Need help setting up CA reactor

[djkms]

So I just got my CA reactor online tonight and need some help with settings. I guess the big thing I need to find out is at what PH my media dissolves at and work from there. The problem is I am getting mixed information everywhere.

I have Caribsea A.R.M. Coarse (50lb bag)

Posts here in this section say to start at 6.5-off 6.7-on

This guy here seems to think it dissolves at 7.5
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1566617

And on Melevs page he says 6.5
http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html

I dont get it. If it starts to dissolve at 6.5 why would I have it shutoff at 6.5? Wouldn't I want it to shutoff to start with at say 6.4 so it can build up in the effluent?

Now if Caribsea does in fact start dissolving at 7.5 wouldn't the 6.5-6.7 ratio just keep it constantly melting? Sorry for being such a noob I just want to make sure I am doing this right. I picked up some SPS's recently and the last thing I want is huge alk swings.

I also put in some brightwell NeoMag at a ratio of 1/10 of the ARM media. Does anyone know what PH this starts to melt at?

Anyways because that guy said 7.5 - for tonight these are my settings until i can get further clarification

Regulator
Fallback OFF
If pH2 > 07.70 Then ON
If pH2 < 07.45 Then OFF
If pH < 07.80 Then OFF

RioPump
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If pH < 07.80 Then OFF

I have my bubble counter going at about 1 bubble per 2 seconds and effluent at about 100ml a min.

Thanks for your help.

 

[schwaggs]

Measure the Alkalinity of the effluent from your reactor, this is the best way (other than visually when the media "melts" but then you went too far) to tell if the media is dissolving. Is your probe calibrated with 4.0 and 7.0 standards? If not, I wouldn't set it to a specific number, rather I would creep up on a setting that gives you a good Alk reading and more importantly, maintains a level of CA and Alk in your tank.

To get the reactor pH in range (25-32 dKH typical):
Measure effluent ALK
If too low, lower pH range of the reactor
If too high, raise range
Wait at least 2 hours and retest

Once the reactor is in range, adjust the CA dosage using the following procedure
1) Let the reactor run for 48 hours.
2) Measure your Tank Alk and CA and record.
3a) If Alk and CA are too low, lower the pH range of the reactor.
3b) If Alk and CA are too high, raise the pH range of the reactor.
Repeat from step 1) until the system maintains the desired Alk and CA
Repeat Alk and CA test weekly and adjust as needed.

See this cool calculator for additional help on determining how much to adjust the pH range. http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html

 

[djkms]

I calibrated the probe last night with 7 & 10 solution. Thanks for the info. I think it would still help to know what PH the Caribsea ARM starts dissolving at to help along the process and not waste as much testing solutions.

Thanks for the help

 

[schwaggs]

If that is all you want to know, it starts disolving at a 8.0 as water is the universal solvent and will disolve anything given enough time... :lol2:

Seriously, I think a more appropriate starting point is 6.8 - 7.0 and work down from there.

 

[djkms]

Ok cool, thanks for the help Schwaggs.

 

[reefjunkie42]

if not mistaken i believ it should be 4.0 and 7.0 cal. solution..

 

[djkms]

Just read the manual for the apex and yep, 4,7 for calcium reactor. Thanks for the info, guess I need to buy some solution.

 

[reefjunkie42]

No prob bud