Need Help setting up a GEO 618 please

[Ding2daDong]

I am setting up a geo 618 on my system with a pinpoint pH controller and was wondering what to set my drip rate vs c02 bubble rate for my tank?

I also bought large grain ARM media and have heard the pH needs to higher for it or it will all turn to mush? What pH do you run?

It is for a 75g reef sps dominated with a 40g sump and 2x30g sps breeder tanks.

Any additional help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Matthew

p.s. which maxijet works best? Should I restrict the flow to the reactor? I want to use an aqualifter but I cannot find a reducer to make the small tubing on the aqualifter fit.

 

[McCrary]

Just set the controller to turn on the CO2 when it goes above 6.55 and to turn off when it goes below 6.50. The drip rate should be set to keep your alkalinity consistent. The flow to the reactor doesn't need to be restricted as the restriction will be the drip rate into the tank. You can overpressurize the reactor, but I doubt that will happen if you use something like a maxijet900 or one of the lower ones.

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916209#post11916209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by McCrary
Just set the controller to turn on the CO2 when it goes above 6.55 and to turn off when it goes below 6.50. The drip rate should be set to keep your alkalinity consistent. The flow to the reactor doesn't need to be restricted as the restriction will be the drip rate into the tank. You can overpressurize the reactor, but I doubt that will happen if you use something like a maxijet900 or one of the lower ones.

Thanks for the help. Do you run large ARM in that pH with good results? I just keep hearing that it turns to mush at that pH but it might be the small grain ARM that I am thinking of.

Also should I cover the calcium reactor so algae doesn't grow on it? It is close to the sump and near the refugium light.

Thanks again, anyone else want to chime in?

-Matthew

 

[McCrary]

With the smaller grain stuff it is going to turn to mush, but I have been running this pH for a while and I haven't had any problems with the media not being solid. I had the calcium reactor next to the tank and the lights from the tank caused a little brown algae to grow on the media. Didn't see any negative results from the algae, but I cover the reactor with a wood thingy I built just so I wouldn't have to look at it any more.

 

[Ding2daDong]

Thanks again!

Anyone else want to jump in on the pH for large ARM media?

-Matthew

 

[Ding2daDong]

TTT

-Matthew

 

[Paulairduck]

I run a 618 with large grain arm media. I run my PH @ 6.8. I also run ZEO mag granules on the top and the reactor takes car of my Calcium,Magnesium and alkalinity.

I would look to start you BPM on the co2 injection at 30 and your effluent @ 50 ml per minute, this gives me 6.8-6.7 in the reactor.

 

[tbone28]

I have a GEO 612 fed by MJ1200

Gen-X large grain media
pH controller on at 6.8, off at 6.7
BPM ~80
effluent 50 ml/min

These settings are maintainng my levels.