Calcium reactor problems

[Yanir34]

Also I tried to "shake" very gently the reactor , to "push" those bubbles to the out inlet of the reactor- nothing happens .

 

[Shirak]

The bubbles at the top of the reactor don't mean anything as long as the circulation pump is pulling the CO2 bubbles through the pump and circulating the water through the media.

Did you make any changes to your setting after the two week period it was working? Have you confirmed the circulation pump is functioning? Maybe it is not working? If it is not circulating water that would cause the issues you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

The other possibility is there is too much CO2. We discussed this earlier. If you are putting in 2-3 bubbles every second at 18psi you are overloading the reactor and the circulation pump will stop circulating. Which will cause the issue you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

 

[X-37B]

Check the main oring seal again. It only takes a small piece of grit to get a leak. When I fired up my 818 it ran a few weeks perfectly then I had a mass of bubbles like you have.
I found a very small piece of coral smaller than the head of a pin. Got it out and all is good so you may want to check again. Also no need to over tighten the oring screws. Hand tight with a 1/4 turn is all thats needed.

I have many visual bubbles in my reaction chamber. There is one bubble the size of a nickel at the top of the reactor. It never goes away. You can watch bubbles getting sucked into the 90° elbow 24/7.
You can zoom in and see the bubble to the left under the screw.
The ph plug has bubbles as does the coral bones. This is what it should look like.

 

[Yanir34]

The bubbles at the top of the reactor don't mean anything as long as the circulation pump is pulling the CO2 bubbles through the pump and circulating the water through the media.

Did you make any changes to your setting after the two week period it was working? Have you confirmed the circulation pump is functioning? Maybe it is not working? If it is not circulating water that would cause the issues you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

The other possibility is there is too much CO2. We discussed this earlier. If you are putting in 2-3 bubbles every second at 18psi you are overloading the reactor and the circulation pump will stop circulating. Which will cause the issue you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

If the recirculating pump is working ?
Well , when I'm turning it on ,it seems to me that she pull water from the top of the reactor ,but not in sufficient amount.

I didn't change anything in this 2 weeks , it suddenly happened.


About the CO2 psi pressure- I have GLA co2 regulator, that considerd one of the best for this purpose (that's what I have read any way ,in the reviews).
The point with the co2 psi at the left clock (the pressure that goes in the reactor) is that - if I set it up to only 10 psi , then the pressure is not strong enough to push the co2 to the reactor.

 

[Yanir34]

Check the main oring seal again. It only takes a small piece of grit to get a leak. When I fired up my 818 it ran a few weeks perfectly then I had a mass of bubbles like you have.
I found a very small piece of coral smaller than the head of a pin. Got it out and all is good so you may want to check again. Also no need to over tighten the oring screws. Hand tight with a 1/4 turn is all thats needed.

I have many visual bubbles in my reaction chamber. There is one bubble the size of a nickel at the top of the reactor. It never goes away. You can watch bubbles getting sucked into the 90° elbow 24/7.
You can zoom in and see the bubble to the left under the screw.
The ph plug has bubbles as does the coral bones. This is what it should look like.

I will take the upper lid off ant inspect it very close , and clean it if that's what I need to do .

 

[X-37B]

The bubbles at the top of the reactor don't mean anything as long as the circulation pump is pulling the CO2 bubbles through the pump and circulating the water through the media.

Did you make any changes to your setting after the two week period it was working? Have you confirmed the circulation pump is functioning? Maybe it is not working? If it is not circulating water that would cause the issues you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

The other possibility is there is too much CO2. We discussed this earlier. If you are putting in 2-3 bubbles every second at 18psi you are overloading the reactor and the circulation pump will stop circulating. Which will cause the issue you are seeing with excess bubbles, higher pH and low DKH output.

Yea im wondering if the circ pump is working right.
Mine is the older Sicce and his is the newest variation.
He could turn off the kamoer & co2 and if bubbles are still present then the air leak is reduced to the pump, oring, ph port, or push fittings. Anything im missing?

 

[Yanir34]

Guys , I want to be clear :
I think that GEO have great product .
I'm also have huge respect for you and GEO , for those replys (geo also answerd me very fast to my emails) .
I really want to solve this problem , not just because I spent a lot of money on the reactor and it's gear , but mainly because I think it will be much better way (economically way) to grow SPS.
what do you think about changing the CO2 regulator ? Maybe it will help to solve the problem ?
Also , I'm not sure that the recirculating pump work at proper way.

 

[X-37B]

If the recirculating pump is working ?
Well , when I'm turning it on ,it seems to me that she pull water from the top of the reactor ,but not in sufficient amount.

I didn't change anything in this 2 weeks , it suddenly happened.


About the CO2 psi pressure- I have GLA co2 regulator, that considerd one of the best for this purpose (that's what I have read any way ,in the reviews).
The point with the co2 psi at the left clock (the pressure that goes in the reactor) is that - if I set it up to only 10 psi , then the pressure is not strong enough to push the co2 to the reactor.

Most likely because of the 2 check valves.

 

[Yanir34]

Most likely because of the 2 check valves.

The co2 regulator is connected only to 1 check valve . This check valve connected to the reactor itself.

 

[X-37B]

The co2 regulator is connected only to 1 check valve . This check valve connected to the reactor itself.

Well in the pick I see this and its a check valve from geo.
This is my check valve, just like yours. The one on your regulator is another.

 

[Shirak]

No changing the regulator isn't going to help. Maybe the check valve needs cleaning. Personally I don't like it in the position it is in. It should be above the reactor. Water from the reactor can get into it from the spot it is located and cause it to get stuck or work improperly. I would take it off and take it apart and clean it thoroughly.

As for the other issues they all seem related to circulation within the reactor. I also have the older version with the Sicce pump. I would focus my inquiry with the circulation pump and make sure it is not clogged and is pumping correctly.

 

[Shirak]

Once you check the circulation pump and maybe remove/clean it. Try putting in a container by itself with plain water and turning it on to see what the flow is like.

 

[Yanir34]

Well in the pick I see this and its a check valve from geo.
This is my check valve, just like yours. The one on your regulator is another.

This is my check valve

 

[Yanir34]

Once you check the circulation pump and maybe remove/clean it. Try putting in a container by itself with plain water and turning it on to see what the flow is like.

It's OK to subbrimebl it in water ?
I thought its only for dry use

 

[X-37B]

It's OK to subbrimebl it in water ?
I thought its only for dry use

Mine is not in water. The 818 is sitting on a platform out of the water.
The gla has a built in check vavle. It is in the bubble counter.

 

[Yanir34]

Mine is not in water. The 818 is sitting on a platform out of the water.
The gla has a built in check vavle. It is in the bubble counter.

O.k ,there is something to do about it ?

 

[Shirak]

Oh hmm well you are correct it may not be submersible like my Sicce. Can you see water moving through the reactor or hear it chopping up bubbles?

I am also wondering if you simply overloaded the reactor with CO2 and it stopped working properly and maybe damaged the circulation pump? Your other post about 2-3 bubbles/second is concerning.

A calcium reactor can only handle so much CO2 based on size of the reaction chamber and power of the circulation pump. Your tank has a very high demand. Maybe your geo is too small for what you need?

 

[Shirak]

O.k ,there is something to do about it ?

Don’t use the check valve from Geo

 

[Yanir34]

Don’t use the check valve from Geo

But if I will not use the check valve from GEO , them the water will simply will drain from the reactor counter bubbles

 

[Yanir34]

Oh hmm well you are correct it may not be submersible like my Sicce. Can you see water moving through the reactor or hear it chopping up bubbles?

I am also wondering if you simply overloaded the reactor with CO2 and it stopped working properly and maybe damaged the circulation pump? Your other post about 2-3 bubbles/second is concerning.

A calcium reactor can only handle so much CO2 based on size of the reaction chamber and power of the circulation pump. Your tank has a very high demand. Maybe your geo is too small for what you need?

I can barley see any water movement at the 90 pvc elbow , and no bubbles sucking to this 90 PVC .

I do hear the pump chop co2 from time to time (when the co2 regulator is on) , and can feel the water flow through her pipe....but visually , she doesn't suck almost no bubbles from the top of the reactor