Whats your drip rate

[1badbrd]

trying to dial inthe Ca reactor and question was

How fast do you set your drip rate coming from the reactor?

What pH is your reactor set at?

How fast is your bubble rate?

Do i set alk first or calcium?

While dialing in i went through a 10# tank in less then two weeks!




It seems the best i can do right now is a 120drip per minute, with 1 bubble per 2-3sec, and my pH in the reactor is around 6.30, alk and calcium were low at test because i had to refill the tank.

 

[besl]

How fast do you set your drip rate coming from the reactor? Drip of effluent set at around 60 ml/min

What pH is your reactor set at?
pH as measued in the chamber is controlled between 6.60 - 6.80

How fast is your bubble rate?
Bubble rate is roughly 52 bpm

Do i set alk first or calcium?
Measure system alk and Ca every couple of days until you reach target vales (380 - 420 Ca, 8 - 10 dKH Alk)

While dialing in i went through a 10# tank in less then two weeks!
Wow! Way too much.

Other questions you need to ask:
tank size/bio load - mine is 125 fully stocked with moderate load
Ca Rx media - I use Gen-X (schuran large bone type)







It seems the best i can do right now is a 120drip per minute, with 1 bubble per 2-3sec, and my pH in the reactor is around 6.30, alk and calcium were low at test because i had to refill the tank.

 

[1badbrd]

i guess my trouble is that my bubble count is as slow as i can get it. Its being funny by the way that when set within 6 hrs it seems to slow down or speed up. I can not get a slow consistant flow.

At the slowest i can get it stable the pH is around 6-6.3

my tank is only a 90g with a handful of stuff

 

[besl]

1badbrd - please list all your params so we can attempt to help you

 

[1badbrd]

90g main tank
55g sump
pH 8.1
everything else was near zero (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites)
Octopus reactor
Gen-X media

Calcium 350
alkalinity was around 8 dKH

To achievea pH 6.5 in the reactor i need something like one bubble per 3 sec, and i'm dripping about 120ml per minute

 

[besl]

Your bubble count is way too low, especailly for Gen-X (if this is schuran style) - 1 bubble per 3 seconds = 20 bbp. This will in part explain the low Ca of 350 - you need to get that to 380 - 420. Drip rate is also too high at 120 ml/min.

What you need to do - set the bubble count to 40 - 50 bpm, set the drip rate to 50 - 60 ml/min. Watch the pH in the reactor (do you have a controller on this) and make sure it stays around 6.60 +/- 10 or so.

Wait 2 days and retest your disply water - if params are in line you're all set. If not let us knwo the values - you will either ned to adjust the bbp or the drip rate - I would prefer you adjust one at a time.

BTW, what Ca Rx are yoiu using?

 

[besl]

Your bubble count is way too low, especailly for Gen-X (if this is schuran style) - 1 bubble per 3 seconds = 20 bbp. This will in part explain the low Ca of 350 - you need to get that to 380 - 420. Drip rate is also too high at 120 ml/min. Your Alk is fine, although through the following recommendations (if you follow them) you may end up with slightly higher Alk (should be roughly 8 - 10 dKH).

What you need to do - set the bubble count to 40 - 50 bpm, set the drip rate to 50 - 60 ml/min. Watch the pH in the reactor (do you have a controller on this) and make sure it stays around 6.60 +/- 10 or so.

Wait 2 days and retest your disply water - if params are in line you're all set. If not let us knwo the values - you will either ned to adjust the bbp or the drip rate - I would prefer you adjust one at a time.

 

[1badbrd]

the set of numbers i gave my reactor a pH 6.0 or lower. I keep having to slow the Co2 or speed up the drip rate.

I adjust to get the reactor pH to 6.5 but no matter how slow i get the CO2 or flow rate the pH drops. It keeping dropping till i slow the needle valve to the point were it stops flowing.

 

[besl]

Ok, I don't understand what you are describing: " I gave my reactor a pH 6.0 or lower" - sounds like you have it on a controller and are sending it below 6.0.... and then you say "I adjust to get the reactor pH to 6.5 but no matter how slow I get the CO2 or flow rate the pH drops" - this is entirely possible if you set the reactor set point to 6.0 or lower.

Conclusion: sounds like the reactor is working how you have it set up. You need to read my previous post and rest your adjustments... wait 2 days... remeasure... report back (lol)... and then "we" can fine tune... capeesh?

 

[1badbrd]

pH of internal of the reactor. I have a pH monitor on it

I feel the numbers you gave me the pH would fall way below 6.0 and if i remember correct if the pH gets that low the media will break down.

 

[besl]

What you told me:
pH 8.1
Calcium 350
alkalinity was around 8 dKH

To achievea pH 6.5 in the reactor i need something like one bubble per 3 sec, and i'm dripping about 120ml per minute

What I told you:
bubble count 40 - 50 bpm
drip rate 50 - 60 ml/min
pH in the reactor - around 6.60 +/- 10 or so - I wil revise this to start you at 6.60 to 6.80 based on your concern

I am having you reduce your effluent in half and doubling your CO2 bubble count - there is no way that will turn your Gen-X to mush. Good luck with this and let me know what happens.

 

[1badbrd]

got home today i will try