calcium reactor woes

[matt the fiddler]

So, several months ago my maxijet fed KNOP reactor kept clogging at the air line release valve... with calcium deposits.


this led to a series of changes over several months...

1-new needle valves from premium
2- got rid of the bad media- and got the new GENX media...


I was fine for a few months.... now the reactor is clogging with my ph of the effluent not even reaching reccomended runnign range for the crappy media...

This has really been messing with my tanks stability.. raised my alkalinity overnight to danger levels when I tried to fix it.. and now, very low.. I have a couple of colonies that have stned and a few montis that hve not faired well....


I am frustrated... What do i need to do and why does no one else seem to have this problem? updraft reactor? dosing pump feed rather than estricting the leaving flow?


Thanks..


Matt

 

[Coralfreak]

I am not real familiar with the Knop reactors, but it sounds like the valve to control the effluent rate is on the output? Is that correct?

 

[matt the fiddler]

yea. i control the flow through the reactor by pressurizing it, and then having the effluent drip rate... my goal is 1 C02 bubble per 3 secs... and then the effluent rate drip was about 3 drips per second when I calibrated last year it against the flow... in addition to that, I watch the PH of the effluent, to make sure it does not get too low..

What happens if it gets too low? does it melt the media and clog the export valve?

looks like my tort is starting to stn a bit now too.. yuck



fwiw i waterchanged 20-25% two weeks ago, over 3 days... when the reactor caused the alk spike... i am doing another 10% today, hopefully 10% tomorrow...
MAtt

 

[Coralfreak]

Hmm, I am not at all familiar with pressurized type reactors. On most calcium reactors the effluent is controlled on the input side, since the valve can be easily plugged on the output. It really should not be causing this many issues if your CO2 input remains steady, all that should happen with a change in effluent rate is the alk coming out should go up or down. If the effluent rate slows down, the pH of the reactor will be lower and you should get a higher alk, so more alk at a slower rate and just the opposite if the effluent rate is higher, the net result should be the same.

I wish I could be more help, but this is not a familiar sounding setup.

 

[matt the fiddler]

Should i try to put the valve on the input of the reactor? My original reading [which could have been as old as the reactor's design] said the pressurized type was much more accurate and better....


i was not able to get a steady effluent rate with the valve before the reactoer... but that was with closed meadia... now that I have the open stuff... I will try that.

Maybe that is why no one has this problem... lol
Thanks!

 

[matt the fiddler]

i am noticing if the height of the line out changes [with in an inch]... the flow does too.... is that what I should expect to be seeing?

 

[Coralfreak]

You probably wont get a real steady rate, thats actually not a big deal, as long as you keep your CO2 rate constant, and have a decent effluent rate it will work. Ive always looked more at how much it puts out in actual volume, mL/min for example, its much more accurate than counting drops. Of course you do need to make sure your pH in the reactor stays within the recommended range, not sure what you are using for media.

i am noticing if the height of the line out changes [with in an inch]... the flow does too.... is that what I should expect to be seeing?

I am not real sure what this means The level in the reactor is changing?

 

[matt the fiddler]

no.. when i was adjusting the drip... i would move the output line to and from the collection cup where i measure the ph...


6.3 to 6.4 is the range for the Gen X

 

[Coralfreak]

Ah, gotcha Yeah, it may change a little if you move the output line.

What is the alk level in the effluent?

 

[matt the fiddler]

i will test that once the ph ballances in the low 6's...