Calcium reactor help

[1fishkeeper]

I am trying to get my calcium reactor up and running. It’s running but I just can not get it to keep up with demand. For PH controller I am using a dedicated Milwaukee PH controller. I have to running at a steady 6.6-6.7 controlling the CO2. As for flow I started out out with drip per second but that was not keeping up with demand. I also am dosing all for reef to keep it stable but I would like to be able to take that offline and just use the CA reactor and dose Kalk at night. I am completely stumped as I have ran one in the past with no issues.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I forgot to add for flow rate I have bumped it up to almost a few stream but not quite a few stream.

 

[Jamie814]

What type of media are you running in the reactor and what's the dKH of the effluent coming out of the reactor? Should be around 30 dKH

 

[1fishkeeper]

What type of media are you running in the reactor and what's the dKH of the effluent coming out of the reactor? Should be around 30 dKH

Per my Hanna checker I am only getting 14dKH out of it. I have slowed the drip rate down and I will retest it in about a hour. As for the media I am using the ARM regular size stuff.

 

[Jamie814]

Per my Hanna checker I am only getting 14dKH out of it. I have slowed the drip rate down and I will retest it in about a hour. As for the media I am using the ARM regular size stuff.

I would lower the running pH of the reactor.

Did you calibrate the probe with 4&7 calibration solution?

 

[backbayreef]

The most important parameter you're not mentioning is Alk. How do you know that it cannot "keep up with demand"? That is - what is your current alkalinity? Use that as a baseline.

To increase more alk to the tank, you'll need to increase the flow rate and re-test alk. If you have a peristaltic pump (I like Kamoer) you can have fine-grain tuning vs guessing at drip rates. You might also need to increase CO2 since some media might need lower pH (assume your probe is correct) to dissolve alk/ca.

Looking at your tank, coralline algae is likely consuming all the alk.

Good luck! It is definitely trial-and-error but very worth it in the end. I don't touch mine every ~year.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I would lower the running pH of the reactor.

Did you calibrate the probe with 4&7 calibration solution?

Yes it is brand new and I used the calibration solution that it came with.

 

[1fishkeeper]

The most important parameter you're not mentioning is Alk. How do you know that it cannot "keep up with demand"? That is - what is your current alkalinity? Use that as a baseline.

To increase more alk to the tank, you'll need to increase the flow rate and re-test alk. If you have a peristaltic pump (I like Kamoer) you can have fine-grain tuning vs guessing at drip rates. You might also need to increase CO2 since some media might need lower pH (assume your probe is correct) to dissolve alk/ca.

Looking at your tank, coralline algae is likely consuming all the alk.

Good luck! It is definitely trial-and-error but very worth it in the end. I don't touch mine every ~year.

Because I was running almost 42 ml of all for reef everyday. I dropped it down to 20 once I started the CA reactor. My ALK drops from 8 to 6.8 within a 24 hour period. I then use soda ash to get it back up to 8 as I am trying to get to the point where the CA reactor will keep up and I can totally take the all for reef offline.

 

[backbayreef]

Because I was running almost 42 ml of all for reef everyday. I dropped it down to 20 once I started the CA reactor. My ALK drops from 8 to 6.8 within a 24 hour period. I then use soda ash to get it back up to 8 as I am trying to get to the point where the CA reactor will keep up and I can totally take the all for reef offline.

Ok then something is not adding up for me if your effluent is measuring 14dKH. Anyway, I would increase flow. Suspect that your pH is giving you false readings, you’re not reaching a point of fully dissolving the media. If that’s the case, you might need to increase CO2 as well.

 

[me & my baby]

When I had my 300 I was using the reborn calcium reactor media with Zeomag in it . I keep my ph set to 6.5 and I dosed Kalkwasser through my auto top off around the clock . I never had an issue with keeping things in check . I did try the arm media but changed it out after 3 months for the reborn and won’t use anything else . I am getting ready to set it back up on my new build . Do you have a single or dual chamber

 

[1fishkeeper]

Ok then something is not adding up for me if your effluent is measuring 14dKH. Anyway, I would increase flow. Suspect that your pH is giving you false readings, you’re not reaching a point of fully dissolving the media. If that’s the case, you might need to increase CO2 as well.

When I had my 300 I was using the reborn calcium reactor media with Zeomag in it . I keep my ph set to 6.5 and I dosed Kalkwasser through my auto top off around the clock . I never had an issue with keeping things in check . I did try the arm media but changed it out after 3 months for the reborn and won’t use anything else . I am getting ready to set it back up on my new build . Do you have a single or dual chamber

It is a dual chamber reactor. I have been reading that the regular ARM is not a good as the extra course and the reborn. If my mind is right when I used one 15 years ago on my 200 I used reborn and never had any issues at keeping it set.

 

[backbayreef]

It is a dual chamber reactor. I have been reading that the regular ARM is not a good as the extra course and the reborn. If my mind is right when I used one 15 years ago on my 200 I used reborn and never had any issues at keeping it set.

Got it. I’m running dual chamber with Reborn and supplement kalk via stirrer for the pH boost.

 

[me & my baby]

Got it. I’m running dual chamber with Reborn and supplement kalk via stirrer for the pH boost.

Do you have your stirrer running 24/7 . I have mine set to come on ever 4 hours for a min

 

[backbayreef]

Do you have your stirrer running 24/7 . I have mine set to come on ever 4 hours for a min

Dosing kalk 24/7

 

[me & my baby]

Do you have your stirrer running 24/7 . I have mine set to come on ever 4 hours for a min

Dosing kalk 24/7

I saw that but do you have your stirrer running, stirrer running 24/7

 

[backbayreef]

Yes

I saw that but do you have your stirrer running, stirrer running 24/7

Yes, stirrer running 24/7 as well.

 

[me & my baby]

I might have to try that this time around . I always had it on a schedule with my controller to come in every 4 hours

 

[1fishkeeper]

Ok well I am just about ready to pull this stupid thing. I have increased my bubble count, outflow and dropped my PH to be a 6.5-6.6. I can hear the CO2 regulator clicking on and off to keep it at that. I let it run that way over night and I just tested it and it and the output is at 15.5.

 

[1fishkeeper]

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[1fishkeeper]

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