Hi all!. New member. Was recommended this site by Bulk Reef Supply aquarist help center.
I have a BRS dual reactor with HO GFO and Rox Carbon. I never had a problem with the reactor and change media roughly every 2-4 months.
While doing regular bi weekly tests, I noticed my calcium was dropping after a water change last June to 297. Alk was 12.7, PH 8.2.
I slightly raised calcium on my doser and a month later Cal 338, ALK 11.1, PH 8.08. I then started struggling getting CAL up to 400s. I raised the CAL doser slightly and finally in Nov my CAL was 442, ALK 9.1, PH 8.34. I noticed my GFO was no longer tumbling and started to see white film buildup inside both GFO and Rox Carbon canister. When I opened it up, both media were rock hard and both had white film on media and as I rinsed them, the water was milky white and reactor sponges where hard. I cleaned everything out and returned the reactor under the cabinet. A few days later, it happened again and has continued to happen every few days after loosening and rinsing the media. From Nov to Feb, CAL was 400's avg and ALK was between 7-9, PH in the 8's. Then in Feb, CAL started dropping and continued to drop for entire month of FEB. PH still in 8s, ALK from 9-11 dkh. Brought a Colormeter MAG tester (2nd gen) and MAG 1450-1500.
It looks like the BRS media is absorbing the calcium which it never has done this all the years ive had it. I moved the reactor pump to middle chamber of sump, still happened. My doser tubes are located in the sump directly over my return pump and my Magus doser staggers dosing times. I brought a Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (568 GPH reactor pump to replace the 1200 that came with it in hopes that maybe it needed a little more power to keep the GFO tumbling and not get hard but it happened again.
I am at a lost. I've had the reactor for years and never experienced this until now. I use BRS HC GFO and BRS Pharma Cal and ALK and BRS Pharma MAG. I never use more than recommended media. I started following BRS Randy and Ryan's "less water changes and dosing method a few years back with great success.
I hope there is a solution to this odd phenomenon.
Thank you so very much.
I have a BRS dual reactor with HO GFO and Rox Carbon. I never had a problem with the reactor and change media roughly every 2-4 months.
While doing regular bi weekly tests, I noticed my calcium was dropping after a water change last June to 297. Alk was 12.7, PH 8.2.
I slightly raised calcium on my doser and a month later Cal 338, ALK 11.1, PH 8.08. I then started struggling getting CAL up to 400s. I raised the CAL doser slightly and finally in Nov my CAL was 442, ALK 9.1, PH 8.34. I noticed my GFO was no longer tumbling and started to see white film buildup inside both GFO and Rox Carbon canister. When I opened it up, both media were rock hard and both had white film on media and as I rinsed them, the water was milky white and reactor sponges where hard. I cleaned everything out and returned the reactor under the cabinet. A few days later, it happened again and has continued to happen every few days after loosening and rinsing the media. From Nov to Feb, CAL was 400's avg and ALK was between 7-9, PH in the 8's. Then in Feb, CAL started dropping and continued to drop for entire month of FEB. PH still in 8s, ALK from 9-11 dkh. Brought a Colormeter MAG tester (2nd gen) and MAG 1450-1500.
It looks like the BRS media is absorbing the calcium which it never has done this all the years ive had it. I moved the reactor pump to middle chamber of sump, still happened. My doser tubes are located in the sump directly over my return pump and my Magus doser staggers dosing times. I brought a Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (568 GPH reactor pump to replace the 1200 that came with it in hopes that maybe it needed a little more power to keep the GFO tumbling and not get hard but it happened again.
I am at a lost. I've had the reactor for years and never experienced this until now. I use BRS HC GFO and BRS Pharma Cal and ALK and BRS Pharma MAG. I never use more than recommended media. I started following BRS Randy and Ryan's "less water changes and dosing method a few years back with great success.
I hope there is a solution to this odd phenomenon.
Thank you so very much.