Korallin Calcium Reactor
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Calcium reactor
Calcium reactor
Slayer said that a properly adjusted calcium reactor will keep the ph and the calcium at the right levels. I just got my calcium reactor and kh is 10 and calcium 500,but everything I been reading says your ph sould drop if the reactor is running right and that you should supplement with kalkwasser to bring it back up or another buffer. I think theres lots of good advice, but I,m confused.
Calcium reactor
Slayer said that a properly adjusted calcium reactor will keep the ph and the calcium at the right levels. I just got my calcium reactor and kh is 10 and calcium 500,but everything I been reading says your ph sould drop if the reactor is running right and that you should supplement with kalkwasser to bring it back up or another buffer. I think theres lots of good advice, but I,m confused.
jdieck
New member
Re: Calcium reactor
Re: Calcium reactor
No, the PH does not necesarely drops if your consumption and addition is relatively small and the reactor is properly designed not to pass excess CO2. Also PH tendency to drop is diminished if there is proper aereation in your tank or point of effluent flow dripping.
The most tendency to drop the PH IME is when the reactor is operated at max to catch up with the consumption, this operation requires high flow and very low effluent PH 6.4-6.5.
Re: Calcium reactor
oba2 said:
No, the PH does not necesarely drops if your consumption and addition is relatively small and the reactor is properly designed not to pass excess CO2. Also PH tendency to drop is diminished if there is proper aereation in your tank or point of effluent flow dripping.
The most tendency to drop the PH IME is when the reactor is operated at max to catch up with the consumption, this operation requires high flow and very low effluent PH 6.4-6.5.
Ereefic
In Memoriam
After testing the tank a little while ago my levels seem to be holding steady at 10.2 dkh and 430 cal.
I did bump up the drip rate a little lastnight and the bubble count just a touch too. Going to recheck the rates a little later on. The pH of the effluent started to drop yesterday evening to 6.5 and shutting off the selinoid, so I upped the effluent output just a little which helped the pH stay at 6.6, but the alk. of the effluent went up down a little so I upped the bubble count for a few more BPM and it is running nicely now at 6.6 ph effluent.
I did bump up the drip rate a little lastnight and the bubble count just a touch too. Going to recheck the rates a little later on. The pH of the effluent started to drop yesterday evening to 6.5 and shutting off the selinoid, so I upped the effluent output just a little which helped the pH stay at 6.6, but the alk. of the effluent went up down a little so I upped the bubble count for a few more BPM and it is running nicely now at 6.6 ph effluent.
Ereefic
In Memoriam
Well, my levels have been holding steady and the reactor has been running flawlessly. 
My tank pH is 7.8 night and 8.0 day. I'm not going to worry to much about it as everything is growing and healthy. While i'd like to bring it up to a more normal range, think i'm going to have to live with these numbers during winter time and I expect them to rise come window opening weather.
Thanks Jdeick and Dragon Slayer for your help in getting this thing running, it is very appreciated.
My tank pH is 7.8 night and 8.0 day. I'm not going to worry to much about it as everything is growing and healthy. While i'd like to bring it up to a more normal range, think i'm going to have to live with these numbers during winter time and I expect them to rise come window opening weather.
Thanks Jdeick and Dragon Slayer for your help in getting this thing running, it is very appreciated.
jdieck
New member
You are very welcome but I think you deserve the credit as you did a very good job understanding and implementing the ideas.
BTW try to drip the effluent at the suction of the skimmer, it will help remove any excess CO2 and help with the PH level if the surounding air has a normal CO2 concentration.
Good luck, enjoy and Happy New Year!
Jose
BTW try to drip the effluent at the suction of the skimmer, it will help remove any excess CO2 and help with the PH level if the surounding air has a normal CO2 concentration.
Good luck, enjoy and Happy New Year!
Jose
Ereefic
In Memoriam
Update and Question
Update and Question
The reactor has been keeping my levels steady, so that is good.
But it seems to accumulate a big air bubble in the top of the reactor almost daily. I have my main effluent coming out of the fitting that is coming off of the pump output part, and the output that comes directly out of the lid of the reactor is set to a couple of drips per minute. That one always seems to stop, or can't evacuate the air fast enough. Any thoughts?
Also, how do you know if the media is mush? I hear people say it 'channels' but not sure what that means? I do get a couple of bubble accumulating in the bottom of the reactor and every so often a big bubble will come through the media and gather at the top. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Update and Question
The reactor has been keeping my levels steady, so that is good.
But it seems to accumulate a big air bubble in the top of the reactor almost daily. I have my main effluent coming out of the fitting that is coming off of the pump output part, and the output that comes directly out of the lid of the reactor is set to a couple of drips per minute. That one always seems to stop, or can't evacuate the air fast enough. Any thoughts?
Also, how do you know if the media is mush? I hear people say it 'channels' but not sure what that means? I do get a couple of bubble accumulating in the bottom of the reactor and every so often a big bubble will come through the media and gather at the top. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Hello E, that's due to excessive CO2 and the fiber at the bottom of the media. I had a similar problem. I solved it by switching to Koralith meadia and replaced the fiber with a piece of screen mesh that is used on screen doors. I cut out a circular piece and inserted it. These reactors use very little co2 to compare to most others.
jdieck
New member
You can try adjusting the CO2 bubble rate just to the amount necessary for the PH to very slowly drop when the controller is on.
The bubble can also be air if the feed pump is sucking any air into the recirculation pump.
In addition open a little bit more the output that comes directly out of the lid of the reactor.
Mushing and channeling are two different things.
Mushing happens when the PH inside the reactor is too low, usually 6.3 or lower and the meadia turns into mud. If the media are grains in the original shape, and not mud there is no mushing.
some of the smaller grains will disolve down to powder size during normal operation so some degree of dusting inside the reactor is normal.
Channeling always exists to certain degree. The recirculation pump water passing trough the media will try to go trough the least resistance path (channel) trough the media. If the media grains have flat triangular faces there is chance for more channelling than if the media is spherical.
Two grains with flat faces against each other will prevent water passing in between them so the flow goes around both grains. If the grains are spherical water will pas around each of the grains individually having better contact with the grain surfaces.
The bubble can also be air if the feed pump is sucking any air into the recirculation pump.
In addition open a little bit more the output that comes directly out of the lid of the reactor.
Mushing and channeling are two different things.
Mushing happens when the PH inside the reactor is too low, usually 6.3 or lower and the meadia turns into mud. If the media are grains in the original shape, and not mud there is no mushing.
some of the smaller grains will disolve down to powder size during normal operation so some degree of dusting inside the reactor is normal.
Channeling always exists to certain degree. The recirculation pump water passing trough the media will try to go trough the least resistance path (channel) trough the media. If the media grains have flat triangular faces there is chance for more channelling than if the media is spherical.
Two grains with flat faces against each other will prevent water passing in between them so the flow goes around both grains. If the grains are spherical water will pas around each of the grains individually having better contact with the grain surfaces.
Can't keep bubbles going
Can't keep bubbles going
My calcreactor was off for a couple of weeks while awaiting CO2. Now that I have a full bottle, I have been unable to keep a steady flow of CO2 moving. I have to really open the bleeder valve on (and immediately downstream of) the regulator in order to get the CO2 moving, and then pinch it back to the proper bubble rate. Once I pinch back to a proper bubble rate, the flow slowly diminishes to 0.
Does this suggest that the brass check valve is plugged? If so, can they be dissassembled and cleaned?
thanks
george
Can't keep bubbles going
My calcreactor was off for a couple of weeks while awaiting CO2. Now that I have a full bottle, I have been unable to keep a steady flow of CO2 moving. I have to really open the bleeder valve on (and immediately downstream of) the regulator in order to get the CO2 moving, and then pinch it back to the proper bubble rate. Once I pinch back to a proper bubble rate, the flow slowly diminishes to 0.
Does this suggest that the brass check valve is plugged? If so, can they be dissassembled and cleaned?
thanks
george
dragon_slayer
In Memoriam
Gatoloco
testing of your effluent is the only sure way to know, drips can be of variant sizes and volume.
George
doesnt sound like a check valve to me but more a regulator low pressure stability problem.
kc
testing of your effluent is the only sure way to know, drips can be of variant sizes and volume.
George
doesnt sound like a check valve to me but more a regulator low pressure stability problem.
kc
dragon_slayer
In Memoriam
before i did that i'd try bumping pressure up to 50 or so PSI then use the needle valve to set the bubble count and see if it stays. most of the time when you have a regulator not specifically designed for low pressure/flow use, kicking the working psi up high helps. i wouldnt get overly carried away and get to high with the pressure, 60-70 would IMO be max.
kc
kc
DownUnder-Reefer
New member
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drewdegenhardt
Premium Member
Lots of Questions
Lots of Questions
So I bought this reactor used and it did not come with any info for setup. I have assembled the unit dry with what looks to be the logical configuration. I do have many questions though.
First- On my regulator I have circled a valve on the right side...what does it do and should it be tight or loose?
Is left side the feed and right the effluent? What is the line in the back that comes out of the head of the reactor
How much pressure should I set the guages to?
Lots of Questions
So I bought this reactor used and it did not come with any info for setup. I have assembled the unit dry with what looks to be the logical configuration. I do have many questions though.
First- On my regulator I have circled a valve on the right side...what does it do and should it be tight or loose?
Is left side the feed and right the effluent? What is the line in the back that comes out of the head of the reactor
How much pressure should I set the guages to?
drewdegenhardt
Premium Member
Lots of Questions
Lots of Questions
So I bought this reactor used and it did not come with any info for setup. I have assembled the unit dry with what looks to be the logical configuration. I do have many questions though.
First- On my regulator I have circled a valve on the right side...what does it do and should it be tight or loose?
Is left side the feed and right the effluent? What is the line in the back that comes out of the head of the reactor
How much pressure should I set the guages to?
What do all these gate vales do?
I have two pumps which one do I use to feed the reactor?
Rio 600
How full should I fill the reactor?
Last but not least...does anyone know how to setup this controller with the reactor??
A million thanks in advance...I wish I had all the instruction booklets so this all made sense
Lots of Questions
So I bought this reactor used and it did not come with any info for setup. I have assembled the unit dry with what looks to be the logical configuration. I do have many questions though.
First- On my regulator I have circled a valve on the right side...what does it do and should it be tight or loose?
Is left side the feed and right the effluent? What is the line in the back that comes out of the head of the reactor
How much pressure should I set the guages to?
What do all these gate vales do?
I have two pumps which one do I use to feed the reactor?
Rio 600
How full should I fill the reactor?
Last but not least...does anyone know how to setup this controller with the reactor??
A million thanks in advance...I wish I had all the instruction booklets so this all made sense
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