Effluent pH from dual chamber reactor

[gbr]

Hey all, I am using ARM media in a dual chamber reactor and am having prolems keeping my Ca and Alk up. I am wondering if I am not disolving enough media.

What should I be looking for in a pH out of the second chamber? I usually see people quote around 6.5 for a single chamber. I control mine with a controller around 6.9??? What would the pH out of the first chamber be?

As a side question...anyone know where to get the bulkheads that will hold a standard pH probe so the probe can get mounted right into the 1st chamber? Currently the effluent drips into a small box that overflows to the sump and I don't care for that set-up as much.

 

[jiggy]

media doesnt start breaking down until 7.0ph.. so ur barely under that.. i keep my effluent between 6.50 and 6.60... 6.50 is 100% saturation, so i like to keep it close to that without going below

 

[schanz]

Tagging along. I need the same info as gbr. Trying to decide whether and how to mount the probe in the reactor or test the effluent.

 

[drock59]

6.5 is the lowest that I have ever heard of. From what I have read 6.8 is a good place to start.

 

[Highlander]

Bear in mind, the question is regarding the effluent from the second chamber, which is typically just there to buffer out excess CO2 from the effluent from the primary, circulatory chamber.

I run mine about 6.7 to 6.9 out of the second chamber, and that seems to give me a good breakdown of the media in the primary chamber, without the risk of it mudding.

 

[JB NY]

Using ARM, I keep my first chamber pH at 6.45. That makes it 6.65 at the effluent. I've not had problems with the media turning to mud.

 

[arconom]

On my old Setup I ran my first chamber at 6.9 it kept my 75gal on point.

Just measure your first chamber. The second is a buffer like Highlander said.

 

[Deuce67]

I run mine at 6.7 on the first reactor and has a ph of 6.9 on the second. I built a small reactor for my calcium reactor and its effluent is 7.7.

 

[gbr]

Thank so far all...It is not easy for me to control the first chamber. I have recently ordered some probe fittings so I can measure and control there rather than the second camber but for now, from what I am reading, I should be looking at 6.7-6.9 on the second chamber which should give me around 6.5-6.7 on the first...I'll start at 6.9 and work down slowly I guess..