Korallin Calcium Reactor

[ojafri]

Thanks jdieck for the suggestions, infact I did open quite a bit of windows today and could see a direct impact on the pH rise...will try to do it more often now.

Regarding hosing theair from outside to the skimmer do I need to put an air pump on the outside end of the hose as the window is 15m away from where the skimmer is.

The reactor is now running at 25ml/min @ 35BPM, the pH is still at 6.6 hasn't changed in the last few hours, should I leave it for some more time see the results and then turn it to 20ml. Also if u see the results of day 3 when I was running at 20ml/min and28-30BPM the dKH was 20, pH was 6.6 and the tank dKH had dropped to 8 from 9 a day earlier. Should I maybe leave the BPM at 35 and turn down the flow 20ml/min to increase the dKH.

 

[Haksar]

Hey Jdieck,

I have run into another issue of my cylinder running dry and I have finally found that after extensive soap bubble test that my regulator is the culprit.Will get that changed in a few days.
Since the change over I had great difficulty in getting effluent out of the effluent line from the top and now I have reverted back to 25ml out from the effluent line no 2 from the pipe and effluent line 1 from the top completely closed.Its been three day and so far so good.

However since the change over my ALK has dropped to 7 it was 9 earlier with the setting of DPM 25ml and BPM 22 and controller set point of 6.9.Since the ALK was low I have changed the controller setting to set point of 6.8 yesterday.ALK reading is now 8 but Co2 solenioid is ON at 6.8 whole today and not reducing.Effluent PH has been fluctuating at 6.9 and 6.8.

What do you say.Increase the BPM or DPM or leave it for now.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14497703#post14497703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Thanks jdieck for the suggestions, infact I did open quite a bit of windows today and could see a direct impact on the pH rise...will try to do it more often now.

Regarding hosing theair from outside to the skimmer do I need to put an air pump on the outside end of the hose as the window is 15m away from where the skimmer is.

The reactor is now running at 25ml/min @ 35BPM, the pH is still at 6.6 hasn't changed in the last few hours, should I leave it for some more time see the results and then turn it to 20ml. Also if u see the results of day 3 when I was running at 20ml/min and28-30BPM the dKH was 20, pH was 6.6 and the tank dKH had dropped to 8 from 9 a day earlier. Should I maybe leave the BPM at 35 and turn down the flow 20ml/min to increase the dKH.

Wait a little longer, if the alkalinity is still dropping after a full 48 hours then we will try the 20 ml/min with enough bubble rate to insure PH goes to 6.4-6.5 level

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14497703#post14497703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Thanks jdieck for the suggestions, infact I did open quite a bit of windows today and could see a direct impact on the pH rise...will try to do it more often now.

Regarding hosing theair from outside to the skimmer do I need to put an air pump on the outside end of the hose as the window is 15m away from where the skimmer is.

No an air pump is not needed and the air flow is so high that an air pump will not do anyhow. If you can not connect the hose directly to the air intake of the skimmer or the air intake is less than 1/2" then you will get very little that may not worth it.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14502797#post14502797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Haksar
Hey Jdieck,

I have run into another issue of my cylinder running dry and I have finally found that after extensive soap bubble test that my regulator is the culprit.Will get that changed in a few days.
Since the change over I had great difficulty in getting effluent out of the effluent line from the top and now I have reverted back to 25ml out from the effluent line no 2 from the pipe and effluent line 1 from the top completely closed.Its been three day and so far so good.
That will work fine unless you see CO2 bubbles accumulation inside the reactor.

However since the change over my ALK has dropped to 7 it was 9 earlier with the setting of DPM 25ml and BPM 22 and controller set point of 6.9.Since the ALK was low I have changed the controller setting to set point of 6.8 yesterday.ALK reading is now 8 but Co2 solenioid is ON at 6.8 whole today and not reducing.Effluent PH has been fluctuating at 6.9 and 6.8.[/
If you are referrign to the change in salts that might be the issue. IO is usually high in alkalinity compared to other salts. When using a salt with lower alkalinity you may need to manually increase the alkalinity of the new water mix before the water change because if you try to compensate with the reactor you may end up with too high a calcium level or a high alkalinit once the initial drop has been compensated.

What do you say.Increase the BPM or DPM or leave it for now.
If the reason for the drop was not the salt and alkalinity continue with a drop tendency then increase the bubble rate and watch for potential CO2 accumulation as it may cause the recirculation pump to run dry.

 

[Haksar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14507425#post14507425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Wait a little longer, if the alkalinity is still dropping after a full 48 hours then we will try the 20 ml/min with enough bubble rate to insure PH goes to 6.4-6.5 level

Good news my ALK is reading 9 now so DPM 25ml and BPM 22 has worked.So I will leave it like this for now.
Thanks Jdieck.

 

[Haksar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14507514#post14507514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck

I did not change my salt to IO still using Sera.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14508712#post14508712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Haksar
Good news my ALK is reading 9 now so DPM 25ml and BPM 22 has worked.So I will leave it like this for now.
Thanks Jdieck.

Good, now you know what to do to keep it there in the future very small adjustments shall be enough.

I tought you had switched from IO to Sera so disregard.

 

[ojafri]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14507425#post14507425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Wait a little longer, if the alkalinity is still dropping after a full 48 hours then we will try the 20 ml/min with enough bubble rate to insure PH goes to 6.4-6.5 level

Hi jdieck:

Alkalinity holding at 8dKH, effluent @25ml/min,co2 BPM =34-36 pH6.6,I did see it dropping to 6.5 last night and cutting off at 6.4.Lets see for another 24hrs and decide.

I did a water change yesterday,right after that tank alkalinity went to 9dKH, probably new water but stabilized to 8 this evening when I took the readings. Lets see if it holds up.

Tank pH is between 7.85(night)-8.1(during the day)

Jeff

 

[ojafri]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511391#post14511391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Hi jdieck:

Alkalinity holding at 8dKH, effluent @25ml/min,co2 BPM =34-36 pH6.6,I did see it dropping to 6.5 last night and cutting off at 6.4.Lets see for another 24hrs and decide.

I did a water change yesterday,right after that tank alkalinity went to 9dKH, probably new water but stabilized to 8 this evening when I took the readings. Lets see if it holds up.

Tank pH is between 7.85(night)-8.1(during the day)

Jeff

Effluent at 19dKH

 

[jdieck]

Jeff:
It seems you are there if not very close. I would recommend to check the alkalinity of your water change and adjust it to match your tank's alkalinity if it is lower. Once you have measured it several times you will know if your salt is consistent and if you notice you have to make the same adjustment every time then just adjust it without the need of testing every time.
I usually test the first batch of every bucket and do not need to test again, just do the same adjustment every time I prepare water from the same bucket.

 

[ojafri]

Hi jdieck:

Quick Update 48 hrs into operation after water change effluent @ 25ml/min, co2 = 34-36 BPM, pH 6.6, dKH still holding at 19.

Tank dkH stable at 8. Tank pH between 7.8-8.1

Now the question is, should we reduce the effluent to 20ml/min and adjust the co2 BPM to reach a pH of 6.4-6.5 to achieve a higher dKH or keep the effluent at 25ml/min and up the co2 bubble rate to achieve a higher dKH and ph of 6.4-6.5.

I would ideally like the tank dKH to be at 9.

Also to achieve effluent pH of 6.4-6.5 what should be our controller SET point....6.4 (Turn ON at 6.3 and Turn OFF at 6.5) ??

What do you think !?!

Jeff

 

[jdieck]

Do nothing. If the tank dKh is stable at 8 then the reactor output is matching the tank alkalinity consumption. If you want your tank alkalinity at 9 just do some manual supplementation with baked baking soda or other alkalinity buffer and because the reactor is already replacing what is consummed, the new level of alkalinity will be maintained there.

 

[ojafri]

Perfect let me try this...I generally use Kent Super Buffer to raise alkalinity, should I use this or Baking soda ?

 

[ojafri]

Also two more question...

The output # 2 on the top of the reactor is completely closed...should open this a lil bit ??

When the corals grow out, how shoudl we adjust the reator...upwards effluent rate and co2 accordingly ?

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14523282#post14523282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Perfect let me try this...I generally use Kent Super Buffer to raise alkalinity, should I use this or Baking soda ?

Kent will do.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14523286#post14523286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Also two more question...

The output # 2 on the top of the reactor is completely closed...should open this a lil bit ??

When the corals grow out, how shoudl we adjust the reator...upwards effluent rate and co2 accordingly ?

Yes open the #2 output just a little bit so you get a couple of drops once in a while. The idea is that any bubbles accumulated in the reactor are vented out of the chamber to prevent accumulation that can make the recirculation pump loose priming.

If your alkalinity consumption increases over time you just need to add a bit more CO2 and re-set the controller for a bit lower PH.
You can also increase the effluent flow a bit

 

[ojafri]

Great Thanks...let me increase the alkalinity today and monitor for next 48 hrs.

If alkalinity consumption increases over time and I need to lower the pH a bit....right now the controller set point is 6.5, the only option will be to bring it 6.4-6.5 range. What should be the controller SET point for this range....6.4 (Turn ON at 6.3 and Turn OFF at 6.5). Will that be ok ??

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14523430#post14523430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ojafri
Great Thanks...let me increase the alkalinity today and monitor for next 48 hrs.

If alkalinity consumption increases over time and I need to lower the pH a bit....right now the controller set point is 6.5, the only option will be to bring it 6.4-6.5 range. What should be the controller SET point for this range....6.4 (Turn ON at 6.3 and Turn OFF at 6.5). Will that be ok ??

You could set it at 6.4 but if using ARM that may accumulate some CO2 in the reactor.
You can instead increase the effluent a bit and that may need for a bit increase in CO2 bubble rate also.
Remember when changing effluent flow the PH changes so changing effluent almost always require and adjustment to bubble rate to maintain the same previous PH.

 

[chillncm]

Does anyone where to refill CO2 in costa mesa or orange county california?