Calcium Reactor Tips Please

[oshanickreef]

I will be setting up my reactor up tonight finally! I am pretty nervous about it but I have been reading up a storm. Anyone with one currently set up have any words of advice for me?

thanks a million!

 

[M3P]

check labs. start it up slow. check labs. make small adjustments to either bubble rate or effluent rate (depending on labs). check labs. repeat process until it is dialed in.

 

[smoothdog]

Here's an older but still very relevant guide:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/

Also, I'm guessing you are going to use your apex to control CO2 to maintain specified PH, so once you dial in the reactor ph and effluent rate, dial in your bubble count so that the apex is not turning the CO2 on and off constantly. This will set the reactor to be self regulating so it will not start dumping CO2 in the reactor if the apex fails for some reason and leaves the CO2 on. You can then set alarms on the apex to alert you if the PH in the reactor goes out of range.

 

[oshanickreef]

Cool thanks for the tips. i continue to read more about it and i have noticed a pattern. people constantly have issues with alk in the beginning... i may run out of reagent this week lol

 

[Mr D smack]

When i was dialing my reactor in i found it best to make the change you need and let it run 24 to 48 hours before retesting.

 

[oshanickreef]

i have heard from people too that the geo reactors build up gas in the top of the chamber. any other GEO users have this issue?

 

[mpcart]

I have a GEO 618 and did have the problem with gas building up in the chamber but that seems to be more related to having too fast a bubble rate and not enough effluent drip. I don't have the problem now that I have everything set properly.

You asked for advice so here is mine . . . don't get nervous or sweat setting up the reactor.

Get your results where you want them with additives.

Set a slow bubble rate and slow effluent drip and run for a day or two.

Test again, get your parameters in line.

Adjust the settings faster or slower

Repeat.

It's not like you are going to nuke your tank if your settings are off.

-Mike

 

[oshanickreef]

I have a GEO 618 and did have the problem with gas building up in the chamber but that seems to be more related to having too fast a bubble rate and not enough effluent drip. I don't have the problem now that I have everything set properly.

You asked for advice so here is mine . . . don't get nervous or sweat setting up the reactor.

Get your results where you want them with additives.

Set a slow bubble rate and slow effluent drip and run for a day or two.

Test again, get your parameters in line.

Adjust the settings faster or slower

Repeat.

It's not like you are going to nuke your tank if your settings are off.

-Mike

well i feel a little bit better now! thanks! i am going to make up 2 part tonight because i ran out so i will have it readily available to supplement for my levels

 

[frogspawn74]

I set mine up with a reef fanatic ph controller ($100 est.) and a aquarium plants carbon doser. pretty much set and forget other than adjusting the effluent rate.

 

[oshanickreef]

So I just finished setting up my reactor! I can't believe at how well that aquarium plants Carbon doser works. I figured the installing regulator was going to be the hardest part but it was basically the same thing as installing a propane tank. I'm running a leak test for 24 hours then installing it tomorrow after work. Perfect timing because I am completely out of calcium chloride. I ordered more to adjust levels but I would have gone a day without it and that scares me!

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

try this read:
www.reef.diesyst.com