Unable to achieve adequate calcium reactor parameters

[Bouldereefer]

I have a Geo CaRx, using a CarbonDoser,a needle valve to control effluent and ReBorn media. My effluent is constantly a pH 7.8 (Hanna pH tester and Apex probe) DKH 10.0 (Hanna checker). The effluent rate is 10ml/hour and bubble count is 1 bubble/second and I have the largest bubble size possible. Any thoughts what I can do. Thanks

 

[KrisReef]

10 ml/ HOUR? I run ~20+ml/minute on a 140gallon system to keep DKH happy. I don't measure pH of the effluent, but the chamber is low 6pH. (I run a skimmer and tank pH is 8+ day and night.

THe effluent needs to be lower to dissolve arragonite. Something is not adding up with what you are describing.

How do you supply water to the reactor? Can you put more water through it? I don't know why your carbon doser is not able to push more CO2, but it seems like it needs to flow a lot more. Is the CO2 tank empty? (Not a joke, just poking the points of possible failure?) Do you have a CO2 leak preventing more bubble flows?

 

[Jamie814]

My effluent is constantly a pH 7.8

You need to lower the pH inside the reactor to around 6.5 by increasing the amount of Co2 A pH of 7.8 is not going to dissolve the media.

10DKH out of the reactor says the pH is is not low enough. Effluent should be around 30dkh out of the reactor.

Dumb question, but you are using CO2 correct?

1 bubble/sec co2 and only 10ml effluent per hour? You would have lots of gas buildup within the reactor.

 

[KrisReef]

You need to lower the pH inside the reactor to around 6.5 by increasing the amount of Co2 A pH of 7.8 is not going to dissolve the media.

10DKH out of the reactor says the pH is is not low enough. Effluent should be around 30dkh out of the reactor.

Dumb question, but you are using CO2 correct?

1 bubble/sec co2 and only 10ml effluent per hour? You would have lots of gas buildup within the reactor.

Again, I suspect something isn't correct, a leak, a seal, something is amiss.

 

[Bouldereefer]

You need to lower the pH inside the reactor to around 6.5 by increasing the amount of Co2 A pH of 7.8 is not going to dissolve the media.

10DKH out of the reactor says the pH is is not low enough. Effluent should be around 30dkh out of the reactor.

Dumb question, but you are using CO2 correct?

1 bubble/sec co2 and only 10ml effluent per hour? You would have lots of gas buildup within the reactor.

Again, I suspect something isn't correct, a leak, a seal, something is amiss.

Thanks for the comments. I agree I don’t get it.
From my understanding from this forum slowing the effluent rate increases contact time resulting in lowering pH to some degree. The CO2 tank is full, good pressure and completely open. The Doser is at 1 bubble per second. I also can count bubbles go through the water bubble counter inline. Ph in the reactor measured by apex pH probe and Hanna hand held (calibrated) is the same. 7.8. Water is supplied from pump in the sump/refugium. I have done the soapy water test from tank to “in” port and have not found a leak. I have read the replies and wonder if anyone has heard of a CO2 leak within the chamber circuit? Can anyone think of why CO2 might not be reaching the media chamber?

 

[Reefer1978]

Cut off the effluent, increase CO2 to 2 bubbles per/s and observe the impact on Ph. Get the reactor going first, then start dosing to the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This article may help:

https://archive.ph/6xYOd

 

[Shirak]

Turn off the CO2. Set effluent to around 20-30ml/min. Turn on the reactor circulation pump and let it run for a couple days. Give it a few taps and shakes. You may have to turn the circulation pump on and off a few times to get the air out of the impeller if it's not pumping. You want to get all the air out and make sure you are not adding any more.

If all good there then you can turn on the CO2. With the Carbon Doser, set the low pressure side to around 9psi and start with a bubble count of one every 4 or 5 seconds.

 

[Reefer1978]

Turn off the CO2. Set effluent to around 20-30ml/min. Turn on the reactor circulation pump and let it run for a couple days. Give it a few taps and shakes. You may have to turn the circulation pump on and off a few times to get the air out of the impeller if it's not pumping. You want to get all the air out and make sure you are not adding any more.

If all good there then you can turn on the CO2. With the Carbon Doser, set the low pressure side to around 9psi and start with a bubble count of one every 4 or 5 seconds.

Literally opposite of my advice

 

[Shirak]

Literally opposite of my advice

Not sure I would call it opposite

I think something isn't set up correctly. Best to start back at the beginning. 1 bubble/sec is fast, and if his effluent is 10ml/hour then something is wrong. Even 10ml/min with 1 bubble/sec is odd. Most likely the reactor is full of all sorts of gas and possibly air from the sump pump causing the circulation pump on the reactor to cavitate and not circulate/chop up the CO2 so it will dissolve into the chamber water.

 

[Jamie814]

Most likely the reactor is full of all sorts of gas and possibly air from the sump pump causing the circulation pump on the reactor to cavitate and not circulate/chop up the CO2 so it will dissolve into the chamber water.

If amounts are correct, this is the issue I was leaning towards as well, no recirculation, but then there should be lots of gas buildup, which the OP does not mention?

 

[Shirak]

If amounts are correct, this is the issue I was leaning towards as well, no recirculation, but then there should be lots of gas buildup, which the OP does not mention?

I agree! If there are no leaks anywhere and everything is as stated, the chamber would be full of CO2 with hardly any water at this point!