Calcium reactor issues

[Shorething]

Any idea why I keep getting air build up inside the calcium reactor chamber?
Its a new setup im trying to dial in.
Im not sure what im doing wrong

 

[bluemon]

Can you describe the setup, with a zoomed out picture?

 

[Shorething]

Yes. Sorry for the lack of details. Its a large Geo not sure of the model. With a kamoer dosing pump pushing into the reactor. A V2 carbon doser controlled by an apex

 

[Shorething]

I can provide a photo when i get home thus evening

 

[Dburr1014]

Air goes up in water.
It's most likely C02.
Is there a way to have a recirculation hose on top to put it back through the pump?

I picture would be very helpful.

 

[Shorething]

Yes its at the top already. The air builds up over a couple days and then the recirculation pump will start to cavitate.
The photo was taken while it was running.

 

[Shorething]

I do agree its a build up of c02 but the air will not come out of the effluent line. It just stays in the chamber and builds to the point of pump cavitation. After this happens i will shut off the recirculation pump allowing the air to rise to the surface. With the recirculation pump off it the will purge the air from the chamber with the use of the effluent pump.
After the air removal i then can restart the recirculation pump and begin normal use. This happens about every other day

 

[helijamal]

When it does this in my Koralin calcium reactor, i have found that the co2 injection is too high or my flow is to slow through the reactor. I.e- i was running 8 ml/minute with no co2 build up and then slowed it down to 4 ml per minute and then had a build up of co2 and the reactor cavitation. I slowed down my co2 input and that fixed the issue (for me).

 

[Shorething]

That may be some of my problem... im wondering if my v2 carbon doser is a problem... i have it set on 10 and it still bubbles 1 bubble per second in my geo reactor bubble counter. So i have my effluent set to 40ml per min. And my ph is almost stable and never bumps my parameters of 6.5 to 7.0 ph. The ph in my canister floats between 6.6 and 6.9 so my apex never shuts off the co2.

 

[Dburr1014]

I don't have a geo but I do pull my effluent from the top. This way I never get that air in the system.
I know you are pushing, can you pull from the top of its just that way on the geo?

 

[Dburr1014]

Dup

 

[Shorething]

I can pull or push the effluent. I am pushing. Should i be pulling? The effluent doesn't seem to come out at a stable rate.

 

[Dburr1014]

Pictures?

 

[Jamie814]

You could easily determine if it is excessive Co2 or air accumulating by turning off your Co2 for a few days and see if the bubbles continue to accumulate.

If no, then it is too much Co2 being injected.

If yes, you will need to find the source of the air intrusion, where are you pulling water from your system for the reactor? Near your skimmer?

 

[Jamie814]

I can pull or push the effluent. I am pushing. Should i be pulling? The effluent doesn't seem to come out at a stable rate.

Pushing or pulling is not going to matter. The only way to continuously purge the air would be to draw the effluent from the top of the reactor.

 

[Shorething]

The effluent is being drawn from the top of the reactor. The flow of the recirculation pump just keeps the air in suspension and it never seems to purge the air. I even have the end of the effluent line submerged under water in the sump so i can monitor the air leaving the chamber.

 

[Dburr1014]

The effluent is being drawn from the top of the reactor. The flow of the recirculation pump just keeps the air in suspension and it never seems to purge the air. I even have the end of the effluent line submerged under water in the sump so i can monitor the air leaving the chamber.

You most likely have to much C02 entering them if there are no leaks.
You can lower the C02 and drip rate to adjust.
Have you ever adjusted a reactor not using a controller? There are guides online that explain it all. I'm not saying to not use the controller but just fine tune input/output of the bubble/drip rates.

 

[Shorething]

At this point the controller is not even controlling it... i have the parameters set between 6.5 and 7 ph... the ph just stays between 6.8 and 6.9... so the controller isn't even controlling it.

 

[Shorething]

My v2 carbon doser will only adjust down to 1 bubble per sec. Im not sure it it is malfunctioning or not

 

[Shorething]

Also i have no leaks