Korallin Calcium Reactor

[Boat]

mjag,

I was running my reactor at about the same parameters as you for about a year. I've since upped both bubble and drip rate due to increased Ca demand. My reactor acted the same way. The drip rate slowed down and a bubble would start to form. If you increase your effluent rate a bit so that your pH is closer to 6.8 it helps keep the bubble from forming and I've found the effluent rate to stay more consistent.

 

[Boat]

One other thing, I agree and disagree with dragon slayer about using the top port. I think it's harder to use at the lower effluent rates. For me, the bubble was forming anyway and vapor locking the top port - which increased the problem. So I went to the lower outlet and manually bled off excess CO2 from the top every so often.

 

[dragon_slayer]

anyone using the reactors top outlet as their only effluent outlet and still gets a bubble build up in the reactor has some major problems going on. that would only be able to happen if your pumping in more CO2 then your allowing effluent (or in this case CO2) to escape from the reactor. you can get the same drip rate regardless of where you take it from, the pressure in the reactor is equal everywhere except on the intake side of the recirculation pump.

kc

 

[Boat]

kc,

That's what I thought too, but when I was at a lower drip rate I had trouble keeping a consistent output using the top port. Never really thought through the "hydraulics" of it.

 

[mjag]

I'm only putting 10bpm and effluent is 20 ml min. Now is that to much Co2 and not enough effluent?. I have had the same issues at lower and higher ph values. Any other ideas to look into Dragon?.

 

[owsi]

mjag, tried to PM this but your mailbox was full. John


http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=KL3123

 

[Boat]

mjag,

All I was really trying to get at is that it might help if you upped your effluent rate to maybe 25 ml/min. Otherwise, I don't think "some" excess CO2 gathering (or being blown out the top port) or a drip rate that slows a "bit" over time is all that unusual.

 

[dragon_slayer]

mjag

with you having the problem at different pH levels, even higher ones, then i'm left thinking that your intake is sucking in air. maybe micro bubbles getting into the feed pump, etc......

kc

 

[mjag]

No bubbles that I have seen. I shut the Co2 of for 2 days and no big bubble But id did slow down effluent that is. I will ck all the tubing out this weekend. That's a bunch for the help so far Dragon hopefully we will get this nailed down.


mjag

 

[Boat]

kc,

When you first set up your reactor did you notice any difference in its performance depending on the height you placed it relative to your tank, feed tee and sump?

 

[dragon_slayer]

i guess i don't fully understand your question, the performance of the reactors i've setup regardless of type are all setup the same way and performance isn't something i take into consideration, i just make the reactor match the demands of the system regardless of what it takes. some reactor designs are easier to 'overdrive' and force them to support a much higher demanding system then they were designed to handle while others are much harder if not imposable, but matching them to the system they are hooked up on is my priority more so then comparing one to the other and i really have never gave it much thought.

working with so many tanks/systems/reefers/reactors over the years i'm still amazed at how water quality can make a system, that is packed to the 'gills' with SPS and clams, have a very low Ca demand and other systems with minimal corals/clams/etc.. have a much higher demand due to water quality and flow.

kc

 

[Boat]

Sorry I wasn't explaining myself very well. I just meant performance in regards to getting good flow through the reactor. When I first set mine up I tried taking the effluent back up to the display tank but couldn' get enough pressure to regulate the flow properly. Then I was wondering if mjag was doing something similar. I didn't see in his posts where he described his setup. My Korallin packagng said the reactor would work with gravity flow but I don't really believe that's possible.

 

[dragon_slayer]

i've setup allot of reactors with gravity flow, from the tank to the sump, they work very well just aren't very efficient when it comes to CO2 use and you will NEVER be able to overdrive them, or even get top performance that way.

kc

 

[mjag]

And does it matter what type of media one uses with this reactor. Right now I am using Schuran Reactor Media. To me I don't think it should matter either way.

 

[minsmarine]

i've setup allot of reactors with gravity flow, from the tank to the sump, they work very well just aren't very efficient when it comes to CO2 use and you will NEVER be able to overdrive them, or even get top performance that way.

kc

I am using 3001 ( Asia Version of 3001 ), and gravity feed. Could you kindly explain me why need to use pump to overdrive or to get top performance.

My tank is 3x1.5x1.5 Full SPS and parameter Ca 400 Kh 9. and having difficulty in getting right for CR. Seem like my tank consume more than CR can do.

Media ARM.

Currently Appx 1 bubble per 3 second and while flow is like almost flowing big DROP. PH in CR is around 6.5-6.7

Return was 38dKh.

Problem encountering is everyday there is layer of CO2 ( or Other ? ) forming inside the CR.

So should I reduce CO2 ? and get Pump Feed ?

 

[dragon_slayer]

mjag

different media dissolve at different pH ranges and have different purities, your choice to use one over another is just that a choice and all work in any reactor.

minsmarine

with gravity feeding you can not pressurize the reactor and you'll never get 100% saturation of CO2 and therefore your reactor will run at less then optimal. add a pump and you'll cut down on the build up of CO2 and get more performance out of your reactor.

also taking your effluent out of the top of the reactor will prevent the build up.

kc

 

[minsmarine]

minsmarine

with gravity feeding you can not pressurize the reactor and you'll never get 100% saturation of CO2 and therefore your reactor will run at less then optimal. add a pump and you'll cut down on the build up of CO2 and get more performance out of your reactor.

also taking your effluent out of the top of the reactor will prevent the build up.

kc

Ok, now I get what you mean to get pump. Yea, to pressurize
BTW, there are two options available for my case,

1. Get from Return ( 1,000GPH )
2. Get new pump ( 100 GPH enough ) and put in the sump.

Both options I afraid is what would happen if feed pump fail ?

What would you suggest.

 

[dragon_slayer]

i suggest checking your system at least once a day to make sure all pumps/lights/etc... are working properly, no animals stuck on intakes, nothing dead, etc...... if a feed pump fails on a reactor you'll loose some flow rate and your bubble count will increase due to the lack of pressure from the pump, but it takes a while before you get into drastic problems with it that way. i've had an Eheim pump run dry for most of a day and never had a problem with it.

kc

 

[minsmarine]

i suggest checking your system at least once a day to make sure all pumps/lights/etc... are working properly, no animals stuck on intakes, nothing dead, etc...... if a feed pump fails on a reactor you'll loose some flow rate and your bubble count will increase due to the lack of pressure from the pump, but it takes a while before you get into drastic problems with it that way. i've had an Eheim pump run dry for most of a day and never had a problem with it.

kc

I am wonder about feeding pump fail. I won't worry about CR pump since like what you said the most lot flow rate and bubble count.

Do you suggest to place feeding pump in sump ( which is bit below CR pump ) or in main display tank.

I believe, I need to convert 1/4" pipe to small pipe connected to CR right. Anything to take note of ?

Tks in advance KC, I read through this thread from page 1, you are really helpfull. It's so nice of you to be here.

 

[dragon_slayer]

myself i have my feed pumps in sump, i try to keep everything i can out of my display. as for the conversion to 1/4" it really depends on what pump your using, if a T from a return then you can get a reducing T that has a 1/4" barb on it. or adapt to JG type fittings for best results.

kc