New calc reactor and low ph

aerius007

aerius007

New member
I just set up my new calc reactor yesterday. Its a dual chamber Octopus with a reef fanatic regulator. I have 10lbs co2 tank, just filled and am controlling it with an acjr. I have the acjr to kick the co2 on once the ph raises to 6.65 and to turn the co2 off when the ph hits 6.58. I calibrated the new ph probe right before I put it into the reactor. Once the co2 kicks on the bubble counter gets me about 2 bubbles per minute and takes very little time to drop the co2 to the set level.



My problem is that my tank ph today was 7.65 when I woke up. Its never above 8 this early in the morning but 7.65 is too low IMO. I assume I could lower the calc reactors output to put less effluent into the tank but having it setup for less than a day I dont have the proper output dialed in anyways. What can I do to get my ph back up.



Levels before adding reactor were

alk 8.6

calc 420

ph 8.1
 
Most people dose kalk for that exact reason, you can try to dial back you settings some.
 
2 bubbles per minute, something seems wrong with that. I almost get one bubble per second or one per second and a half.
 
Sorry, misprint there. I was getting a 2 bubbles per second not minute. I backed that off a bit, now getting one every second or two.

I think my main issue is that I turned on the AC last night so I have no open windows plus adding in co2. Is there anyway to correct this other than running my skimmer airline outside?
 
I have both of the probes dialed in right (i think). Pretty simple with the neptune. As far as the reactor there is a spot in the lid that the probe sit in making it super easy to measure the effluent.
 
I think this ones comes down to a bad ph probe. I turned the reactor off and the ph stayed at 7.5. I took the probe out of the reactor (brand new probe), dropped it in the display and came out to being 7.85.

So I will try to calibrate the dt probe again, if that doesnt work its getting pitched. What kind of cleaning do these probes need anyways?
 
Zak, glad to hear you go9t your reactor, to bad it's giving you fits.I run my acjr at 6.2 and 6.1 repectfully. my tank ph runs as low as 7.95. Make sure probe is submerged, will give a false reading if it is. Your second chamber should be eating up most of the risidual co2? , so you main display should not drop. after your second chamber run it into your skimmer the air will blow off any excess co2 hope this helps. Good growing
 
I figured that, if you ph was that low your corals and fish would/should be dead. Good luck post up if you need more help.
 
Yeah, thanks guys. Too bad ph calibration fluid isnt too easy find around here, however I think this probe is shot anyways.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15342253#post15342253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kreeger1
has the probe ever been dry, if so bad probe
Click to expand...

Its possible, I got it used with an acjr.
 
used probe is never a good thing. Good thing you paid attention and didn't go dumping a bunch of kalk to raise your ph up.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15343336#post15343336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kreeger1
used probe is never a good thing. Good thing you paid attention and didn't go dumping a bunch of kalk to raise your ph up.
Click to expand...


Considering nothing looked stressed I didnt want to race to fix the problem. Looks like I'll just have to spend another $40.
 
Im glad I didnt buy a ph probe. My MP40 died on me so I had to put in a bunch of MJ's I had laying around. I didnt put two and two together but one of the MJ's was very close to the probe and for some reason was giving me the low reading. The only way I know that is my MP40 was replaced today and the ph jumped up immediately from 7.55 to 7.93.

Has anyone else had this type or heard of this interference?
 
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