My CARX struggles continue…

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I know it’s me and something I am doing wrong, dreadfully wrong. But, I think I may have stumbled on to something that could be my issue.


I struggled to get my old reactor above 22 DKH and I now think this was the reason I am failing miserably with my new reactor-

Gear:
- Carbon Doser
- GEO 1218 SSE
- PH Probe / Apex
- GEO’s feed Pump (3/8th feed line, this thing can move some water)

Settings:
- PH is pegged at 6.6 using my apex (target 6.6)
- PH controller is set to shut my CO2 regulator (Carbon Doser) off at 6.59
- Bubbles are 1 bubble every 3/4 of a second
- Bottle is at 20 psi (should be at 10, I got frustrated and cranked it up some)

Results:
- Effluent is as low as I can get it before it shuts off
- DKH is 11.6 (!!!!!)

I attached GEO’s instructions, read the highlighted portion. I think I may have figured out what I am doing wrong, besides maybe not fully reading that paragraph and getting ahead of myself. Instructions state start with a bubble every 3 seconds and that the bubbles should ALWAYS be going. My Carbon Doser is CONSTANTLY turning on and off. So should I set my controller to shut off for an emergency at 6.45 and I should dial in by hand 6.6 with gas always flowing? Meaning try and ride 6.6 with not using a controller to control the Carbon Doser, but use the controller to prevent a melting event?

 

[KrisReef]

Your effluent is too fast, so the dkh isn’t high enough to boost the tank dkh.

The pH probe may need replacement?

If pH is really 6.6 the media should be higher dkh. Something is wrong!

I had problems until I put a metering pump to keep the flow -40ml/min, and the bubbles came on (carbon dose) when pH rises to 6.7, off at 6.6.

There were folks who ran calk reactors with steady effluent and a few steady bubbles constantly. It’s a pain without a metering pump, ime

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Your effluent is too fast, so the dkh isn’t high enough to boost the tank dkh.

The pH probe may need replacement?

If pH is really 6.6 the media should be higher dkh. Something is wrong!

I had problems until I put a metering pump to keep the flow -40ml/min, and the bubbles came on (carbon dose) when pH rises to 6.7, off at 6.6.

There were folks who ran calk reactors with steady effluent and a few steady bubbles constantly. It’s a pain without a metering pump, ime

Brand new Neptune PH probe. But the settings I mentioned were done prior to me realizing what I am almost certain I got wrong.

I also measured my MPM for effluent and I was at 800, I’m down to 65. I set my safety to shut the gas off at 6.4. I have tuned it so it is hovering around 6.6 now without the use of the controller. Before my regulator was off more than it was on, so I. Didn’t have a steady flow of gas at all. I’ll check the effluent in 12 hours. I cannot see how it won’t be above 11.5 this time.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Your effluent is too fast, so the dkh isn’t high enough to boost the tank dkh.

The pH probe may need replacement?

If pH is really 6.6 the media should be higher dkh. Something is wrong!

I had problems until I put a metering pump to keep the flow -40ml/min, and the bubbles came on (carbon dose) when pH rises to 6.7, off at 6.6.

There were folks who ran calk reactors with steady effluent and a few steady bubbles constantly. It’s a pain without a metering pump, ime

Thanks. Your statement “something is wrong” had me get weedy. That how I figured out it was old buffer that was causing PH probe to be way the heck out of calibration. I think I am on day 4 off 2 part totally. I also took my Kamoer STX off another tank and replaced the feed pump so I had better control <100mil. I’m not coming near my 6.5 controller shut off point. I’m holding around 6.7 at 80 mil. Which has been around 30 dKH. Thanks for always being responsive.