Pump and Maintenenace Question

[jdieck]

I will remove the powerhead from the sump and drip the Kalk on the skimmer inlet side, that will give the flow better time to mix and the Kalk can even improve the skimming performance. As you did the drip of two part to the tank I think is a good move. I will keep proper ventilation as much as possible to reduce the dependency on the supplements to keep a high PH and switch the two part to the Bicarbonate option.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think that sounds like a good start, and I'd see how long it lasts now.

 

[PatMayo]

Well by golly that's what I am going to do right now.
I'll keep you guys posted. I really appreciate the help. It seems like I get some things solved and then off I go to fix something else.

But I am getting an education and it's fun!!

I'll report back in a couple of weeks and let you know how things are coming along. Everything was just cleaned a few days ago so this is the perfect time to test.

Regards,

Pat

 

[PatMayo]

Hey guys, another quick question. Would it hurt to put an extra powerhead in the skimmer side of the sump, where the tank drain drains? This would help to circulate the water and keep things in suspension more and mix the limewater as well. Or is this not necessary? If it can help ok if it will be detrimental I don't want to do that either.

What about the powerhead I have in the cheato area? Is it ok to leave that there? I typically do not have trouble with that pump.

Or is this just adding too much heat to the tank? I have no problems with the water getting too warm.

The cheato seems to grow better with some good flow.

Regards,

Pat

 

[jdieck]

Keep the flow powerehad with the Caetho. The other one I deem not necessary as the flow from the tank drain shall be mixing things very well.

 

[PatMayo]

Well so far it does not appear that I am going to be able to keep the ph high enough without using the baked baking soda. It is only 9 pm and my ph has already dropped to 7.99 and the metal halide lights are still on. I would think that by morning the ph will be quite low.

My house is new and I just can't seem to get enough clean air in the house. Of course it's getting cold now so it's not very practical to keep windows open.

I may be stuck cleaning the equipment far more often than I want but I don't see any alternative at this point. Maybe with the 2 part drip in the main tank it will help a little bit more. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Hummmmmmm

Regards,

Pat

 

[jdieck]

Jus wait and see. You know the only issue is not the hard work of cleaning but Carbonate accumulation on the impellers is harsh for the pumps. It increases vibration which shorten the life of shafts and bearings and may create cavitation creating micro bubbles and over heating.
Lower PH will also help prevent precipitation.

Is the ay way you can get fresh air for your skimmer?
If you have a hood extractor on top of your stove insure it is on when cooking or when using the oven. That might help. Also you can open a window just a small bit 1" or so. and turn on the bathroom extractor once in a while, that shall help also.

 

[PatMayo]

I have the bathroom fan on for at least 7 hours per day. (It's made to vent the house.) I may have to leave the window open just a bit as you say and I'll see what happens.

As I understand it if the ph gets below 7.8 it is really not good for the critters. I hope it won't go below that.

Anyway, I'll see how it goes. Have a great Monday.

Regards,

Pat

 

[PatMayo]

jdieck/Randy....
Well good evening everyone. The parameters for tonight are as follows.

The readings were taken at 7:45 pm 10/16/06.
Temp 79
Ph 7.97
alkalinity 3.08 meq/l
calcium is 455 (that sure jumped up)
sg 1.0255

The lights have been on since 1 pm today. The ph is a little low. I have 2 windows cracked and the upstairs circulation fan on for 17 hours per day. I neglected to look at the ph in the early am. I will in the morning and record it.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, let's see how low it gets.

How much evaporation do you have each day?

 

[PatMayo]

Day 2 report:

10-17-06 5:00 AM

temp 79
ph 7.87

Actinics come on at 12:00 pm and go off at 11:00 pm. Metal halides come on at 1:00 pm and turn off at 10:00 pm. The cheato has a light on it which runs on a reverse cycle to the main lights.

Time 6:45 pm
temp 80
ph 7.95
alk 3.00 meq/l
calk 575

The calk really shot up. I took the hose out of the 2 part until the reading lowers. I wonder if I should stop the limewater and just dose with the 2 part? I can't keep the alk and calk up to the proper level by just dosing with the limewater. I tired that before. (Without artificially increasing the evaporation)

Since I drip the 2 part and limewater it's hard to guess the evaporation rate. But based on past history I'm guessing about 3/4 gallon per day. I added a small fan to the sump area in an effort to gain more evaporation so possibly it is up to a gallon per day. I doubt it's much more than than. I have a much larger fan that I can point over the main tank. I don't have an auto top off but I can keep up by turning the 2 part up but that may raise the calk too high. Or I might be able to disconnect the 2 part and just dose limewater at a higher rate using the 2 part doser or the high flow tubing for the doser and the larger fan.

I still have the upstairs fan on about 17 hours. As well I have 2 windows downstairs that are cracked about an inch or two. My home is a tri-level home and the tank is in the family room which is the lowest of the 3 levels. Should I give it another day to see if the ph gets much lower or should I just go back to dosing the baked?

So what do you guys think? Any other ideas I can try or just stay the course?

Regards,

Pat

 

[jdieck]

I'll give it another day. By the way does the windows are in the lower level were the tank is or in the mid level?
Do you have a gas based home heating system and /or water heater? If so is it located in the level were the aquarium is? Are the vent extractors working on them when they are on?
I am trying to look for sources of excessive CO2 indoors.

 

[PatMayo]

One window is open in the middle level and the other on the lower level where the tank is. I have a gas heating system and a gas water heater. The water heater is in the garage and is vented so I don't think that is a source. I wouldn't think the heater is either since it is located in the garage as well. The house is only 3 years old so I hope there are not any leaks into the house. I have not noticed any and I have an alarm system that should pick this up if it were at lethal levels. (I hope it works.)

Both apparatus are vented through the roof in the garage.

I'll leave it another few days and will see where it goes. I'll report back tomorrow evening.

Thanks and have a great evening.

Regards,

Pat

 

[jdieck]

It is good they are in the garage. You should be able to hear the extractors come on while the heaters are on. Note that most detectors are set to detect Carbon Monoxide and not necesarely CO2.
Also check that the garage door into the house is closed. There is always a chance that the ceiling fan in the roof is pulling more than the fans in the heaters so the draft my pull some flew gas back into the garage and house even when the vent extractors are operating. I had a similar situation with my paint booth in the basement. When I turned it on I got flue gas into the shop until I installed a proper in vent line to the machinery room to break teh vaccum and allow external air in when all the fans were operating.

 

[mavgi]

Hi Jdieck

i remember i have the same problem with the low ph and when i open the doors and the windows as you suggest the ph increase again without to add backing soda to the tank . my fan was pull all the co2 in the air and direct it to the tank so i close the fan and leave the door open with the window after that it was fixed.

 

[PatMayo]

Latest results:

10-18-06 5:30 am
Temp 80
PH 7.86

6:45 pm
Temp 80
Ph 7.95

I have not checked the alkalinity or calcium yet but I will shortly and then report back.

It seems to me that if the ph does not go any lower at night then I might be ok. I may not have the actual low reading as I leave for work around 6:30 am but the lights don't come on until 12:00 pm. Even so I hope it is not too much lower than what I measure in the am.
I may be ok. It's not in the 8 to 8.2 range as recommended but as long as it stays is the range it is without further lowering what do you think?

I haven't checked the alkalinity yet or the calicum but I will in a few minutes. Back shortly.

Regards,

Pat

 

[PatMayo]

Results conclusion.

The alkalinity is 2.97 and the calcium is 470. It's going down quite nicely from where it was yesterday. I wonder why it jumped up so high? Can the fact that I am using unbaked baking soda account for that or is it just an anomolie.

Anyway, what is the general consensus now? Shall I just keep on keeping on? If the ph does not get any lower than it is now just not worry about it?

Regards,

Pat

 

[Billybeau1]

Could just be test noise Pat.

By the way, How do you measure pH ? (jumped in late )

 

[jdieck]

Yes I think the original Calcium readings might have been skewed.
If the PH stay at that level I will just keep higher Calcium and Alkalinity. Try maintaining Calcium at aroud 450 ppm and your alkalinity increase to 4 meq/lt. How is the precipitation in the sump? Have you noticed any more after you cleaned it up?
For Alkalinity if you are dripping in the Main tank keep doing that but now try using 3 parts baking soda and 1 part baked baking soda while keeping an eye in the precipitation.

 

[PatMayo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8369255#post8369255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Could just be test noise Pat.

By the way, How do you measure pH ? (jumped in late )

Hi there Billybeau1. I use a pinpoint ph meter. It just calibrated it 3 or 4 days ago. It calibrated just fine.

jdeck, I have some of the baked already made up and ready to go so I can do the 3 to 1 right now. I didn't get all the garbage out of the sump. Most of it I did. It appears that there is less "garbage" accumulating in the sump. I'm going to reserve judgment for a bit. I do my water changes on Friday so at that time I will clean up the sump very good and then watch closely for the next week or so.

Thanks for all the help everyone. It seems I may be making some progress. It's been a battle so far but I may be starting to win the war.

I will post again later and give you my progress.

One other thing, I thought I would go one more day before I turn the calcium back on, do you think that is the right move or should I just go ahead and start it now?

Regards,

Pat