What does your Ca Reactor output measure in dKh?
- Thread starter Untamed12
- Start date
Untamed12
New member
Mg is 1300-1350. That's not the problem. The Ca reactor failing to keep up to 400 gallons of SPS is the problem
I'm just trying to figure out what is achievable with a reactor. It is possible that my reactor is undersized...but I won't conclude that until I'm sure I've optimized it.
Also...I simplified the question a bit because 25dkh at 50ml/min isn't as good as 20dkh at 75ml/min...
I'm just trying to figure out what is achievable with a reactor. It is possible that my reactor is undersized...but I won't conclude that until I'm sure I've optimized it.
Also...I simplified the question a bit because 25dkh at 50ml/min isn't as good as 20dkh at 75ml/min...
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
My reactor is stated to handle a 400 gallon tank. I'm beginning to believe that such a statement is woefully optimistic for a semi-mature SPS tank. I would guess the dimensions are 6"x14".
This is from Jdieck's website (http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html). Jose, I hope you don't mind me posting this here!
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Increasing the Effluent Alkalinity: For a given flow, the effluent alkalinity can be increased by increasing the amount of CO2 added thus lowering the effluent's PH. The limit will be achieved when the PH has reached it's minimum (about 6.3 to 6.5). The maximum alkalinity achievable seems to have a limit of about 34 to 35 dKH. Note that if the required Alkalinity needed to match the consumption is above 35 dKh, the calculator will indicate an "Over the Limit" condition.
Increasing the Flow: When increasing the effluent flow, the effluent alkalinity will tend to drop and this will be reflected by a drop in the effluent's PH. To return alkalinity to the level previous to the flow adjustment, you will need to also increase the amount of CO2 being added until the PH (and as a result the effluent Alkalinity) has reached it's previous level. Flow reductions will require reduction in CO2 addition to keep the effluent Alkalinity constant.
The maximum possible flow will be achieved at the point were there is not enough water residency time inside the reactor to properly dissolve the media. At this point the effluent alkalinity will drop with any added increase in flow despite maintaining the minimum effluent PH (est. at 6.5).
This flow limit is very dependant on the size of the reactor. Most commercial reactors for home aquariums seem to reach this limit between 100 to 150 ml/min. The calculator will indicate "Over the Limit" if more than 150 ml/min of effluent flow is required.
To use the calculator properly you need to know the average amount of the supplement being used on a daily basis to maintain constant alkalinity in your tank previous to the installation of the reactor.
Set up your reactor as per the manufacturer instructions and adjust it to obtain an stable flow and effluent alkalinity. Give enough time for the reactor to stabilize. In new setups you may notice that flow tends to drop after a couple of hours of being set up, keep adjusting the flow until it does not have significant fluctuations.
The tank alkalinity level is not important at this point and also Calcium level shall be disregarded although it is a good idea to start with proper levels of both. Once the Reactor matches the consumption you can adjust the alkalinity and calcium to the proper levels using supplements. Once there, if the reactor was adjusted properly the levels will be maintained with minimum adjustments to the reactor settings.
Last but not least; be patient, this is a trial and error process that may take a week or two as you need to wait enough time for the reactor to stabilize between adjustments.
Once the reactor is stable, note the effluent flow and alkalinity and use them as the data of the initial setup in the calculation sheet.
Note that the total water volume is also required. The actual water volume is the tanks capacity plus any volume in sumps nad refugiums less the volume displaced by the rock and sand. Typically the Rock and sand displaces 15% to 25% of the total tank capacity.
Enjoy!
This is from Jdieck's website (http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html). Jose, I hope you don't mind me posting this here!
------------------------------------------------------------
Increasing the Effluent Alkalinity: For a given flow, the effluent alkalinity can be increased by increasing the amount of CO2 added thus lowering the effluent's PH. The limit will be achieved when the PH has reached it's minimum (about 6.3 to 6.5). The maximum alkalinity achievable seems to have a limit of about 34 to 35 dKH. Note that if the required Alkalinity needed to match the consumption is above 35 dKh, the calculator will indicate an "Over the Limit" condition.
Increasing the Flow: When increasing the effluent flow, the effluent alkalinity will tend to drop and this will be reflected by a drop in the effluent's PH. To return alkalinity to the level previous to the flow adjustment, you will need to also increase the amount of CO2 being added until the PH (and as a result the effluent Alkalinity) has reached it's previous level. Flow reductions will require reduction in CO2 addition to keep the effluent Alkalinity constant.
The maximum possible flow will be achieved at the point were there is not enough water residency time inside the reactor to properly dissolve the media. At this point the effluent alkalinity will drop with any added increase in flow despite maintaining the minimum effluent PH (est. at 6.5).
This flow limit is very dependant on the size of the reactor. Most commercial reactors for home aquariums seem to reach this limit between 100 to 150 ml/min. The calculator will indicate "Over the Limit" if more than 150 ml/min of effluent flow is required.
To use the calculator properly you need to know the average amount of the supplement being used on a daily basis to maintain constant alkalinity in your tank previous to the installation of the reactor.
Set up your reactor as per the manufacturer instructions and adjust it to obtain an stable flow and effluent alkalinity. Give enough time for the reactor to stabilize. In new setups you may notice that flow tends to drop after a couple of hours of being set up, keep adjusting the flow until it does not have significant fluctuations.
The tank alkalinity level is not important at this point and also Calcium level shall be disregarded although it is a good idea to start with proper levels of both. Once the Reactor matches the consumption you can adjust the alkalinity and calcium to the proper levels using supplements. Once there, if the reactor was adjusted properly the levels will be maintained with minimum adjustments to the reactor settings.
Last but not least; be patient, this is a trial and error process that may take a week or two as you need to wait enough time for the reactor to stabilize between adjustments.
Once the reactor is stable, note the effluent flow and alkalinity and use them as the data of the initial setup in the calculation sheet.
Note that the total water volume is also required. The actual water volume is the tanks capacity plus any volume in sumps nad refugiums less the volume displaced by the rock and sand. Typically the Rock and sand displaces 15% to 25% of the total tank capacity.
Enjoy!
Untamed12
New member
Thanks, that is quite interesting. This does confirm that I should be able to get more out of the reactor than I'm currently getting.
It has made me consider something I had not thought about. I drive my reactor with a peristaltic pump. The pump runs at about 120ml/min. Until now, I was thinking that if I ran the pump only 50% of the time, then I would be at 60ml/min.
That would be true, on average.....but for half the time, I'm actually flooding the reactor at 120ml/min.
I've been taking my output measurements at the beginning of the pumping cycle. I wonder if I will get significantly different results by sampling at the END of the cycle?
If that turns out to be the problem, then I can change to a smaller pump, or cycle the existing pump more often for shorter times.
It has made me consider something I had not thought about. I drive my reactor with a peristaltic pump. The pump runs at about 120ml/min. Until now, I was thinking that if I ran the pump only 50% of the time, then I would be at 60ml/min.
That would be true, on average.....but for half the time, I'm actually flooding the reactor at 120ml/min.
I've been taking my output measurements at the beginning of the pumping cycle. I wonder if I will get significantly different results by sampling at the END of the cycle?
If that turns out to be the problem, then I can change to a smaller pump, or cycle the existing pump more often for shorter times.
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