<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6330424#post6330424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
I think you are making this harder than it is.
Get your reactor running, and set the effluent rate to about 50 mL a minute coming out of the second chamber.
Once you get it steady there, set your bubble count to about 50 bubbles a minute.
In two hours check the effluents pH, your goal is 7.
Keep adjusting the bubble count (leave the effluent alone) until you get to a pH of 7.
Remember to wait 2 hours between checking the pH.
It takes about that long to see the effects of adjusting the CO2 rate. Write down your bubble count and effluent rate.
Once you get it at 7 pH and steady, measure your tanks alk and calcium. Write this down.
Do not add any alk or calcium boosters AT ALL during this phase.
24 hours after your reactors effluent is at 7.0 pH measure tanks alk (only alk is needed) again.
If it is the same as before (which it won't be as noone is that lucky) your reactor is dialed in.
If the alk level raised then your reactor is adding to much.
Lower your bubble count a bit, and lower your effluent a bit (once again get it to a pH of 7).
Once there measure tanks alk again, wait 24 hours and retest.
Do this until it is steady.
If your alk lowered after your first test, raise bubbles and effluent a bit until 7 pH is reached, measure alk, wait 24 hours and test again. Repeat until alk is steady.
Once your alk is steady for a few days, add buffer and calcium supplements to get your tanks readings where you want them to be (NEVER, use your reactor to raise or lower levels, it is too much of a PITA to redial it in).
Also, remember that as you add more SPS/LPS/Clams/Snails and as coraline grows, so will your Ca and alk demand.
I suggest checking levels twice a week until you are confident everything is stable, then once a week.
Use a good alk kit like Salifert that gives you a number and not a shade of blue/purple.
You will only need to test alk, alk and Ca are linked.
If alk is steady so is calcium...generally.
ALWAYS WRITE DOWN YOUR BUBBLE COUNT AND EFFLUENT DRIP RATE...this will save you headaches in the future.
Hope this helps,
Sean
