My 500 + gallon system. Last 13 years to now. Build, Aquascaping & more. Lots of pics

[slief]

Just a thought on your calcium reactor (meaning you can totally disregard this if you like), for safety's sake I prefer the twin-reactor type so that there is so much less chance of too low pH water going back into the system. You might consider adding a second reactor of calcium media for the effluent to flow through before going back to the sump - just in case. Like chicken soup, "it can't hoit."

Dave.M

It's funny you mention that. I was thinking about doing just that. Most including Geo say it's not needed with this reactor because of it's efficiency but I can't see how that would be different with this reactor vs the others unless it just uses less Co2. I have a couple smaller reactors in my shed and was thinking about using one of those. Will the size of the second reactor make much if any difference? Does it matter what media I use in the second reactor be it crushed coral, aragonite etc? I am planning on using the Two Little Fishes ReBorn media in the reactor. Also, if I use a second reactor, would I want to feed from the top or the bottom of the reactor?

 

[dave.m]

It's not the reactor failing I am concerned about, it is the CO2 valve. As large a reactor as the first one would be fine for the second, but what ever can find/fit will do to ensure you don't get too acidic water going back into your system.

Dave.M

 

[slief]

It's not the reactor failing I am concerned about, it is the CO2 valve. As large a reactor as the first one would be fine for the second, but what ever can find/fit will do to ensure you don't get too acidic water going back into your system.

Dave.M

Gotcha. I will have some PH related failsafes in my system. If the PH in the tank falls too low, the Cole Parmer feed pump for the reactor will shut off. I amy also run a second normally open solenoid after the regulator that shuts the Co2 feed off should the regulator fail. I am planning on using the Aquarium Plants Digital regulator as they are considered the best out there but anything can fail. I have a couple spare reactors in my shed but they are both smaller diameter at about 4" and 18" tall so I may put one of those to good use. George from Geo said there wasn't much point in running a second reactor but agreed it couldn't hurt so I may just use the spare reactor that I have and fill it with aragonite.

 

[worm5406]

Also have you thought of taking some 1/4 flex tubing and bringing in outside air into your skimmer? The added O2 will bring up pH and help off gas the CO2.

 

[slief]

Also have you thought of taking some 1/4 flex tubing and bringing in outside air into your skimmer? The added O2 will bring up pH and help off gas the CO2.

As a matter of fact, I have been thinking about doing that too. I'd probably run 1/2" tubing as opposed to 1/4" as it's a fairly long run and the airline on my skimmers silener has a nipple on it that is abut 3/8 OD.

 

[slief]

Also have you thought of taking some 1/4 flex tubing and bringing in outside air into your skimmer? The added O2 will bring up pH and help off gas the CO2.

I dug an old MRC reactor I had out of my shed. It needed the bottom threaded fitting epoxied in and the John Guest fittings adding. All of which I had in my plumbing drawers. It's 4" diameter and 18" tall. While not ideal due it it's smaller size compared to the Geo's 8" diameter and 8" height, it's better than nothing and will suffice until I get a bigger reactor. I will be running TLF Reborn in the main reactor and will likely use ARM finer grade stuff or aragonite in the 2nd reactor. If my Cole Parmer arrives Thursday, then I will be installlng it then. If not, it will go in Saturday.

 

[slief]

Just a thought on your calcium reactor (meaning you can totally disregard this if you like), for safety's sake I prefer the twin-reactor type so that there is so much less chance of too low pH water going back into the system. You might consider adding a second reactor of calcium media for the effluent to flow through before going back to the sump - just in case. Like chicken soup, "it can't hoit."

Dave.M

2nd reactor is ready to go. I filled it with fine grade ARM. The big primary reactor is filled primarily with Reborn and some schuran style media that came with it. Both reactors are now filled with the rinsed media. All fittings are in place. Just need the Cole Palmer to arrive tomorrow and I will get it installed tomorrow night.. Jim wil be here tomorrow with his camera in hand to cover the install and setup. I also brought my aluminum 10lb Co2 tank to my local Co2 refill/exchange shop and they exchanged it for a full 20 pound tank. I have a couple steel 20 pound tanks that they will trade me for a second 20# aluminum tank. I also ordered the Aquarium Plants regulator which should arrive Friday. I deceided to bit the bullet on that because I really don't want to fuss with the Co2 once it's dialed in and the AP regulator is the best solution for maintaining a consisitant Co2 rate. I'm going to set the reactor up with my Reef Fanatic regulator and swap it for the AP one once it arrives unless my pump doesn't arrive tomorrow.

All ready to go. Eventually I will get a larger 2nd reactor if I find it's needed. I will probably add a fresh air line for my skimmer either tomorrow or this weekend.

 

[dave.m]

Looks mighty! It's going to take a few days to dial in your CA reactor(s). I am guessing that there are a few of us here who would appreciate it if you describe the process as you go through it, describing any bumps along the way, just for general education purposes. Thx!

Dave.M

 

[slief]

Looks mighty! It's going to take a few days to dial in your CA reactor(s). I am guessing that there are a few of us here who would appreciate it if you describe the process as you go through it, describing any bumps along the way, just for general education purposes. Thx!

Dave.M

I will be documenting it. I plan on starting around 50ml/min flow through the reactor and about 1 bubble/sec Co2. I'm shooting for 6.6 ph in the reactor for the moment. Apex will control that but I'm going to adjust my Co2 bubble rate so that it the solenoid rarely if ever engages. At least that's the plan. Once I find that balance, then I will raise the flow and increase the co2 to keep up with it. My Ca levels were on the low side (350) last I checked so depending on my Ca/Alk testing over the next couple weeks, I can make adjustments.

 

[dave.m]

Is that the pH probe mount in the top of the GEO reactor?

Dave.M

 

[slief]

Is that the pH probe mount in the top of the GEO reactor?

Dave.M

Yes. The pH probe mount is in the top of the reactor.

 

[slief]

My Cole Parmer arrived today. The reactor and Co2 tank will be kept in the shed. I need to add an EB4 Apex power bar to my shed as my EB8 in there is full and I have to move my PM1 pH probe module in there. The Ca Reactor will be installed in a little bit. I'm just waiting for Jim to arrive as he will be filming the install/set up for the LA Fish Guys Tech Talk series that will debut soon. Stay tuned. Updates will follow in a few hours.

This is the pump I will be using. It will be setup after the reactors so it draws water through it as oppsed to pumping water into the reactors. By doing it this way, it will insure that my reactors don't leak from the pumps pressure in the event that the reactors clog. This pump puts out about 25PSI if memory serves. I can adjust the RPM on the pump from 3.5 RPM to 200 RPM. With the tubing I am running, that equates to 9.8ml/min to 560ml/min. I will be starting off at 17.8 RPM which puts me at 50ml/min.

 

[acesq]

That's quite a hunk o machinery you got there Scott! That will certainly eliminate any risk of uneven flow through the reactor. Are you getting an aquarium plants regulator or build your own?

 

[reefkeeper2]

Hi Scott,

nice Setup ... i think the DC-RD3-Speedy 230 Watt/20.000 Liter(5400 gallons) pump was the right powerful Pump for you . We show it by Reefapalooza in Orlando to the public...
The new Pump coming with 10 Volt connection to Apex and W-Lan on the PCB-Card....

best regards ... Klaus

When will this pump be available for purchase?

 

[slief]

That's quite a hunk o machinery you got there Scott! That will certainly eliminate any risk of uneven flow through the reactor. Are you getting an aquarium plants regulator or build your own?

It's definitely some hardware. Makes my old Knob HD reactor look like a toy. The AP Regulator will be here tomorrow. I set it up with a Reef Fanatic regulator I had on hand and will swap it out tomorrow afternoon with the AP one. I shut the Co2 off for the night anyways in order to purge the reactors of any air.

 

[slief]

I almost forgot. It in and running. I installed an EB4 and my PM1 in the shed so I had more outlets and my second pH probe for the reactor. I also ran a 1/2" semi flexible tubing line for the skimmers air inlet. It too is plumbed into the shed which remains pretty clean and has a vent to the outside. The shed backs up to the tank wall and I've got a couple 1" pipes running through the wall to for the aquarium lines and what not so adding the fresh air line was fairly easy other than the 10' run to the skimmer along the underside of the aquarium.

I ran the Co2 for a couple hours and dropped the pH down to 7.32 with only a bubble a second. The Co2 is off for the night so I can purge the air from the system. I will turn the Co2 back on tomorrow once the system is purged.. I did some basic programing with my Apex. I programmed in some failsafes (low tank pH and low sump level so far) for the Co2 valve, Cole Parmer pump and reactor pump. The low tank ph and low sump level would shut the reactor and it's pumps off.

 

[slief]

Got my new regulator. I will install it when I get home later today.

 

[slief]

The new regulator is installed. I have to purge the air out of the reactors (again) as air got in when I removed the Co2 tubing and replaced the check valve. No big deal. I increased the pump RPM and it should be done in a few hours. Once the air is done I will turn on the Co2.

Interestingly, the line I ran from my shed to the skimmer seemed to drop my tanks pH as oposed to increasing it. I do have a reasonably large house and the side of the tank where the skimmer is in has no doors. I can only assume my Co2 levels in the house are low and that the line to the shed my be restricting the air flow a bit. It's about a 12' run and I used 1/2" OD tubing which should be sufficient. Either way, I will play with that more later on. I need to do my Ca and Alk tests which I will probably do tonight if not tomorrow morning.

 

[biecacka]

Scott, why did you chose this regulator over some of the custom made ones?

Corey

 

[slief]

Scott, why did you chose this regulator over some of the custom made ones?

Corey

From all my research and all the reviews and feedback, this is considered to be the best/most consistant regulator you can get as far as set it and forget it. After getting it setup, I'm alreay impressed. No valves to adjust. Just set the seconds per bubble from 10 bubbles a second to one bubble every 10 seconds and the electronic valve handles the rest. I've used other regulators before and this one is completely different. It's simple and pretty damn accurate. From what I understand, the bubble count doesn't change even when the tank is getting low.