Brian Prestwood
Premium Member
If you've got a digital timer or controler (e.g. AquaContoller) then here's a way to control your calcium reactor pH with it. NOTE: this technique requires a solinoid on the CO2 injection system.
There are two variables for controlling the strength of the effluent coming from your calcium reactor, CO2 in and effluent out.
Increase the CO2 in and the effluent gets stronger. Increase the effluent out rate and the effluent gets weaker. Unfortunately, both of those adjustments are pretty finicky.
Here's what I did...
Fix the CO2 bubble rate at the slowest reliable rate, usually around 3 bubbles a second. This is usually too fast for most tanks. Fix the effluent out rate at the slowest reliable rate. I use a dripper from a drip watering system for plants. The 1 GPH dripper works well. Faster drip rates tend to introduce carbonic acid into the tank so slower is better.
Plug the CO2 injection system solinoid into the timer. Set the timer for 1 minute on and 15 minutes off. Adjust the off time up or down to keep up with your aquarium.
Done
ps If you've got an AquaContoller the on/off timer is great for this. This also frees up the pH probe to use in the tank.
There are two variables for controlling the strength of the effluent coming from your calcium reactor, CO2 in and effluent out.
Increase the CO2 in and the effluent gets stronger. Increase the effluent out rate and the effluent gets weaker. Unfortunately, both of those adjustments are pretty finicky.
Here's what I did...
Fix the CO2 bubble rate at the slowest reliable rate, usually around 3 bubbles a second. This is usually too fast for most tanks. Fix the effluent out rate at the slowest reliable rate. I use a dripper from a drip watering system for plants. The 1 GPH dripper works well. Faster drip rates tend to introduce carbonic acid into the tank so slower is better.
Plug the CO2 injection system solinoid into the timer. Set the timer for 1 minute on and 15 minutes off. Adjust the off time up or down to keep up with your aquarium.
Done
ps If you've got an AquaContoller the on/off timer is great for this. This also frees up the pH probe to use in the tank.