Calcium Reactor with PH controller and Timer?

[Montreal Ray]

I'm currently setting up a Deltec calcium reactor, I want to do this right the first time. I have been doing a lot of reading and came across this interesting post on another board. What do you guys think about setting up like this?

"If you turn off the C02, the pH in the reactor climes back up over the shut down period, so when it comes back on it A: takes ages to get back to the desired pH without dumping loads of gas into the reactor. and B: even once you have got the pH back to where it should be , it will take hours and hours for the dissolution rate to climb back to a decent DkH.

If you want to turn the reactor off at night, simply turn off the feed pump but leave the recirculation pump running, and your C02 on (controled by the controler) to keep the reactor primed at the correct pH ready for the morning. The solenoid will just click on and off occasionally at night putting just enough Co2 in to keep the reactor stable.

The other advantage in doing it this way, is that whilst on tickover at night, DkH in the reactor will be at its peak for the pH you are running giving you the best and most concentrated effluant for minimal Co2 usage"
Sounds correct to me

 

[sirreal63]

I know some people run them that way, but it defeats the purpose of the reactor...which is to maintain the calcium and alkalinity. If the alk drops from consumption the reactor will keep it at that reduced level. They do not raise levels very well. I can see where it would work if the demand was small, but once the demand increases from coral growth then the off time would need to be adjusted to compensate for it. I wouldn't say don't do that, but rather if you are going to do that, pay close attention to the alk levels in your tank and be prepared to adjust them as needed.

 

[Montreal Ray]

Thanks for the reply Jack

So you're saying It's better to forget the timer all together and run the controler by itself and not turning it off at night at all?

Some say runing it at night could/will lower PH?

But then again, most now run lights at night for their fuge.

I will understand this eventually

regards,
Ray

 

[sirreal63]

If it were me, I would skip the timer. I drip my effluent into the same chamber my skimmer feed pump is in, the skimmer does an excellent job of outgassing any CO2 in the water.

Try to not worry too much about ph. I did at one time because I thought it had to be 8.3 and spent a lot of money and headache trying to keep it constant. Once I stopped and just let it be where it wanted to be everything grew much better. It is very unlikely that the ph in any of our tanks would ever drop to dangerous levels. Of course it is possible, but not probable. More damage is done by chasing a number and adding buffers which are just band aids at best and wreak havoc on the consistency of our parameters and mess with the chemistry of the tank. You want your water chemistry to stay consistent, a rapidly fluctuating chemistry is where problems come from. Your livestock will adapt to normal and steady fluctuations that occur naturally.

 

[Montreal Ray]

If it were me, I would skip the timer. I drip my effluent into the same chamber my skimmer feed pump is in, the skimmer does an excellent job of outgassing any CO2 in the water.

Try to not worry too much about ph. I did at one time because I thought it had to be 8.3 and spent a lot of money and headache trying to keep it constant. Once I stopped and just let it be where it wanted to be everything grew much better. It is very unlikely that the ph in any of our tanks would ever drop to dangerous levels. Of course it is possible, but not probable. More damage is done by chasing a number and adding buffers which are just band aids at best and wreak havoc on the consistency of our parameters and mess with the chemistry of the tank. You want your water chemistry to stay consistent, a rapidly fluctuating chemistry is where problems come from. Your livestock will adapt to normal and steady fluctuations that occur naturally.

Thanks Jack! I will take your advise when plugging it all up this weekend.

I wll be dripping my effluent in my first sump where I have my carbon reactor and skimmer, that sump then drians into a second sump. Im guesing that my skimmer and second sump drian will do the job of outgassing any CO2.

thanks again!

 

[sirreal63]

Sounds like a perfect plan.

 

[nemosworld]

you can also run a reverse lighting system between your sump and your display to help maintain your ph. my sump light comes on when the display light goes off. others keep their light in the sump on 24/7. you need to setup a refuge though. i just use chaeto, no sand or rocks.

 

[tkeracer619]

Not sure who started the turn your reactor off at night thing but it has come up a lot recently.

It is not the way to do it.

Jack has given good advice.