's calcium recipe and it's raising CA.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[corndogg]

Not sure I get your question. You say you've been adding and it's raising. Are you looking to get it higher or maintain the current level without supplementing the turbo calcium?

 

[thysrof]

Yes I'm raising it with the turbo calcium. I'm just wondering if there's a way to raise calcium without raising alk with adjusting the calcium reactor and not adding turbo calcium.

bob

 

[corndogg]

nope. when the media dissolves, there will always be a proportionate amount of calcium and alkalinity. You cannot make it increase one or the other.

 

[corndogg]

Have you tested where the calcium levels off when your reactor is maintaining that 9dkh alk? It might be in the acceptable range. Also, how long has it maintained that same alk?

Another thing to consider is the accuracy of your test kits. You might want to borrow another kit just for reference. I have salifert for both CA & Alk if you want to run a test or two.

 

[thysrof]

The calcium was 375 at 9dkh and I raised it to CA 400 and maintained the same 9dkh alk.

The alk has been pretty stable at 8.5-9.0 dkh with the CA running 360-410. The reactor media is pretty fresh I changed it almost two months ago. I did add a little dolomite to the media this time.

i use the Sea Chem CA test kit and it has a sample fluid to test accuracy of test. The lamotte alk I may want to compare. I think I'm going to add turbo calcium for a couple more days and then see if the reactor can maintain a level of 400+. If not i will take tou up on checking the accuracy of the Lamotte alk test kit.

Thanks for the input.

 

[corndogg]

Sounds like a good plan. You do have a little more room (as far as alk goes) if you want to bump up your reactor output to get that calcium up a little higher if it doesn't stay there after dosing. But, if you increase it too much and then the tank doesn't consume the extra alk output then obviously it would begin to climb. I would rather have to dose a little calcium than worry about an alk spike. Although Calcium and alkalinity are important, alk should be your primary concern if you had to choose one.

Remember, you don't use the reactor to actually increase your CA/ALK parameters. Dose up to the desired parameter and bump up your reactor output simultaneously. If it drops down again then you need to increase again. If it climbs then you turned up the reactor a little too much and bring it down a notch. It sounds like you've got that concept down - just a friendly reminder.

 

[thysrof]

Thanks for the input. I think I've got the basics down for the reactor. i just don't like to make a change sometimes without confirming the logic.

 

[corndogg]

np