Too much effluent?

[Sander1001]

Could too much effluent out of the calcium reactor be diluted. I have low calcium even though I have a kalk reactor, and calcium reactor. I currently have the effluent at about 120 drips per minute out of the calcium reactor, with about a CO2 bubble once per 3 sec. I know this is above the recommended 40 drips but I am trying to tune it up to and good calcium level, maybe too much. Is this not allowing enough contact time in the reactor resulting in poor calcium level. The effluent is coming out at 6.7-8 range. Mag is 1500 and DKH is 11 in the tank, but calcium is around 330. Salinity is 1.025. Do I need to slow things down. I can't believe my calcium is low with both a kalk, and calcium reactor. I have a light to medium SPS load.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Right now the Ca and Alk are out of balance. Ca reactor is for maintaining Ca and Alk, not raising them. If you increase the output of the reactor you are raising Ca and Alk, which is not what you want. At this point you want to get a Ca only additive and raise your tank with that.

 

[Sander1001]

I dose kalk through a kalk reactor, but still can't get my calcium to behave. The Ph out of the kalk reactor is about 12. Shouldn't this combo maintain a good CA level?

 

[tentacles]

If you are only trying to increase your calcium levels, dose a calcium chloride supplement like turbo calcium, then set your carx to maintain the levels. This calculator will help you determine how much to use. http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

If the two are in balance, it will work just fine. But by adding kalk you are raising Ca and Alk when you only want to be raising Ca. At this point raising alk is actually making it harder to raise Ca.

Basically, what you said is true. It will MAINTAIN a good Ca level. Meaning first you have to get it to a good Ca level.

A possible way that your tank is becoming unbalanced is by using an unbalanced salt for water changes. Many mixes are low in Ca and over time will throw off the Ca-Alk balance in your tank if you dont add Ca to the newly mixed water.

 

[Sander1001]

So I will need a CA additive to get to my desired CA, and then the CA will hold the CA level. Then the Kalk reactor will help with PH and Alk. So if true what is your or a prefered CA additive. I just started using Kent salt and have been told this isn't a really good salt. Could this be adding to my troubles?

 

[Sander1001]

I mean the CA reactor will help with CA, and alk. So if i need to only raise the CA level, what is the point of the kalk reactor besides PH? I know I can add CA with kalk, but is it just the I am out of balance and currently cant rely on the kalk reactor to get to my desired CA level? If I use an CA additive and get to 420 or so, then will my reactor hold it there or will I constantly need to add a CA additive? I was hoping, and apparently I didn't research enough, that the two would solve all PH, Alk, and CA levels.

 

[tentacles]

a kalk reactor adds both calcium and alkalinity, as well as raise pH. You are correct, you need to add a calcium supplement to raise Ca. Once you're Ca and Alk are balanced, you should be able to stop dosing the extra supplement. Your Carx and kalk rx should maintain your levels, but there is no guarantee that you won't have to adjust ca or alk in the future using additional supplements. Every tank is different, and some use one faster than the other. Kent turbo calcium is a good product for your needs, as would be adding only the ca portion of any liquid 2-part product.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Both the CaRx and the Kalk add both Ca and Alk. In this way they are essentially performing the same function. However, a side effect of the kalk is higher pH, and a side effect of the CaRx, depending on design, can often be low pH.