Need help tuning a calcium reactor

[cbourg]

I've been working to set up a calcium reactor on my tank and have some questions

I have the internal ph set to 6.5 via a controller

The effluent drop is less than 30 per second

I'm testing for alkalinity and it's sitting at 169 ppm (9.4 dkh) which is slightly less than 2 days ago (175 ppm)

Should I just let it run for now

Magnesium is sitting at 1290 so you would think the draw would be there

Let me know what you think

No sps but a few lps

Thanks


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[gus6464]

What's the media you are using?

 

[cbourg]

It appears to be little fishies reborn coarse aragonitr


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[ca1ore]

I run my CaRx with reborn at about 6.6-6.7, so yours sounds about right. Did you mean 30 drops per minute?

 

[cbourg]

Yes sorry, meant 30 per minute
Let me know if I should be doing anything or just let it run
Thx


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[Przemek_PacSun]

Have you checked your effluent alkalinity and calcium level? In good reactor you should have about 70-80kH level on output(more is better because adding less effluent to aquarium you can stabilise parameters without affecting pH in tank)

Regards

Przemek

 

[cbourg]

I don't have anything that tests that high
Salifert only goes up to around 29 dkh using the low value measurement
Hannah only goes up to 300 ppm


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[Przemek_PacSun]

It's very simple to calculate higher values.
If one syringe in not enough - simply use another one .
For example- if you will use one full syringe and half another - kH will be 29 + 50% of 29kh from next syringe = 43.5kH

 

[cbourg]

It's very simple to calculate higher values.
If one syringe in not enough - simply use another one .
For example- if you will use one full syringe and half another - kH will be 29 + 50% of 29kh from next syringe = 43.5kH

I wasn't able to do it
I went through 3 syringes and it never changed colour...just became extremely clear

I tested my tank and it shows 163 ppm so has dropped 9 ppm since yesterday

I'm thinking to just leave everything as is

As mentioned I have it running through a ph controller so really the only control I have is with the effluent

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated


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[jda]

10 bubbles to forty drips is a good place to start.

If you want to test beyond a salifert, just keep counting the syringe and add the results together. So 240ml (2 whole syringes plus 40 from the third) is 31.4 + 31.4 + 12.2 using the low res model.

 

[cbourg]

What alkalinity do you keep your tank at?
I just read another article where people are keeping it around 9.0 dkh
If that's ok I think I just need to make sure it doesn't drop below 160...increase the effluent just a touch of it does


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[BlackTip]

Don't concern yourself with the affluent alkalinity. What is important is the tank alkalinity. That is final result that you should focus on.

Don't count affluent drops, that is not accurate. You need to measure in ML; it will make tuning much easier. Use a measuring cup and measure how many ML a minute, and use this as delta. Increase or decrease affluent as needed. 30 drops per min sound too slow. If the flow is too slow, it will promote blockage in tubing. You wants the flow to be continuous like a string of pearls.

I am using Reborn, and I keep my reactor PH at 6.75. With this media, I suggest not to go below 6.6. It melts away very easily below this level.

Keep the reactor PH stable, increase/decrease your flow and CO2 to achieve this stability. Measure your tank alkalinity couple of times over 48 hours and determine the gain/loss. Adjust your flow and CO2 to either add more or less alkalinity.

It takes time and trial and error to get it right, but this is the main concept and the easiest way I found.

Good luck,

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

http://reef.diesyst.com/
This will get you set up right.

 

[cbourg]

Thanks BlackTip, that was great advice
My Ak has been dropping very slowly ie 2 ppm per day
I increased the flow rate from 1.2 ml/min to 1.5 ml/min
I haven't touched the ph in the reactor yet...if I increase it to 6.75 will I have to start tweaking all over again?


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[BlackTip]

Every time I change any setting in the CaRx, I test the DT alkalinity for several days to make sure everything is Ok.

Are you sure that your measurements of 1.5 ml/min is correct? It sounds awfully low. Most instructions starts at 20 ml/min. My reactor runs at 55 ml/min.

What is your tank size? what reactor are you using? And, what do you keep in your tank?

 

[cbourg]

I tried to set it up originally at 30 drips per min
I think that works out to 1.5 mil per min

I'm afraid to turn it up....

My ak was in around 163 (go figure my co2 tanks are empty so have to refill in the morning but the reactor showed the ph sitting at 6.7

Will start all over in the am and start testing again

No sps at this time but do have lps

Torch, frogspawn, hammer, bubble so not a huge draw



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