large size Ca reactor media requires a lower ph?

[Gary Majchrzak]

pH 6.5 is (usually) the recommended lowest value for calcium reactor effluent but I've been having a difficult time melting the COARSE ARM media at pH6.5

The finer media would melt just fine at pH6.5 but it hasn't been working too well with the coarse stuff.. so...

I'm slowly lowering pH in the chamber. Seems to be working.
Currently been running at pH6.25- 6.75 instead of the previous setpoints of pH6.5-7.0

Anybody else here experiment with this... how low do you go? :hmm2:

 

[tmz]

Less surface is exposed to the acidic water with the larger media so lower ph to dissolve it faster may be needed to match the production of an equal volume of finer media.
I never went below 6.7.
I suppose it'd be ok depending on the effluent ph and it's overall ph effect on the tank and wheter or not the media clogged up with fines.
Sort of a "catch 22;, hiugher flow through the reactor with more CO2 in it will dissolve more media and keep things moving but push more acetic water into the tank. Maybe lower ractor ph combined with a long second coarse of media for the effluent to pass through would help bump th ph back up sufficiently and add some to calcium and carbonate production.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

darn!

darn!

I don't think there's many running calcium reactors around here much less Ca reactors with coarse media.

My Carbondoser (electronic CO2 doser) allows for PRECISE control over effluent pH. I don't think I'd be experimenting using the old Milwaukee regulator...

 

[SkiFletch]

I don't think there's many running calcium reactors around here

Not surprising, given the high startup cost for a system that is sophisticated enough to not pose a risk to the tank. I'd run one if I could afford it

 

[tmz]

I have one ,ran it for years. Don't run it now . I prefer kalk with a little boost from two part now and then. I feel like I have more control over constancy of dose and what's in it . Also I like higher ph values . So it's not always cost but many use them and like them and do well with them.

 

[Greg 45]

Did you try and slow down water going through the reactor
this will help
I ran a mtc large reactor had to also lower ph in reactor
you will know if its to low media will turn into mush and there will be fine sand in bottom of reactor

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

couple days at pH 6.25 and no mush or silt yet...

my drip is slow enough... gotta leave that alone!

 

[tmz]

Slowing the drip will defeat the purpose of dropping the ph which is presumably to get more calcium and carbonate from the reactor.I mean if you have half as much effluent dripping you will only get half as much into the tank even if its' somewhat richer.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

yeah!

yeah!

what Tom said :wavehand:

The kewl thing about the Carbondoser is not only can I control bubble count (per second) but it also can adjust the SIZE of the bubbles.

Now that's kewl!

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Gary-
I'm curious as to why you haven't tried to increase effluent rate to get more alk/Ca into your aquarium. I have a much lower demand than you, but my coarse ARM media dissolves slowly over time with and effluent pH of 6.75.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the next step up from my current 'fast drip' is a steady stream.

I don't think a steady stream would be good....