rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Deltec reactor? They have special media that is like mush
LifeReef Calcium Reactor
- Thread starter d2mini
- Start date
No. I use Arm like everyone else. The reactor is Marine Technical Concepts Pro Cal.
Actually I edited my post above saying I'm going off topic with this. I don't want to hijack the thread from what it is.
Ken
d2mini
Premium Member
Ok, after two months, time to bring this thread back from the dead. 
During this time, i've been playing around with the reactor.
I wanted to see what happens with different pH settings, and also what happens when keeping ph the same but changing bubble rate and effluent.
What I found is that I keep coming back to the settings i'm currently at, which is an effluent of around 95-100ml and a pretty high bubble rate. So high that I have trouble counting bubbles but something around 200 bpm. Whatever it is, my ph ends up down around 6.3 or a little under. Anything higher than 6.3 and I can't seem to keep my Alk from dropping.
Again, before the switch to the Rx, I was using two-part and dosing 300ml of Alk into my tank every day. So i'm finding I really need to push this Rx to keep up.
So considering my current settings which are keeping things stable, I have found that i have not been able to use less C02 by slowing down my effluent rate, keeping ph the same. Is this correct? Increasing the concentration of the effluent means lower effluent flow, and less C02, so overall it couldn't keep up.
During this time, i've been playing around with the reactor.
I wanted to see what happens with different pH settings, and also what happens when keeping ph the same but changing bubble rate and effluent.
What I found is that I keep coming back to the settings i'm currently at, which is an effluent of around 95-100ml and a pretty high bubble rate. So high that I have trouble counting bubbles but something around 200 bpm. Whatever it is, my ph ends up down around 6.3 or a little under. Anything higher than 6.3 and I can't seem to keep my Alk from dropping.
Again, before the switch to the Rx, I was using two-part and dosing 300ml of Alk into my tank every day. So i'm finding I really need to push this Rx to keep up.
So considering my current settings which are keeping things stable, I have found that i have not been able to use less C02 by slowing down my effluent rate, keeping ph the same. Is this correct? Increasing the concentration of the effluent means lower effluent flow, and less C02, so overall it couldn't keep up.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Sounds to me like u need a much larger reactor. U can add a second chamber If u don't already have 1 but my opinion is upgrade reactors to double what u have now
It looks like Dennis is saying that everything is stable but was making some observations.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Agree stable at a ph of 6.3 and bubble count so hi he can't count it. The reactor is pushed to its max now to keep things stable
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Ok, so let's say that i'm able to continue keeping things stable at my current settings.
What would be the benefits of getting a larger reactor?
Remember, this whole CaRx thing is new to me.
Well as growth in ur tank happens demand will increase and ur reactor won't be able to keep up. Side benefit Is Co2 tank will last 4 times as long
d2mini
Premium Member
so is it just the fact that you have more media in it that you are able to use less Co2? Is that how it works? Or is there more to it?
One thing that Jeff mentions on his site is that although he'll sell you a second chamber if you really want it, he says it doesn't improve performance.
This one is rated at 300-500g. My display is only 200g but then i have a small frag tank, a refugium and a sump adding another 150-ish gallons.
One thing that Jeff mentions on his site is that although he'll sell you a second chamber if you really want it, he says it doesn't improve performance.
This one is rated at 300-500g. My display is only 200g but then i have a small frag tank, a refugium and a sump adding another 150-ish gallons.
Jeff can make an extension for your reactor, but before I did that I would get away from the ARM coarse media, there have been many people over the years note that it was more difficult to dissolve than other medias. I think for large reactors it works better, perhaps because of the greater amount of low pH water. I used the Reborn a lot and had no trouble with it.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Two_Litt...edia-Two_Little_Fishies-TL4511-FICRCM-vi.html
http://www.marinedepot.com/Two_Litt...edia-Two_Little_Fishies-TL4511-FICRCM-vi.html
Even a small reactor should work with what you have. Like mentioned above, get the small media. Try this first.
Conversely I had a calcium reactor with the fine media on a small tank once and had to switch to coarse media because I couldn't keep my Alk lower than 11 no matter how slow I dropped the BPM. Once I switched, I was fine.
Conversely I had a calcium reactor with the fine media on a small tank once and had to switch to coarse media because I couldn't keep my Alk lower than 11 no matter how slow I dropped the BPM. Once I switched, I was fine.
billwill
Member
I started right along with you, and made some incorrect statements early on. First lesson learned is that no two bubble counters are the same; it all depends on tube size in the counter chamber. The one on my reactor is much larger than jbj counter. I'm running about 70ml/min and been stable for about 3 months now at what're bubble count and 6.6 ph using tlf reborn media
d2mini
Premium Member
Yeah, a lot of people don't realize this.
One person could have giant bubbles, another person could have tiny bubbles. Saying you have X bubbler per minute doesn't really mean much when comparing to other people.
Jeff will also tell you flat out that it's just a general guide.
Your bubbles should stay pretty consistent, you just can't listen to others trying to tell you how many bubbles you should have.
ok ok ok"¦. new media will have to be gotten soon.
I wish I knew how much Co2 i was actually using.
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
You may find very little difference between Reborn and Xtra coarse ARM. I often switch between the two.
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
Ok, after two months, time to bring this thread back from the dead.
During this time, i've been playing around with the reactor.
I wanted to see what happens with different pH settings, and also what happens when keeping ph the same but changing bubble rate and effluent.
What I found is that I keep coming back to the settings i'm currently at, which is an effluent of around 95-100ml and a pretty high bubble rate. So high that I have trouble counting bubbles but something around 200 bpm. Whatever it is, my ph ends up down around 6.3 or a little under. Anything higher than 6.3 and I can't seem to keep my Alk from dropping.
Again, before the switch to the Rx, I was using two-part and dosing 300ml of Alk into my tank every day. So i'm finding I really need to push this Rx to keep up.
So considering my current settings which are keeping things stable, I have found that i have not been able to use less C02 by slowing down my effluent rate, keeping ph the same. Is this correct? Increasing the concentration of the effluent means lower effluent flow, and less C02, so overall it couldn't keep up.
Sorry Dennis, I am trying to follow your thought process. Is the reactor working effectively or are you experimenting and trying to determine the reactors capabilities?
