Korallin Calcium Reactor

[jdieck]

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

Although Anaerobic Conditions exist due to the excess CO2 I doubt that the PH or the life of the grain surface (It is dissolving) will be the right conditions for bacteria to grow.

 

[cdraughon]

Thamls jdeick. I was hoping to order the valves while I am traveling. I have not opened the reactor yet so I do not know how the valves are threaded to it - either male or female. If I can get this info, I order the appropriate valve and be ready to o when I get home.

 

[jdieck]

Thamls jdeick. I was hoping to order the valves while I am traveling. I have not opened the reactor yet so I do not know how the valves are threaded to it - either male or female. If I can get this info, I order the appropriate valve and be ready to o when I get home.

For the effluent they use airline tubing although I do not know the diameter. From the pictures it seems the valves are insert and connected to the tubing so either insert or John Guest will be my best bet.
Why don't you come back, install it as it is and replace the valves only if you have a problem.

 

[dragon_slayer]

the valves on the Korallin are non-pipe thread and metric on the old ones i have checked so you wont don't get an exact match for some reason the JG valve would be and is my choice here.

as for the denitrification the reactor is saturated with CO2 but that has NOTHING at all to do with the levels of O2 in the reactor and they are unfortunately close to the same as the tank which makes life in the media very easy for nitrifying bacteria but not denitrifying.

hth
kc

 

[cdraughon]

After reading this thread, I heard of the problems people were having ajusting their counts. One of the solutions was to install beter neddle valves. I was hoping to avoid this problem and make the "upgrade" from the start.

Thanks

 

[Chicago]

following this post for awhile .. i have a reeftck two stage unit. thought i would check it and ask for some info. i am getting a meg/l of 21 which correspondces to a 58.8 dkh. correct. but i cant seem to get the caclium above 500. sound correct or am i missing something or should rethink. i let the ph run in the first cylinder at about 6.3

thanks

 

[dragon_slayer]

if you mean tank Ca levels, check your Mg.

kc

 

[jdieck]

following this post for awhile .. i have a reeftck two stage unit. thought i would check it and ask for some info. i am getting a meg/l of 21 which correspondces to a 58.8 dkh. correct. but i cant seem to get the caclium above 500. sound correct or am i missing something or should rethink. i let the ph run in the first cylinder at about 6.3

thanks

Somehow the Alkalinity measurment seems bogus. Never seen a 58.8, usually the maximum is around 36 to 38 dKh.
Is the reactor able to maintain your tank's alkalinity? Seems to me that you are trying to get more by letting it drop to 6.3 unfortunately the media soon starts desintegrating it will not give you much more than at 6.5 but and pull the PH a bit low unless you are also dosing Kalk to increase the PH.

 

[Chicago]

i will recheck the alk reading. the unit is a two stage . i use arm and schuram media. the reason its at 6.3 is basically that where it stabilized at when messing with output and the co2 bubble. its not mushy yet

 

[Chicago]

by the way i dose kalk by way of a reeftck nelisen reacactor for the top off water./ i have started to run this at night to give a more stable ph ..ie no night shifti ph ..

 

[Chicago]

just recheck the alk.. it is 19 meq/l whic to dkh multiply by 2.8 gets 53.2

 

[Chicago]

need mg chips for reactor.. who sells them .. dolomite is mg correct? cant find it though

 

[jdieck]

need mg chips for reactor.. who sells them .. dolomite is mg correct? cant find it though

Dolomite or Dolomitic Lime is a Lime (Calcium Carbonate) with higher than normal content of Magnesium Carbonate.
I have not used it but one I have found that has good posibilities could be the one on the attached link. Do a google search on it as I have found several suppliers on line.
It mentions is pelletized but a 200 mesh seems to fine of a grain but it is cheap enough that you may try and see.
http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?type=p&id=8&intCategoryID=2

 

[jdieck]

just recheck the alk.. it is 19 meq/l whic to dkh multiply by 2.8 gets 53.2

I suspect you may be dissolving media in the test. Some times suspended media micro-particles get carried by the effluent and as you add the tritrator they dissolve giving you a higher than normal reading. You may try to let it settle for a while or try using a copee filter paper to filter the sample.
In any case if the addition is coping with your aquarium needs and the Calcium is also maintained you shall be OK.

 

[dragon_slayer]

not sure exactly at the moment and i'm sorta in a rush too but i believe it's the ZEOvit people who make a Mg reactor media, put a cup or so in the bottom of your reactor prior to adding your CaCO3.

the Dolomite works too but you have to play with the amount in the reactor to find the right touch for your system.

kc

 

[gregh]

I hope I'm ok asking about an non Korallin reactor

I just set up an Aqua Medic Calc reactor, with Co2 and PH computer.

With the PH Computer switching the Co2 on and off depending on the ph inside the reactor, do I still need to worry about and measure the drip rate of the effluent and the bubble rate of the Co2?

I'm in the UK, it's late here and I'm not sure I've got it correct, one problem I have is when the Co2 is switched on, the effluent stops coming out of the reactor.

I'm thinking I am best disconnecting the Co2 until tomorrow when I can spend more time on it?

regards,

Greg

 

[Chicago]

thanks for the info on the MG. i ordered some estess dolimite. now think might just go withthe zeo rpduct.

 

[dragon_slayer]

Greg you really need to set up the reactor so it has a correct drip rate and bubble count to match your system and only use the controller as a safety feature, not a CO2 regulator.

Chicago, the ZEOvit system is a great thing but the pure mention of 'I Use It' on this board causes all kinds of uproars and people get 'Moved On' placed under their name, including a once sponsor try it, you'll like it, your corals will love it just keep it under tight lip.

kc

 

[jdieck]

I hope I'm ok asking about an non Korallin reactor

I just set up an Aqua Medic Calc reactor, with Co2 and PH computer.

one problem I have is when the Co2 is switched on, the effluent stops coming out of the reactor.

Greg

Just insure that the CO2 is going in at the right connection. The usual introduction point is at the suction of the recirculation pump.

 

[gregh]

Just insure that the CO2 is going in at the right connection. The usual introduction point is at the suction of the recirculation pump.

With the Calc reactor 400 the water and C02 input meet in a Y which then goes into the reactor, so I don't *think* it can be wrong as water is flowing fine.

regards,
Greg