Calcium Reactor Ph

[LittleMaui]

Hello, recently refilled my CO2 tank. Everything went fine. But now the ph reading goes up and down has normal for a few days, then seems to rise and stay high before dropping. Any idea why?

 

[hybridazn]

Is the flow thru the reactor stayed consistent?

 

[LittleMaui]

Yep

 

[hondaguy88]

I found if u don’t get your tank filled with food grade c02 will cause this issue. I went to a paintball shop once and mine did this. Try food grade fill it should go back to normal.

 

[ca1ore]

I don't know where you are getting your CO2 filled, but ASFAIK CO2 is CO2. I get mine filled at the local Airgas facility, have for years. Guy says it's all the same, just a gimmick to charge you more.

 

[ca1ore]

You have to say a bit more about how you control pH and effluent flow. That kind of pH fluctuation is usually caused when the effluent flow becomes partially obstructed.

 

[hondaguy88]

I don't know where you are getting your CO2 filled, but ASFAIK CO2 is CO2. I get mine filled at the local Airgas facility, have for years. Guy says it's all the same, just a gimmick to charge you more.

There absolutely is different grades/ purity of c02 fill after I had this issue I looked into it the airgas company u use most likely is high grade and that’s all the use so it’s not apparent to him but it does matter just ask home made beer guys low grade c02 will destroy there beer.

 

[LittleMaui]

I'm using a CarbonDoser as my regulator and a needle valve on the discharge side of the reactor. The effluent flow rate is very slow. The doser is constantly sending CO2 as measured by the bubble chamber. I did open the valve to flush the line.

 

[ca1ore]

There absolutely is different grades/ purity of c02 fill after I had this issue I looked into it the airgas company u use most likely is high grade and that’s all the use so it’s not apparent to him but it does matter just ask home made beer guys low grade c02 will destroy there beer.

Well, I don't make beer, so that's out of my realm of expertise. I did specifically ask the gas guy about 'food' versus 'industrial' grade and he noted that it had as much to do with the actual tank itself. I've been using a CO2 tank on my aquaria since the early 80s (first on planted tanks; then on a CaRx). Unlikely in all that time I've 'lucked' into food grade every time. I shall remain skeptical .....

 

[LittleMaui]

Might have figured out my problem. For those of you using a CarbonDoser - on my last CO2 tank I was able to keep the pH within range with a doser setting of 4-5 seconds per bubble. I just turned it down to 2-3 seconds per bubble, and the pH dropped to the correct setting within 10 minutes. I didn't think I would have to adjust the bubble rate with a tank change.