Dialing in my calc reactor

[Zeus2]

Following Melevs site on how to set up calcium reactors, how do you increase your alk. in the effluent without slowing the effluent so much to where it drips out. I understand that I could increase the bubble count, but I don't see how this would effect it. I have it set up just like his with a ph probe in a cup of the effluent returing to the tank. The CO2 only turns on if the ph in the calc reactor goes above 6.8. So increasing bubbles would not do anything if it is only on when the monitor turns it on. My alk in my tank is between 8-9. My alk in the effluent is the same as the tank. I read in a forum that your goal is 3x what you want the tank to be at. Is this B.S. or truth.

Off the topic question. What alk level works for you guys. I'm still trying figure some of these things out.

 

[Reefer08]

The higher the bubble count is the higher the alkalinity will be in your effluent and also the lower the ph will be in the effluent.

If your alkalinity in your effluent is equal to the alk. in your tank then your calcium reactor is not dissolving the calcium reactor media and you need to double check the ph in the reactor. Maybe a differen't ph probe or recalibrate it. Yes 2 or 3x tank alk. is where it needs to be at.

 

[Zeus2]

When I place the probe in my tank water, it reads 8.2.. When placed back into the effluent, it reads 6.8. I'll still recalibrated to double check it though. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Zeus2]

I forgot to tell you that the reactor has maintained my calcium levels at 400 for the past three weeks at a ph of 7.5. I have finally moved the reactor to 6.8 in an attempt to gradually increase my calcium levels. By doing this, will it effect the alk at all.

 

[Reefer08]

Worry more about your alkalinity levels rather than calcium levels. Alkalinity swings a long faster than calcium. For example for every 2.8dkh of alkalinity your calcium reactor adds you also add only 18ppm of calcium. So dial in your calcium reactor off of trying to keep your alkalinity stable.

I rarely check my calcium levels since they are always in the 420-440 range. Alkalinity swings are very stressfull to sps.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

In your case, with a controller, you wouldn't increase the bubble count, you would decrease the pH on the controller. Lower pH dissolves more media, which leads to more concentrated alk. Try dropping the pH in your reactor by .1-.2.

However, personally I find that each media has a particular pH at which it works best, and flow through the reactor should be used to change how much you are actually dosing the tank. For example if pH in the reactor gets much below 6.7, typical ARM media turns to mush. However, the larger grain size medias need to be at around 6.5.

 

[Reefer08]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14823031#post14823031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LobsterOfJustice
In your case, with a controller, you wouldn't increase the bubble count, you would decrease the pH on the controller. Lower pH dissolves more media, which leads to more concentrated alk. Try dropping the pH in your reactor by .1-.2.

However, personally I find that each media has a particular pH at which it works best, and flow through the reactor should be used to change how much you are actually dosing the tank. For example if pH in the reactor gets much below 6.7, typical ARM media turns to mush. However, the larger grain size medias need to be at around 6.5.

And how exactly do you think a lower PH is obtained? Its obtained by more bubbles! So therefore you must increase your bubble count. You can play with your PH controller all you want it won't lower the PH any lower than the current bubble count on the regulator will allow.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

If you have a controller, it's obtained by turning a dial on the controller. If you have a controller, you can turn the bubbles up all you want, the controller is still going to close the solenoid when a certain pH is reached.

 

[Zeus2]

Thanks for all the help as ussual.

Jaramie