GEO Calcium Reactor 618 - Help!

[edandsandy]

jdieck,
I have been following this thread, I WAS having some of the same problems.
I had a lot of my own questions answered by YOU!
Thanks for all your USEFUL information!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jdieck]

Glad it helped.

 

[edandsandy]

I'm not trying to steal this thread but.............
jdieck,
today I unplugged my co2 solenoid valve because while I was on vacation I had a service come in to check on my tank, my calcium was at 360, I usually keep it at 400-420, the maint. guy said "I have the same reactor, I can tweek it for you" well, I thought he DOES this for a living, go ahead I said..................
bad mistake on my part. When I arrived home, I had to go straight to the hospital, I had a fever of 102, sinus infection and walking Pneumonia. Needless to say I was down for the count!!!
Now I'm having problems lowing my dkh, I'm using a API test kit my levels are...........
Nitrates 15
Calcium 440
nitrates 0
amm. 0
mag.1470
dkh 15 drops or 268.5
way, way high I know. I did a 30% water change out yesterday hoping that would help. So like I said I have been following this thread, and unplugged my solenoid valve hoping that it would help lower my dkh. Also adjusted my effluent to 50 ml per minute.
Now the probe in the calcium reactor is at 8.3
ph in tank is at 8.45
this morning before I unplugged the co2 solenoid the tank was at 8.32 and the CR probe was at 7.5
any advise?

 

[jdieck]

No need for advise, you already did what has to be done which is shut off the CO2 until the levels come back to within the range.
Expect your calcium to drop to about 415 to 420 by the time your alkalinity drops to 200, I will turn the CO2 back on at an alkalinity of 175 and check the level every 48 to insure that the new effluent at 50 ml/min will be OK. If alkalinity starts to go back up or the PH in the reactor drops too much then reduce your CO2 bubble rate a bit so the controller does not turn on and off too often.

 

[edandsandy]

so I don't need to worry about the reading on the ph probe in the calcium reactor?

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11933557#post11933557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
so I don't need to worry about the reading on the ph probe in the calcium reactor?

No, once the CO2 has been shut closed the PH in the reactor shall increase up to the PH of the tank if not slightly higher.
Once you open the solenoid again the PH will start lowering back down to whatever the buble rate (or the PH controller) is set up for. Remember to keep the effluent going to prevent the water stagnating inside the reactor.

 

[edandsandy]

jdieck,
Thank you for all your help. You explained things so a girl can understand them

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11935861#post11935861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
jdieck,
...You explained things so a girl can understand them

Thanks, that gives me hope after being "continuously educated" at home for the last 32 years but still work in progress as I still fail miserably most of the time

 

[edandsandy]

you are too funny,
I will pass your useful information to my (better) half, whom I also try to "continuously educate".

thanks again!

 

[jdieck]

:thumbsup:

 

[Kregg]

I'm very jealous!

I wish my wife would take charge of the calcium reactor..... or even show just a little interest in the involved mechanics or chemistry of our "pretty fish tank with colorful furry sticks" (in her words). I just get the rolling of the eyes, when I add a piece of equipment and the question "How much was that?"

Then again.... I need to be careful what I ask for. I kind of lost interest in golf once she wanted to play every time me and the boys went out. Somethings are better solo.

 

[Waxxiemann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11938463#post11938463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kregg
I'm very jealous!

I wish my wife would take charge of the calcium reactor..... or even show just a little interest in the involved mechanics or chemistry of our "pretty fish tank with colorful furry sticks" (in her words). I just get the rolling of the eyes, when I add a piece of equipment and the question "How much was that?"

Then again.... I need to be careful what I ask for. I kind of lost interest in golf once she wanted to play every time me and the boys went out. Somethings are better solo.

LOL, sounds EXACTLY like my girlfriend.

 

[edandsandy]

You guys are toooooo funny, don't be too jealous HE has a 135 FOWL tank,

oh that I maintained also, NOW you can be jealous.

 

[Kregg]

Nice crab. Sorry if I made an assumption.

 

[edandsandy]

Kregg,
none taken! we both have a hugh $$$$ interest in our tanks. It is very interesting have friends over because our tanks are side by side. You would be surprised what people say and what they ask.

 

[edandsandy]

dKH still not drooping past 9 drops or 161.1
I will do a change out today and see if that helps.
any advise?

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11973025#post11973025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
dKH still not drooping past 9 drops or 161.1
I will do a change out today and see if that helps.
any advise?

If it has been steady at 9 it means the reactor is matching the consumption so do not touch it. If you want higher alkalinity increase it to 10 using manual supplementation (like baking soda or baked baking soda) once adjusted the reactor will keep it there.
Because sometimes at higher alkalinity level, it's consumption in the tank increases slightly. If it falls down from 10 to 9 after the manual adjustment then just increase the CO2 bubble rate just a little bit.

 

[edandsandy]

jdieck,
thanks for the reply. I thought that a alkalinity of 9 was high!?!
Today I plugged the co2 solenoid back in and adjusted the bubble count to 40 bpm. Our calcium dropped to 360. Oh, and I did a 40 gal. change out, my nitrates were at 20 ppm, way high.

 

[sgarron]

Great thread. I'm setting up my 618 this weekend and this should help alot.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11977546#post11977546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edandsandy
jdieck,
thanks for the reply. I thought that a alkalinity of 9 was high!?!
Today I plugged the co2 solenoid back in and adjusted the bubble count to 40 bpm. Our calcium dropped to 360. Oh, and I did a 40 gal. change out, my nitrates were at 20 ppm, way high.

The recommended range for alkalinity is from 7 to 11 dKh.

Tray to make all adjustments on the reactor for constant alkalinity, calcium adjust it using turbocalcium.