Calcium reactor pacific sun help

[Uromastyx]

Hi all recently transitioned to a pacific sun ac3 on my 200g reef after two part dosing
It’s been great, however recently noted twice now over night the reactor contents empty and waking up in the morning with the reactor running dry? Im not sure what I’m doing wrong.

Could there be too much CO2?
There is an optimal ph sensor one these models.
Am I not degassing enough? I’ve set the degas to once a week.
I’ve changed the inlet of the sump water to far away from the skimmer to make its no slow air accumulation

Any help would be great

 

[Fish Fan]

I don't use calcium reactors, but I believe some of the #reefsquad team does. Also a good question for @Randy Holmes-Farley if he has a minute to reply.

Good luck!

 

[helmsreef]

Im assuming when you say its empty you mean there is no water in it? What are you using to pull or push water through? Where is your reactor located? How deep is your pick up hose to feed your reactor? Is your reactor 100% empty or to a certain level every time?

 

[Uromastyx]

Im assuming when you say its empty you mean there is no water in it? What are you using to pull or push water through? Where is your reactor located? How deep is your pick up hose to feed your reactor? Is your reactor 100% empty or to a certain level every time?

Yes The pacific sun calc feeeder comes with an integrated stepped motor, that pulls water into the reactor.

The reactor is located immediately adjacent to the sump at the same heigh, in a “caddy” beneath the tank.
The hose sits in at 6 inchs deep into the sump water level

There’s less than 1/4 water left when I found it. The reactor has been running about 1 month
And this has occurred on two occasions
Once when I had the reactor alone without a degassing chamber and secondly when I added a degassing chamber
I’m not sure if the second chamber makes a difference at all?

Thanks so much for the reply

 

[helmsreef]

My initial thought would be a vacuum leak, while its pulling water through it may be losing the vacuum to pull water back into the reactor. Is your drip side above water or below water? Is there a chance your pump shuts off at some point and allows water to syphon into your sump? Maybe a clog from your feed side? Do you have to open your reactor and refill with water or do you allow it to pull water back in with the pump when this happens?

 

[Rocks reef]

Waiting for the answers from @helmsreef questions.
To me it sounds like it would siphoning. The feeder hose has to be higher than the water level in sump and reactor.

 

[Uromastyx]

My initial thought would be a vacuum leak, while its pulling water through it may be losing the vacuum to pull water back into the reactor. Is your drip side above water or below water? Is there a chance your pump shuts off at some point and allows water to syphon into your sump? Maybe a clog from your feed side? Do you have to open your reactor and refill with water or do you allow it to pull water back in with the pump when this happens?

Thanks for that.

I have the drip side above water to see how many drips I’m getting a second. So I guess it’s unlikely, but still possible. I have the drip tip secured a couple of inches above the sump level.

generally speaking should the drip side be in water?
I guess if there was any reason the pump decided reverse the suction. I may have lost siphon?

since the post I have repositioned and cut off the end of the pick up hose to make sure that isn’t a cause

both times it happens I did open the reactor to refill due to the volume lost.

 

[Uromastyx]

Waiting for the answers from @helmsreef questions.
To me it sounds like it would siphoning. The feeder hose has to be higher than the water level in sump and reactor.

Thanks! Sorry to clarify you mean the pump that’s drawing the water Shoudl be above the reactor and sump? If so, yes that is correct .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for that.

I have the drip side above water to see how many drips I’m getting a second. So I guess it’s unlikely, but still possible. I have the drip tip secured a couple of inches above the sump level.

generally speaking should the drip side be in water?
I guess if there was any reason the pump decided reverse the suction. I may have lost siphon?

since the post I have repositioned and cut off the end of the pick up hose to make sure that isn’t a cause

both times it happens I did open the reactor to refill due to the volume lost.

If the pump stopped, is it possible the water siphoned back into the tank?

What sort of pump is it? Peristaltic? if so, how many rollers?

 

[Uromastyx]

If the pump stopped, is it possible the water siphoned back into the tank?

What sort of pump is it? Peristaltic? if so, how many rollers?

Yes I’m not sure, it’s a peristaltic pump with 4 rollers.
I’m assuming it the roller stopped, it could of syphoned back into tank

Thanks for your help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes I’m not sure, it’s a peristaltic pump with 4 rollers.
I’m assuming it the roller stopped, it could of syphoned back into tank

Thanks for your help

Four roller systems usually won't siphon since the rollers block flow. 2 roller systems are more of a concern.