Effluent with Phosphate reading 2.0
- Thread starter melev
- Start date
dgasmd
New member
melev said:
Marc:
Test it the same way you use it, whether it is dripping or a steady stream. I seriously doubt your PO4 were so high as to impregnate into the reactor's media. It is likely to have been high all along. You just did not know because you never tested it before.
I am glad to see you found Kevin. If you don't mind it, please forward me his email to contact him to make me a another.
In the little experiment of the effluents, I would test the following way to eliminate all variables:
1. test tank water
2. test reactor's effluent as it is now without touching the reactor
3. turn off CO2 and test the effluent again when pH has reached the same as the tank.
4. clean the reactor and replace media.
5. test effluent of reactor without CO2 running with new media
6. turn on CO2 and reach you optimum working pH. Test again the effluent.
7 test the tank's water again.
That should give you a picture of the tank and effuent before and after any variable.
Alberto
PS: did you get my email or PM?
melev
Well-known member
dgasmd said:
Man, nothing like a little homework, eh?
For #3 and #5, are we talking about the little bit that drips out, or do I want to open the valve to get a steady flow going through the reactor? The wait period could be substantial as the pH rises and drops ever so slowly.
I have his username on Marshreef in my PM box. I'll look it up and give it to you, as he didn't give me an email address.
dgasmd
New member
Just let it drip on the cup and raw from the cup. For #3 and #4 you could do it either way. Certainly opening the valve will flush the CO2 present in the reactor faster, but it may be a little too much CO2 dumped at once. I seriously doubt it will do anything, but watch your tank's pH just in case.
Alberto
PS: Did you get my PM or email?
Alberto
PS: Did you get my PM or email?
melev said:
I tested the effluent coming out of the calcium reactor today, twice, with a brand new phosphate test kit. Both times the reading was zero, or as close to the zero color as I could tell. That is with A.R.M. and the reactor is very low, so it is media that has been in there for a couple of months.
Bojan
New member
melev said:
If you want to raise the alkalinity with the same Effluent Flow you have to increase bubble rate od CO2, so you have to decrease pH inside reactor.
There is my article about setting of the Ca reactor.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.htmlhttp://www.sloreef.com/bojan/CaReactorPerformance.htm
dgasmd
New member
Melev:
The only problem with lowering the pH below 6.7-6.8 with ARM is that tons of it will turn into dust and clog the living heck out of your reactor's pads/filters. That is the very same reason a lot of people are trying the Schuran media because the lower the pH the lhigher the DKH. Running the pH at 6.2-6.1 with that media can give you DKH values in the 90's on the effluent without much dust formation. It may be too much CO2 to add into your system depending on your effluent rate and the efficiency of you Ca reactor.
The only problem with lowering the pH below 6.7-6.8 with ARM is that tons of it will turn into dust and clog the living heck out of your reactor's pads/filters. That is the very same reason a lot of people are trying the Schuran media because the lower the pH the lhigher the DKH. Running the pH at 6.2-6.1 with that media can give you DKH values in the 90's on the effluent without much dust formation. It may be too much CO2 to add into your system depending on your effluent rate and the efficiency of you Ca reactor.
Bojan
New member
I use DIY Ca reactor
http://www.sloreef.com/bojan/CaReactor.htm
and I fill reactor with coral sand, actually pieces of the corals . I prefer granulation 10 mm up to complete branches of corals ( 5cm long) for Ca reactor media.
Based on my experiences optimal pH is 6,5 up to 6.6.
http://www.sloreef.com/bojan/CaReactor.htm
and I fill reactor with coral sand, actually pieces of the corals . I prefer granulation 10 mm up to complete branches of corals ( 5cm long) for Ca reactor media.
Based on my experiences optimal pH is 6,5 up to 6.6.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
i have started using Schuran "knock off" media (sold at premiumaquatics.com) they said it looks teh same as the schuran stuff and might be from the same company. i use it due to the dust issue that dgasmd was talking about w/ arm...i hated it. and for the lower po4 values....not proven but suposed to be lower in po4
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
tested my tank and effluent for alk and phosphates today here are my numbers:
tank:
alk - 11dKH (salifert)
po4 - 0.0ppm (salifert)
effluent
alk - ~34.0dKH (salifert)
po4 - <0.03ppm (salifert)
i'm glad to see that the po4 is low out of the effluent and undetectable w/ the salifert in the tank. i do realize that my po4 test might be sqewed due to the high alk when i tested it though
melev i'm sure the media has sucked up some po4 and possibly the other stuff in the reactor. hope that it gets all figured out soon!!
BTW - love in the first shot your ER skimmer
Lunchbucket
tank:
alk - 11dKH (salifert)
po4 - 0.0ppm (salifert)
effluent
alk - ~34.0dKH (salifert)
po4 - <0.03ppm (salifert)
i'm glad to see that the po4 is low out of the effluent and undetectable w/ the salifert in the tank. i do realize that my po4 test might be sqewed due to the high alk when i tested it though
melev i'm sure the media has sucked up some po4 and possibly the other stuff in the reactor. hope that it gets all figured out soon!!
BTW - love in the first shot your ER skimmer
Lunchbucket
melev
Well-known member
The reactor is circulating water and a little muriatic acid (1 cup worth), so it and its pump will be nice and clean. I need to clean the tubing as well, next. The ARM arrived yesterday, so I'll refill the reactor in a little bit.
I was talking with Rickjb today and he mentioned that the way I control the effluent may be part of the reason the alkalinity is so low. Since water is added to the reactor very slowly, and drips out into the beer cup, the pH rises and drops much slower within the reactor itself. He thinks measuring it within the reactor will turn the Co2 on and off more quickly. I would have to buy some type of probe holder and mount it to the reactor's lid to change the way it is running now.
I was talking with Rickjb today and he mentioned that the way I control the effluent may be part of the reason the alkalinity is so low. Since water is added to the reactor very slowly, and drips out into the beer cup, the pH rises and drops much slower within the reactor itself. He thinks measuring it within the reactor will turn the Co2 on and off more quickly. I would have to buy some type of probe holder and mount it to the reactor's lid to change the way it is running now.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
melev - i was wondering why you didn't test the pH in the reactor. i have an extra probe holder if you want it
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
arconom
Premium Member
Melev
What you measure coming out is what is inside.
That little reactor that we were talking about I ordered. Here is what I'm going to do.
I will buy a cheap PH controller and place the probe where the probe holder is inside that mini reactor. I will have it turn on and off the Soleniod on my regulaterto control my PH inside.
I learned with my last setup the best way to control PH is to just mess with the Bubble count. It becomes very difficult if you change the effuent rate and bubble count at once.
You shouldn't be controlling Incoming water flow to the reactor. Regardless of speed it will recirc.
Your unit has a specific GPH feed pump tha is recommended.
What you measure coming out is what is inside.
That little reactor that we were talking about I ordered. Here is what I'm going to do.
I will buy a cheap PH controller and place the probe where the probe holder is inside that mini reactor. I will have it turn on and off the Soleniod on my regulaterto control my PH inside.
I learned with my last setup the best way to control PH is to just mess with the Bubble count. It becomes very difficult if you change the effuent rate and bubble count at once.
melev said:
You shouldn't be controlling Incoming water flow to the reactor. Regardless of speed it will recirc.
Your unit has a specific GPH feed pump tha is recommended.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
melev - i just figured you would have a pH probe mounted in the chamber...that is what i meant. i have a holder if you want it
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
