Korallin Calcium Reactor

[gregr]

the day before i leave on a two week trip i notice that both of the ball valves, both of the T valves that regulate the drip rate, are leaking. grrrrrrr.
now i'm gonna go back thru the thread to find the name and size of the replacements you guys recommended. John Guest something or other i think.
it's always something with this hobby

 

[jdieck]

ok ive changed my pump from the aqua lifter to a T that is 1"x1"x1/2 with a 1/2"->1/4" john guest (sp?) fitting(same as ro/di systems) from my iwaki rlt 30 pump. and i think it may have solved my problems. i was a little tired when i was posting so ill clear this stuff up for you.

c) What type of valve you are using to regulate the effluent flow? is it ball or needle valve?

im using a ball valve that is meant for drip systems or mister systems.

d) Is the effluent valve at the inlet of the reactor or at the outlet?

im not quite sure how the effluent can come from the inlet so ill assume you mean coming from either the outlet being #1 in dragon_slayers write up or #2 from the top of the reactor. i am using the intended outlet #1 and using #2 at 3ish dpm to bleed off any bubles that may form.

i really think that all of my problems were simply because i didnt have enough "umph" with the aqualifter but ill be sure to let to know in a few days or so when i have had more time to observe it.

Good move on the T, that will solve the operating pressure isse. If you continue having trouble with effluent flow stability you may want to consider switching the main effluent valve to a plastic needle valve.

Now that I know it is a Korallin I know the effluent valve is at the outlet. As a side note in Any reactor in principle you can have the effluent flow valve at the inlet as what you let it will be what goes out. The only difference is that when you have the valve in the outlet, the reactor operates at the pressure delivered by the pump, if you have the valve at the inlet, the reactor operates at atmospheric pressure (zero gauge).

 

[jdieck]

the day before i leave on a two week trip i notice that both of the ball valves, both of the T valves that regulate the drip rate, are leaking. grrrrrrr.
now i'm gonna go back thru the thread to find the name and size of the replacements you guys recommended. John Guest something or other i think.
it's always something with this hobby

Try www.usplastics.com look for plastic needle valves, there are some in there that can be purchased with different kind of connections.

 

[gregr]

thanks- i did place an order with them. i went with the 1/4" barbed to 1/4" barbed pp valve on this page:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=15615&product_id=15616 (your link from around page 30 of this thread thank you very much).
any reason to go with pvc over polyprop.?

 

[jdieck]

thanks- i did place an order with them. i went with the 1/4" barbed to 1/4" barbed pp valve on this page:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=15615&product_id=15616 (your link from around page 30 of this thread thank you very much).
any reason to go with pvc over polyprop.?

Both materials are compatible so from that point of view there is not difference but PVC is harder so will permanently deform less if by chance you overtighten the needle so from that point I would go with PVC.

 

[cdraughon]

Here is a simple question...how do you "hang" the effulent cup in the sump? I do not have access to acrylic. Is is taped some how?

 

[jdieck]

Here is a simple question...how do you "hang" the effulent cup in the sump? I do not have access to acrylic. Is is taped some how?

You can hang it from a suction cup or you can drill a hole in a plastic cup and insert the suction cup holder in the hole or you can just drill a hole in the cup and hang it with a string. Many different ways.

 

[cdraughon]

Thanks Jdieck. Thought I would start with the small questions.

 

[jdieck]

.....start with the small questions....

So I shall guess there will be more to come...
Glad to help

 

[RedEyeReef]

I don't have a Korallin reactor but thought I would ask here since the advice is so good.

What should be my efflent rate of water passing through my CR? (20" high, dual chamber, 1st chamber 6", 2nd is 4")

What PH should the effleunt be? 6.6?

 

[jdieck]

I don't have a Korallin reactor but thought I would ask here since the advice is so good.

What should be my efflent rate of water passing through my CR? (20" high, dual chamber, 1st chamber 6", 2nd is 4")

What PH should the effleunt be? 6.6?

Well the answer is easy. Whatever you need them to be to keep your tank alkalinity stable

Having said that you can start at say 30 ml/min effluent and enough CO2 to keep it at a 6.8 PH. Terst your tank and adjust accordingly.
This reference may help:
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/reactor.html

Enjoy!

 

[RedEyeReef]

Thanks jdieck
That chart is sweet, thanks for the help.

 

[jdieck]

:thumbsup:

 

[dlh5150]

Are there any concerns with the Korallin Calcium reactors when ever there is a power outage? Does anything need to be done?

Thanks,

dlh

 

[dragon_slayer]

depends on how long the reactor was without flow through it. if more then say 8hrs i recommend you flush the reactor into a bucket. the longer it was off the more i'd flush. if it was off for a very long time (week or so) then empty it out and replace media.

kc

 

[dlh5150]

Thanks dragon slayer. Usually when I have a power outage, it might be for a minute or two during a bad thunderstorm. With Hurricane Rita hitting close by, it made me start thinking. I haven't bought a calcium reactor yet, but I wanted to know what else I need to be worried about in a power outage. Just for my own knowledge, why do you recommend flushing the reactor? What would be "bad" with the solution in the CR?

Thanks,

dlh

 

[dragon_slayer]

the water can foul if it sits stagnant for a length of time and you wouldn't want to then push this water into the tank. remember there is allot of surface area in the media that is covered in bacteria (it's essentially a bio-filter) and when you stop flow you deprive them of O2 and the'll die quickly.

kc

 

[cdraughon]

I recently purchased a Koralin 1502 and need to know what needle valves I need to replace the two that come with it. I travel and have not had a chance to inspect it yet. Do I need a male or female threaded valve? The other end will be barbed to accomidate the airline tubing I purchased.

I plan on ordering from US Plastics.

Thanks

 

[RedEyeReef]

remember there is allot of surface area in the media that is covered in bacteria (it's essentially a bio-filter) and when you stop flow you deprive them of O2 and the'll die quickly.

kc

That just made me think, would our CR also work as a Denitrator filter and break down some nitrates in our tanks???

 

[jdieck]

I recently purchased a Koralin 1502 and need to know what needle valves I need to replace the two that come with it. I travel and have not had a chance to inspect it yet. Do I need a male or female threaded valve? The other end will be barbed to accomidate the airline tubing I purchased.

I plan on ordering from US Plastics.

Thanks

May be Dragon can help here as I do not know exactly which connections are required for the Koralin but if you can inspect them and identify then just select them from the list.
As you can see you can get Threaded Female to Female, Male to Male Barbed to barbed or John Guest to John Guest in different diameters.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=15615&product_id=15616