LaCl Reactor

[JSimpson]

Ok guys, I'm ready to start the reactors and doser! I'm scared to death!!!! I tested my PO and they are at .0669 (Hanna low range phosphorus tester). The PO was .10 but I've been hitting it pretty hard with GFO.

So, I have the code above but want to start at a much, much slower dose! So do I shorten the 15 or increase the 3:30? I know NOTHING about how to determine how much to dose I'm guessing my total water volume to be about 120g. Help...I'm even trembling! I don't want to lose my Purple Tang!!!

Oh, Insomniac-did you get a purple tang?;0)

For peace of mind, I would probably start much slower and work up based on your resultant Phosphorous readings. As for the Apex code, you could leave the 000:15 statement the same, and maybe increase the next to 014:00, which would result in 1/4 the number of daily doses. I think the key to LC dosing is to take it slowly, monitor Phosphate levels, and not drop too much or too quickly.

 

[terri_ann]

Thank you so much J!! You have been so helpful and I REALLY appreciate it! I plan to monitor it very, very closely! And, I will be checking in here as I go along. Since my lights are off now, I will start tomorrow so I can watch everything! I hope to get the PO around the .06 level so I don't have much to go. I have cut back on feeding so I hope I can increase it in the near future. as my large tangs and foxface will appreciate it:fish1: Thanks again J!

 

[insomniac2k2]

Good Advice from JSimpson. I started out my dosing very near where Jsimpson suggested to you, and then ended up ramping it up to what I'm advising others to start now (present apex code).


That said, If you need the peace of mind, go super slow. Take a reading in 2 days. Did levels change? If not, go 2 more days? Did they change?

You now have a pretty good idea on where to start and how safe your dosage rate is.

The thing about LC is that you can use it in large doses to completely remove phosphates. You can even completely cloud your water doing so. Likely without causing any large scale issues. I ADVISE AGAINST THIS. I'm just saying...

BUT, what we have learned from a few others is that some of them have experienced problems when long term dosing. The general speculation is that it's caused by un-reacted LC in the water column on a consistent basis, long term.

Yes I picked up a purple tang as part of a Nano tank purchase. It was a pretty good deal, and the purple tang sealed it. Of course the owner was too much of a Dbag to admit that his tank had Ich in it. Likely I assumed so, considering that pictures that he posted of his tank had another fish that was mysteriously not there by time I went to look at it.

I had some issues with copper treatment, and have since moved him into hypo. He's now happy, healthy and waiting for his new home.

 

[terri_ann]

Good Advice from JSimpson. I started out my dosing very near where Jsimpson suggested to you, and then ended up ramping it up to what I'm advising others to start now (present apex code).


That said, If you need the peace of mind, go super slow. Take a reading in 2 days. Did levels change? If not, go 2 more days? Did they change?

You now have a pretty good idea on where to start and how safe your dosage rate is.

The thing about LC is that you can use it in large doses to completely remove phosphates. You can even completely cloud your water doing so. Likely without causing any large scale issues. I ADVISE AGAINST THIS. I'm just saying...

BUT, what we have learned from a few others is that some of them have experienced problems when long term dosing. The general speculation is that it's caused by un-reacted LC in the water column on a consistent basis, long term.

Yes I picked up a purple tang as part of a Nano tank purchase. It was a pretty good deal, and the purple tang sealed it. Of course the owner was too much of a Dbag to admit that his tank had Ich in it. Likely I assumed so, considering that pictures that he posted of his tank had another fish that was mysteriously not there by time I went to look at it.

I had some issues with copper treatment, and have since moved him into hypo. He's now happy, healthy and waiting for his new home.

I was confident that JSimpson was leading me VERY,VERY SLOWLY :0) I just started the reactors and doser at 5:50 tonight. I have a MaxiJet 1200 and have it about 1/2 way open for open for flow....too slow or too fast or about right? I don't know how to tell the correct flow rate :facepalm:

Regarding the Apex code, I have the outlet set at advanced and FallBack OFF. Do I need the SET?...ON or OFF?

Is there a time element for when tangs/fish show signs from the LC if it's getting through to the tank?

I have an acrylic tank so if it's going to cloud it, when might I see it if it's going to cloud?

Will the skimmer produce a faster skimmate? I know that it affects it but will I experience more(can't remember what I read earlier in this thread).

I had problems with using the filter floss(and carbon) in the reactor...I kept getting a leak at the lid. So, I put a 5 micron sediment filter in it...and no leak! yay! Has anyone tried the 5 micron filter instead of the floss?

I have a carbon reactor running so the water should be okay I believe. I also have the GFO reactor running...should I turn it off?

I told you that I'd have more questions!:lolspin:

That's AWESOME that you got a new tank and PURPLE TANG!!:bounce3: I love mine! Mine had lateral line disease when I got it so I can tell it did as the line is really prominent ... Glad yours is doing much better now! Do you plan to put him in the tank that you're running the LC in? I'd say he must have been a dbag as ich is common... it's not good practice to try to hide things from other reefers as that can get around to others quickly! Some people.......:eek1:

Thanks for your help Insomniac!!

 

[terri_ann]

:sad2: HELP PLEASE!!

The doser has been running and running and running:uhoh3: I need 2 questions answered asap :twitch: First I have Fallback OFF...do I need a Set statement, and if yes, is it ON or OFF?

Second question... What does the code tell me? OSC 000:00/000:15/014:00

I'm scared to death that I may be dosing LC too long?! Help!

 

[worm5406]

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:15/003:30 Then ON


That should be your dosing.

Make sure that you are plugged into the correct outlet and that that outlet is set to AUTO.

 

[worm5406]

From apex manual, for refrence:

The powerful OSC (short for oscillate) statement makes these very easy to program. The first time parameter is the initial off time in minutes:seconds. The second parameter is the on time in minutes:seconds, and the 3rd parameter is the final off time. Each pump outlet will initially start in the initial off state, then go to the on state, and then to the final off state. This cycle will repeat over and over again.

 

[terri_ann]

Ok! Whew! I was worried so I manually turned the outlet off until I got a response. Thank you!!

Here's exactly what I have: Outlet is set to "AUTO"
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
OSC 000:00/000:15/014:00

That should be correct, right? (I'm not starting where Insomniac advises...I'm going MUCH SLOWER as this scares the Bjeebers out of me!)

So is the code telling me to dose for 15 seconds every 14 minutes?

 

[worm5406]

yes

Starting at 0 dose for 15 seconds then wait 14 minutes of off before starting again. Total timing is 14m 15s .

I would set it to:

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:15/014:45 THEN ON



Just like I have it.... including the 'then on'

That will run it over a full 15 minute time span. Easier to see it run then off if you know exactly when it will start.

 

[terri_ann]

From apex manual, for refrence:

:lolspin: I ALMOST got it right! :uhoh3: So it saying to go on/dose for 15 seconds and then, go off for 14 minutes...Now do I have it right?:eek2:

 

[worm5406]

yes correct as long as it looks like I posted it. Do not forget the THEN ON at the end.

 

[terri_ann]

:lmao:

yes

Starting at 0 dose for 15 seconds then wait 14 minutes of off before starting again. Total timing is 14m 15s .

I would set it to:

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:15/014:45 THEN ON



Just like I have it.... including the 'then on'

That will run it over a full 15 minute time span. Easier to see it run then off if you know exactly when it will start.

We're playing "post it TAG!":lmao: Okay I have it EXACTLY like you have it posted!:thumbsup: So no "Set" statement?! I've never been able to figure that out but I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to high tech stuff:headwalls:

 

[worm5406]

so... what is it doing now??

 

[terri_ann]

It is still off.

 

[terri_ann]

I just updated it a couple minutes ago to the 14:45

 

[terri_ann]

It should start dosing again in about 10 minutes :0)

 

[terri_ann]

It is NOT dosing!???

 

[terri_ann]

Ok, I just put "Set OFF" into the program. In 13-14 minutes, let's see if it starts :0)

 

[terri_ann]

It just started :0) YAY!!!

 

[worm5406]

'Set off' did not do it.

The run time and start was the factor.

From what I understand the OSC/timer is based upon midnight start time. It computes the on/off from midnight forward. Which is why a combination of 15 minute increments gives you a reference point as to when it will start next, otherwise it will seem random but 14 minutes 30 seconds over a few hours will slowly move until midnight the following day when it starts all over again.