do calcium reactors fail

O

Oakie

New member
For the past 2 years been running my reactor with no problems and calcium at about 430. For the past 3 weeks my calcium has been at about 375 - I have the reactor opened up so that the return flow is just that a flow.....I used to have to only drip really quick. Been at this rapid flow rate for about 3 weeks but can't get the reading up - staying the same. It's a 180, heavy with sps but nothing new over the past 3 months. I did change the media about 5 weeks ago......any connection?
 
If the return is to fast than the reaction time within the reactor will be less. Slow down the return than monitor your calcium to see if it changes. Also, what is your bubble count. It also could be that your calcium need is more than your output being that you have SPS. Let us know
 
Not sure I understand the logic of that....wouldn't more water flowing through the media, disolve more media and flow it into the tank? About 3 bubbles every 2 seconds
 
ok....feeling kind of dumb.............these things should come with better instructions. :)

it just all sounds so counter intuitive......but if you say so, I"m going to go and crank it back - I've got it gushing out of there......ooops.
 
I have found that slower drip rates make the media dissolve quicker. I have had my life reef reactor for 2 yrs and still don't know how to use it correctly.
 
thanks for trying to make me feel better.....:)

Thing is the media is dissolving....have dropped in the chamber about 3/4" over the past 3 weeks. But I guess I'm hearing that doesn't matter - it can still dissolve quickly, but not enough time to react? Do I have it right?
 
I would think that if it dissolved than it has reacted. I could be wrong. I am going to ask randy holms farley to chime in here to help us out. I also know that the media dissolves from the inside out. I had a problem with the media not dissolving, turned out when I opened up the reactor all the aragonie turned to mush when I touched it
 
yeah, I usually get the mush when I'm switching the media after getting down to the bottom inch or two. This media is only in for the 5 weeks or so.l

hopefully we do get some chiming in from the person you mention......randy holms farley....................
 
The CO2 is added to reduce the pH to the point where calcium carbonate dissolves. That is typically down in the mid 6's. If the flow rate is too high, the pH will not drop low enough. Imagine the extreme case, where the flow is very high. The pH will then not drop much at all, and no CaCO3 will dissolve.

These resources may be useful in optimizing the reactor settings:

A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm

Calcium Reactor setup calculator (CaCO3/CO2 reactors)
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.html
 
my god......have I ever had this backwards!!!

Extremely, extremely, extremely useful links.....thank you Randy!

Have dropped the PH in the reactor and tracking to see what happens....dialed back the effluent from a steady stream back to drops.
 
Hello
You have to keep in mind that as the corals/clams grow they will demand more calcium! When I find that my aquariums with reactor set ups are deficient in Ca. I'll hit it with a little turbo calcium and bump up the reactor a bit.
 
when you say "bump" up the reactor a bit.....are you referring to increasing the drip rate??? Just want to make sure I get thiis.h
 
Hello Oakie
What I'll do is increase the water flow through the reactor a bit, & then add a little more CO2 to get the reactor effluent back down to a ph of 6.6 (ARM) media.
 
I have an ordinary John Guest type gate valve controling my effluent. I've been meaning to replace it with something more... precise? adjustable? sensitive!

Anyone know where to get one of those screw down valves (or anything else that is easy to dial in)? Mine goes from a slow drip to a full flow with even the lightest touch making it a pain in the assymetric photons to adjust. :p

I've checked Drs F&S, Marine Depot, PA and a few other places with no luck.
 
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