New Ca reactor design with pics and drawings
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
Ok guys, now I have a question that has been discussed, but I dont recall seeing the answer to this.
Why is a high circulation flow required? I have seen discussion on using Mag 5s and 7's, why is such a flow needed? I have mine set up testing now, with a small pump that I happened to have around. It pumps about 250 gph, will this be enough or should i use something bigger?
Thanks again to all the great info, other than a few leaks the first go around on the gluing, it seems to be functioning properly. I have no media in it yet. Just running the pump to check for leaks. The ventura seems to be working fine. If i bump the whole thing and a bubble sucks it, it is pulled down and through the pump immediately. Got to get some media and waiting on my regulator, then we will see how she does.
Why is a high circulation flow required? I have seen discussion on using Mag 5s and 7's, why is such a flow needed? I have mine set up testing now, with a small pump that I happened to have around. It pumps about 250 gph, will this be enough or should i use something bigger?
Thanks again to all the great info, other than a few leaks the first go around on the gluing, it seems to be functioning properly. I have no media in it yet. Just running the pump to check for leaks. The ventura seems to be working fine. If i bump the whole thing and a bubble sucks it, it is pulled down and through the pump immediately. Got to get some media and waiting on my regulator, then we will see how she does.
Ok, now another dumb question. Why not just monitor PH in sump? I mean isnt the tank PH more important than the effluent PH? If CO2 is flowing into the reactor, we know the PH will be lower. We know that the effluent PH will be lower than the tank PH, so why not just control the flow of effluent to keep the tank PH in the proper range?
Or do I need to monitor both?
Or do I need to monitor both?
vmichael
New member
In order for the media to disolve and release the calcium and nutrients; the 1st chamber of the reactor has to have a PH of 6.2 to 6.5 by the time the water passes around and thru the 2nd chamber the ph should be around 6.9.
If it was a single chamber design then you would be looking for a reading of 6.5
This is where you want your controller at; it should shut off the CO2 supply if the PH reaches 6.9..if it goes higher the CO2 kicks on again
Too much CO2 in the water will cause algae blooms since it feeds on CO2.
Ideal PH in the tank is 8.3
If anyone wants to step in a correct me or add to this; please do so.
If it was a single chamber design then you would be looking for a reading of 6.5
This is where you want your controller at; it should shut off the CO2 supply if the PH reaches 6.9..if it goes higher the CO2 kicks on again
Too much CO2 in the water will cause algae blooms since it feeds on CO2.
Ideal PH in the tank is 8.3
If anyone wants to step in a correct me or add to this; please do so.
melev
Well-known member
That sounds right to me Vmichael.
I'm still trying to figure out what is wrong with your regulators. What do you mean they stop bubbling? You mean CO2 no longer can come out of it? It locks up basically? If you can use the bubble counter on the side of your Ca Reactor, then the CO2 is still exiting the regulator, and must go through the bubble counter chamber on the regulator.
This is going to sound really silly, but since I'm not there I have to ask: Are you putting a little water in the bubble counter? I fill mine up about 1/2 way, and then occasionally put a little more in there if necessary.
I'm still trying to figure out what is wrong with your regulators. What do you mean they stop bubbling? You mean CO2 no longer can come out of it? It locks up basically? If you can use the bubble counter on the side of your Ca Reactor, then the CO2 is still exiting the regulator, and must go through the bubble counter chamber on the regulator.
This is going to sound really silly, but since I'm not there I have to ask: Are you putting a little water in the bubble counter? I fill mine up about 1/2 way, and then occasionally put a little more in there if necessary.
Thanks Vmichael, the reason I asked is the guy at the LFS said he only monitors his tanks, that he doenst care what the reactor is. He claims he has numerous tanks that he maintains and that none of them monitor the efffluent. He says he sets his controller to turn off the CO2 if the tank PH drops below 8.0. He says he adjusts his bubble count and effluent flow to maintain the calcium and/or KH level.
That is totally opposite of what I have heard else where. It is so easy to get a dozen different answers to some of these things. I prefer to listen to guys that use what they say. This LFS has been in business for a number of years and is almost exclusively reef.
That is totally opposite of what I have heard else where. It is so easy to get a dozen different answers to some of these things. I prefer to listen to guys that use what they say. This LFS has been in business for a number of years and is almost exclusively reef.
vmichael
New member
Yes , it locks up.. I think its the bubble counter that get locked up.. at times it even looks rusty..do you use sea water or purified water in the bubble conter?
I'm going to try and bypass the bubble counter and buy a plastic one to place by the reactor. It is strange . The guy at Mlwaukee said it was my tank that perhaps may have water in it. But I hasd it tested and is in perfect condition. I even let the tank settle for a day or 2 before I crank the gas on it.
vmichael
New member
Ahh yes there are many roads to Rome! How you get there is up to you. There is nothing wrong with monitoring your PH on the tank it is highly recommended. 8.0 to 8.3 is where it should be . For me the latter is better. However, knowing where your PH is in the effluent exit will also save you gas and eliminate the need to overdose CA and nutrients into your tank. As I mentioned excess CO2 can cause and algaee and other plants to grow rapidly.
There is no 1 way is the right way to do it.
:rollface:
melev
Well-known member
vmichael, I use RO/DI water in the bubble counter. When the CO2 is off, do you see tank water backing up the tubing all the way into the bubble counter perhaps?
Mine has never rusted in that area, but the guages look pretty bad at this point due to humidity in the fishroom. Which is something else I'm trying to resolve.
Mine has never rusted in that area, but the guages look pretty bad at this point due to humidity in the fishroom. Which is something else I'm trying to resolve.
Hey I am having the same problem with water backing up in the bubble counter. I am using an aquamedic regulator with a separate bubble counter, not the integrated milwaukee thing. I have the co2 line teed off in the middle of the recirc line, and if I turn off the needle valve, the water backs up and drips out. If i tuern on the needle valve the co2 will push all the water out of it!
What the heck do I have to do? tee off the co2 line somewhere else? The bubble counter wont stay stable with a level of water that lets me count the bubbles, and the water backup problem is pretty bad too. Anyone have ideas?
What the heck do I have to do? tee off the co2 line somewhere else? The bubble counter wont stay stable with a level of water that lets me count the bubbles, and the water backup problem is pretty bad too. Anyone have ideas?
melev
Well-known member
Perhaps this is due to too much pressure within the reactor. Since I don't have the effluent dripping out now (it is less than a trickle though), I'm not noticing the backing up effect. I'll watch my reactor for the next couple of days to see if it is or isn't backing up. I really don't check it much except to make sure it is running.
