LifeReef Calcium Reactor

[d2mini]

Got my Reborn media today. Going to switch in out tonite.
Meanwhile i've been playing with the reactor settings, trying some extremes.
For the last 24 hours I've been running a really high effluent rate and a bpm high enough to keep the ph at 6.5, which from what I read *should* be enough to melt the coarse ARM.

Settings were...
Effluent Rate: 320ml/min
BPM: 200
Effluent pH: 6.5

Resultant Effluent dkh.... 9.5!

And over the past 12 hour period my tank dkh dropped from 8.6 to 7.9.

Will swap in the reborn now and go back to serious settings and report back.
Just thought the above was interesting.

 

[ridetheducati]

Got my Reborn media today. Going to switch in out tonite.
Meanwhile i've been playing with the reactor settings, trying some extremes.
For the last 24 hours I've been running a really high effluent rate and a bpm high enough to keep the ph at 6.5, which from what I read *should* be enough to melt the coarse ARM.

Settings were...
Effluent Rate: 320ml/min
BPM: 200
Effluent pH: 6.5

Resultant Effluent dkh.... 9.5!

And over the past 12 hour period my tank dkh dropped from 8.6 to 7.9.

Will swap in the reborn now and go back to serious settings and report back.
Just thought the above was interesting.

Lol, Dennis is crazy. Tank pH must be seriously suppressed.

 

[d2mini]

Dude it is. Was down to 7.5 this morning!
Back up to 7.9 now.

 

[clugo]

d2mini, i bought a used lcr1 and am hoping to get it online this weekend, but it didn't come with the foam pad inside the reactor that is pictured on Jeff website, however, I noticed your not using one. Is it necessary to use or can i use the reactor wo it?

Also, how much effort did u need to put the probe into the holder?

 

[d2mini]

d2mini, i bought a used lcr1 and am hoping to get it online this weekend, but it didn't come with the foam pad inside the reactor that is pictured on Jeff website, however, I noticed your not using one. Is it necessary to use or can i use the reactor wo it?

Also, how much effort did u need to put the probe into the holder?

You only need the foam for fine media. If you are using coarse or extra coarse you don't need it. The probe is a tight fit (has to be to be a water tight seal) and mine came with a couple fittings for different probe sizes. If yours won't fit (don't force it) you might want to give jeff a call and have him send you a couple extra fittings.

 

[d2mini]

Preliminary report is in on the new Reborn media.
It's only been like 10 hours but it seems to be dissolving easier than the ARM.
Current settings...

Effluent Rate: 70ml/min
BPM: 80
Effluent pH: 6.5
Resultant Effluent dkh: 21

 

[d2mini]

Preliminary report is in on the new Reborn media.
It's only been like 10 hours but it seems to be dissolving easier than the ARM.
Current settings...

Effluent Rate: 70ml/min
BPM: 80
Effluent pH: 6.5
Resultant Effluent dkh: 21

Ok, now I need help on what settings to try from here.
Below you'll see a slight change from this morning which was me trying to slighting increase my alk dosage and instead it dropped.
And the tank dkh dropped from 8.23 to 7.9 over 12 hours.

Effluent Rate: 80ml/min
BPM: 105
Effluent pH: 6.5
Resultant Effluent dkh: 16.4

 

[d2mini]

I decided to up the BPM last night. Left the effluent rate the same.

Effluent Rate: 80ml/min
BPM: 180
Effluent pH: 6.3
Resultant Effluent dkh: 22

Tank dkh actually rose a little bit to 8.12

But I'm still not impressed, are you?
Still seems like a pretty low ph (and wonky bpm vs eff rate numbers) in order to get a semi-decent dkh and have enough effluent flowing to satisfy the tank's demands.
80 ml/min is not that high, so the reactor doesn't seem to be able to dissolve the media quick enough.

Is there any changes you would make that you think would improve the performance/efficiency so i'm putting less co2 in the tank but keeping tank levels steady?

 

[Nanook]

I really believe you are out of room on that reactor.

 

[d2mini]

Yup, i think so too. I've done everything I can think of.

I'm picking up an aquarium plants carbon doser this weekend that will put me on an even playing field as far as BPM. My LFS got me a good deal. So it will be interesting to see how that changes my settings on this reactor, and it can then move to whatever other reactor I decide to get.

But yeah man… just can't seem to get this baby to produce a really saturated effluent.

What I find interesting is the first two sets of settings with the reborn.
Making a small change in the effluent rate and increasing the bpm to match, DROPPED my effluent dkh. Then you can see in set 3 that i really had to crank the bpm, which dropped the ph, in order to get the effluent dkh back up.

 

[Piper27]

Have you actually ran the reactor for longer than a few days at one setting yet? Maybe your changing things around so much it might not have time to start working to its full potential in a day or two.

And if the tanks dkh rose to 8.12 via the reactor. Why not Let that setting sit for a week and see what happens, instead of immediately changing everything again. Like I am sure you know your not looking to increase the dkh of the tank with the reactor, just maintain it.

In my experience the recirculation pumps are the only thing that dramatically makes a difference on how a reactor runs, besides the size.

 

[Nanook]

Have you actually ran the reactor for longer than a few days at one setting yet? Maybe your changing things around so much it might not have time to start working to its full potential in a day or two.

The issue is that the reactor is running 1.3 gallons every hour through the reactor at 80cc/minute. Subtract the media from that equation and the turnover rate is quite fast. That is close to 30 gallons per day through the reactor, so the waiting longer wouldn't accomplish anything.

 

[d2mini]

Yeah, i have previously left it running for a while but not since the reborn went in.
Previously, it seemed like nothing changed after 24 hours. And many of the previous settings had the alk dropping much too quickly so I had to make quick changes.
But i was thinking the same thing.
I was making one more little tweak this morning but will leave it be for a few days until i get the new carbon doser this weekend.

 

[biecacka]

Just read in on this. I don't use this brand reactor, but I am using a larger grain media and I too am having problems getting it to dissolve and my alk has skyrocketed. I have since took it offline until a buddy helps me dial it in properly. Next time I may try a smaller media too

Corey

 

[d2mini]

Just read in on this. I don't use this brand reactor, but I am using a larger grain media and I too am having problems getting it to dissolve and my alk has skyrocketed. I have since took it offline until a buddy helps me dial it in properly. Next time I may try a smaller media too

Corey

Your alk skyrocketed???

 

[Piper27]

I see, sounds like you could have got an undersized reactor for the system I would agree. Shouldn't it tske a little longer for the new media to start to dissolve to its full potential, or does this happen within a few hours?

 

[clugo]

great question Piper27! Im new to using a CR (hoping to have mine online next week) but I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Piper27]

I would guess leaving it for a few days would give better results.

 

[d2mini]

I think I'm finally narrowing down on the correct settings for keeping things stable.
Effluent rate is staying the same. Just making small changes to BPM to figure out what ph is most efficient.
The new media does seem to be helping. And I'm using less of it.
I bought two 8 lb bags because my reactor came with two 8 lb containers of the coarse ARM and pretty sure i used most of it. But one 8 lb bag of Reborn almost filled the reactor. So this media does seem to be more efficient. Maybe it won't last as long? Time will tell.

What I'm finding out through this whole process is two things…

a) There is a limit to what co2 will dissolve. After that, you are just wasting c02 and dropping your tank pH unnecessarily.

b) This reactor isn't holding quite enough media for my tank's high demands. I believe Jeff's ratings on this one were too conservative. It will hold just barely more than the 8 lb bag of Reborn that i just dumped in there. Would either have to add an extension, a second chamber or move up to a larger size reactor. I didn't realize that more media makes more efficient use of co2. I figured it just meant you wouldn't have to refill as often. Like using a larger container for two-part dosing.

 

[clugo]

glad to hear it d2mini. This post has been very helpful.