Calcuim Reactor fine tuning

Well everything that I've read so far "farley" mainly says to just let it go and the alkalinity will take care of itself. As mentioned above I wanted someone to explain why raising the calcium by say 40ppm as I needed - I would first have to turn everything off. If every time my calcium needs to be raised do I need to turn the reactor off / dose and then turn it back on? I would think I could either lower the effluent count or the CO2 to balance these - or is my idea about the reactor all wrong? I guess I thought I could learn to balance these parameter for the most part by using the reactors CO2 rates and the effluent rates. I don't need to dose anything- calcium is good and if I add more alkalinity it would just make it higher. I really don't think every time one of my parameters are off that I should turn the reactor on/off - or is my idea about the reactor all wrong. This will happen and does happen with a new setup or old so I know it has to do with me learning to control the reactor properly - but I might be all wrong and you can't control the alkalinity ratings by adusting the reactor - only calcium and ph?
 
it seems that the reactor isnt meant to raise th cal levels.if you try to do this it will raise alk.from the stuff ive read you need to shut it down and get the numbers back in balance.then restart it.you dont need to dose to get your numbers right.i think if you go a day or two without dosing your levels will drop.im not sure but maybe a small water change to drop the alk is in order.anyone think this is bad idea?
 
Yeah everything I've read said if you're worried about the alkalinity level being high to just do a water change - that's what I was going to do today any way. My calcium level has raised to where I'd like it to be - 400 -420 is good and I'd like to maintain that - but I'd like not to turn the reactor off because I don't want water just sitting in it - as you stated. If the CO2 is not going into the system - the parameters shouldn't change - I would think that would be true. So I'd like my tanks pH a little higher (my normal range is around 82-83) and of course I think I could use sodium carbonate - it raises pH without raising the alkalinity as much as baking soda. Is this right - we are learning lots here!
 
Is this the reason mflamb was going to add the kalkwasser reactor? To balance out the changes in pH, alkalinity etc is this the reason to add this reactor? It sounds like it will take care of its self as far as the alkalinity goes and I'll be doing a water change (10g) any way so I think for the most part it should take care of things. I'm just very surprised that the calcium reactor can't raise your calcium it only maintain it - my thinking on that was way off.
 
A calcium reactor will raise calcium, just very slowly. Raise the pH slightly in the reactor (6.8-7.1) and run max flow on the water going through it. Limewater is great for stabilizing alk and pH.
 
Great thanks. I proved it will raise the calcium level I just didn't know at what cost. I probably should have slowed it down because my calcium went up from 360 to 400 - 420 in just a few days. If I would have slowed it down I think the alk would have stayed in check. What I'll do now is raise my pH very slowly and I'm doing a 10% water change today (normal maintenance) and I think that should do it. So for everyone else - it will raise the calcium but you just need to do it very slowly - I'm thinking 20ppm over the course of a 5 - 7 days.
 
I changed my pH monitors high and low levels, low number being 6.7 now and my high number being 7.2. The monitor should keep it at 6.8 to 7.0 range. If it doesn't I'll adjust according. I'll continue taking reading AM and PM just until I understand the reactor better.
 
Yeah - I'm learning what is slow and what is fast. I know the reactor is generally used on up to 350+ tanks but that doesn't mean you can't tune it in for smaller tanks. This is true for protein skimmer, heaters etc. The way it should work is my media will just last longer - which to me is a good thing. The water going through the reactor is still providing me calcium which I need. I got tired of spending 20 - 30 dollars each week on two tanks dosing. That is the reason I wanted to have a cal or Kal build. The dosing of the kal only even at dosing small - after awhile my pH was going to high (8.4 - 8.5).
I'm learning how the calcium reactor works and I have a lot of corals that are LPSs which also take up calcium, and my SPS collection keeps growing so I'm sure I'll be turning the settings down before to long.
 
did you do a water change?this will drop your alk some and it never hurts to do anyway.i got my regulators today :).im going to try to get a co2 tank monday and some media.i think ill be online by wednesday.
 
That is great checkinhawk what kind did you get? Not that it matters any is good :D. Where are you getting your regulator? I have a place not to far from me that refills my tanks and they also do welding- I might have to have them teach me how.

I do water changes every week, I always have with my fresh water and now with reefs. I think it just helps keeps everything in balance and with my freshwater I've never had a problem with anything and I've always contributed it to the water changes. It did bring it down and now that I have my pH set a little higher I think it will settle in good. My corals haven't looked better I must say.
 
i got a JBJ from FAOIS.i need the tank and will call crumpton welding supply on monday.im going to need to calibrate the controller before i start it up,but thats no biggie.i have been running lines and getting power to all the stuff for the reactor.so once i get the media and tank im ready to hook up and run.
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I see you got a Milwaukee pH monitor I've not tried any of that brand. I'm going to look for a small monitor for the other tank but I'm in no rush - I just take a cup from the tank and put the probe that on the 65 to check it - LOL. I didn't even think about just putting a hole on the side of my stand. Here I went to all this trouble and ran everything from the back - it's not like you can see it that much - you have that big reactor sitting there- :D. My friends are afraid of it, I have this lady that comes over every Friday and she loves the tank. I've been telling her about the reactor and Friday she got to see it - see kind of took a step back - LOL it was so funny. She just kind of said - WOW! If the place your getting the tank from doesn't have one or whatever, just let me know and I can pick up one for you from the place I go too. They should have one but might have been a rush (lots of beer parties).
 
I'm easing the pH up right now this morning in the reactor it was 6.45 and if I would have thought about it I would have caught the alk before it was that high. The pH is 6.72 now and with the water change it's getting to a more reasonable rate (6meq/l - 16.8). It will just go down slowly as it needs. I wasn't sure what to set the pH at first, I just new to make sure it's above 6.2. Now I understand better how it reacts.
 
i cant wait till mines on.im putting alot of 2 part to hold my cal and alk levels.i got the milwaukee the other day used,but as you can see its almost new condition.the holes in the stand was the way to do it for me.i figured why not,it will be cleaner looking.
 
I was over the two part - for the other tank yes but this one was killing me. I got the frag tank plumbed in today and I have salt water cooking. I like to mix it a good 24 hours before using so first thing in the AM I'll get it filled and start putting all my little frags in it. Right now most are in the refuge - I think- LOL.

The milwaukee looks real nice - you'll have to let us know how it is.
 
Hey mflamb- it's located beside the 75g in the corner. I have it sitting at an angle- looks nice there. We'll see how long it stays a frag tank :D. No it needs to stay one, all my frags keep fall off the rocks so I wanted a place to put them until they were at least large enough to find when they do fall - LOL. It's 20G and I plumbed it in with the 75. It has it's own filter but not good enough for a reef with corals. The lighting is a 175 MH with two CP and it fits perfect over the tank.

Did you get your plumbing finished?
 
make yourself a nice frag rack out of eggcrate.like you see in the stores.you can make it have several levels for different light intensities.
 
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