MRC Club

[Kelly]

I was always under the impression that it would raise the Ca level over time..ya see, you never stop learning in this hobby

 

[myreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6697041#post6697041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steve68
increasing ur drip rate is not going to help, a calcium reactor maintains ur Ca level so if its at 370 it will hold it at that, u have to use some kind of additive to raise ur calcium.

I respectfully disagree....but you must raise your Co2 bubble rate also. yes, reactors maintain levels better than raise them, but you can get them to rise...I do it and have done it.

 

[Kelly]

myreef,
seeing as how you built my reactor (and it's a beauty!) how much higher should I up my bubble rate? My effluent PH is now a steady 6.7, I followed your directions that came with the reactor.
Thanks

 

[steve68]

i think that depends on the media u use.

 

[rock455]

drop your effluent from the first chamber down until you see the Ca go up -- I have done this -- if you look at page 33 you can see that I have mine at 6.5 because I am maintaining better results with thiat level. --

Depending on the corals you have you may have to adjust the reactor to supply enough Ca to the tank.

 

[Weatherman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6697984#post6697984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by myreef
yes, reactors maintain levels better than raise them, but you can get them to rise...I do it and have done it.

The problem is that if you use a calcium reactor to raise your calcium levels it will raise your alkalinity, too, and by quite a lot.

For every 20 ppm increase in calcium, you'll get a 2.8 dKH increase in alk.

 

[aqua1206]

reef sump ?

reef sump ?

I just got a MR2 and now looking to purchase the MRC reef sump. Does anyone have any suggestions and good pics..Thanks

 

[Kelly]

At that rate my alk would be around 20.....
rock455 - my cr5 is a single chamber recirculating reactor. I don't have much further to drop my effluent ph until it turns the ARM to mush..I'm at 6.7 now. I can go down to 6.6 and see how that works out. I started adding 1tbs. of Turbo Calcium tonight so I'll monitor it and get my Ca up hopefully.

 

[steve68]

i add the turbo calcium to my top off only.

 

[rock455]

I am using ARM as well and at 6.5 reading from the first chamber the media is not mush as you can see from the pic.

 

[RGibson]

PH

PH

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6699316#post6699316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kelly
At that rate my alk would be around 20.....
rock455 - my cr5 is a single chamber recirculating reactor. I don't have much further to drop my effluent ph until it turns the ARM to mush..I'm at 6.7 now. I can go down to 6.6 and see how that works out. I started adding 1tbs. of Turbo Calcium tonight so I'll monitor it and get my Ca up hopefully.

What do you used to test the PH in the reactor?

 

[Kelly]

a Milwaukee PH controller.

 

[RGibson]

Kelly when was the last time you calibrated your ph monitor?

 

[Kelly]

good question...6 months ago???
I'm due to calibrate both ph probes, but I know the effluent probe is fairly accurate cause when I put it in my sump during cleaning it reads the same ph as my tank probe.

 

[RGibson]

I would calibrate the probe before any changes to the calcium reactor.

 

[rock455]

Have to agree with RGibson -- I calibrate every couple of months -- I have the reef fanatic controller with a pinpoint probe and there is only minor drift -- about .02-3 in that time frame --

 

[cmhollis]

Is the probe holder something that can be added afterwards? I picked up a used CR-3, and purchased the 2nd chamber for it from Andy. I would like to use my controller between the 2 chambers if possible.

 

[rock455]

Yes you can order the in line probe holder from Andy --

They aren't that expensive but you do have to email him about getting one because he doesn't have it listed on his website.

 

[Blorton]

No velocity pump users?

No velocity pump users?

Someone posted many pages back asking if anyone had tried the velocity t4 pump. Has anyone tried *any* of the velocity pumps on these skimmers?

I'm looking at a great deal for a used velocity t4 and am seriously considering getting it and the MR-2 for the 125.

I'd sure appreciate any input on this. Andy says it will probably work ok, but best performance comes with at least 22' pressure rating. This pump is only rated for 18'.

Thanks!
Dan

P.S. Yes, I know the PCX55 is the best pump for the stock MR-2. I'm trying to save some dough here while trying not to have a disappointing experience by running a sub-par pump.

 

[Kelly]

RGibson- good call, both of my probes were off by .1 to .2
My effluent Ph was actually 6.4, I bumped it back up to 6.6 for now. My tanks Ph was 8.32.