What is the best high pressure rated Check valve to put in between the CO2 tank line feeding into Calcium reactor?

[kris2001]

What is the best high pressure rated Check valve to put in between the CO2 tank line feeding into Calcium reactor?

It is an MRC reactor using 1/4 " tubing...Currently using a cheap top fin one that leaks in high bubble rate!

I called BRS and they said use this:

Ozone Resistant Kynar Check Valve

Ozone Resistant Kynar Check Valves allow one-way water flow and prevent back siphoning. Using ozone resistant materials is absolutely critical when working with ozone. Materials like nylon will melt in a matter of days when it comes in contact with high concentrations of ozone. Inexpensive Ozone...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

tia.........

 

[X-37B]

I use the one that came with my Tunze 3171. They sell them, and I have not had issues at all since startup 1 year ago.

 

[Subsea]

I see no reason to put a check valve. It is one more piece of equipment to fail. The purpose of a check valve is to prevent reverse flow. Not likely to happen unless water level is above regulator. Even then, 2’ of water gravity is insufficient to flow against bottle pressure. What is most important is having a good pressure regulator and a metering valve to adjust co2 flow rate.

 

[dank reefer]

I use this one and works great

Check Valve 5 psi | Geo's Reef

www.geosreef.com

 

[SPS2020]

When I ran a Calcium Reactor, I used this: https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/korallin-co2-brass-check-valve.html

 

[GlassMunky]

I see no reason to put a check valve. It is one more piece of equipment to fail. The purpose of a check valve is to prevent reverse flow. Not likely to happen unless water level is above regulator. Even then, 2’ of water gravity is insufficient to flow against bottle pressure. What is most important is having a good pressure regulator and a metering valve to adjust co2 flow rate.

When the co2 tank dies and has no more pressure, water can leak backwards....
it happened on my planted tank many times.

 

[Subsea]

When the co2 tank dies and has no more pressure, water can leak backwards....
it happened on my planted tank many times.

Yes, if regulator is below water level that can open. It can still happen when check valve fails and in time, everything mechanical fails (usually, at the worst time).

Better to design system so that water level is below regulator.

As an instrument technician, I have replaced many failed check valves.

 

[kris2001]

Yes, if regulator is below water level that can open. It can still happen when check valve fails and in time, everything mechanical fails (usually, at the worst time).

Better to design system so that water level is below regulator.

As an instrument technician, I have replaced many failed check valves.

I have attached pics/vids. My sump stock tank is half full with sw. Are you talking about co2 regulator is below sump water level or reactor's water level?

A back siphon from sump isn't happening since I have tested it , I guess it is due to the kamoer peristaltic pump i use at 5 ml / min!

Shall I keep co2 tank a foot higher than sump level?.. say resting at the level of the stock tank lip level?..and then skip the check valve totally ?

thx

 

[Subsea]

Shall I keep co2 tank a foot higher than sump level?.. say resting at the level of the stock tank lip level?..and then skip the check valve totally ?



If bottle is vertical only the level of regulator needs to be above water level and thereby removing need for check valve.

I ran a very large system with a 4’ high industrial bottle of CO2. The regulator & needle valve for adjustment were above water level. No check valve that can fail.

 

[kris2001]

Great ! thx...
I just took some measurements. I can put the co2 tank to far left or right of DT, 7 feet away.... That way the regulator can be above sump's water level ...and I can see the bubble rate daily . Then no need for check valve!

I think 7 feet of RO tubing to run co2 to reactor will be ok , if it is not ok then I need to move reactor too 7 feet away , thereby running 7 feet of tubing just to transfer water from sump to reactor ( mostly 5 mil / min rate using kamoer )....

Which of the 2 approach is better?!

 

[delv2323]

Calcium reactors are pressurized. If the CO2 line becomes the route of least resistance then it'll flow that way. It's got nothing to do with height or proximity or whatever the reasoning is behind this contrarian and not coincidentally wrong POV. You need a check valve.

 

[Subsea]

Calcium reactors are pressurized. If the CO2 line becomes the route of least resistance then it'll flow that way. It's got nothing to do with height or proximity or whatever the reasoning is behind this contrarian and not coincidentally wrong POV. You need a check valve.

I have made calcium reactors and they are not pressurized. However, I am not familiar with the pressurized vessel that you describe. I meter co2 gas to the reactor and I meter water to the reactor with no restriction on water out of calcium reactor and therefore no back pressure. Please link manufactures data,

 

[Subsea]

Great ! thx...
I just took some measurements. I can put the co2 tank to far left or right of DT, 7 feet away.... That way the regulator can be above sump's water level ...and I can see the bubble rate daily . Then no need for check valve!

I think 7 feet of RO tubing to run co2 to reactor will be ok , if it is not ok then I need to move reactor too 7 feet away , thereby running 7 feet of tubing just to transfer water from sump to reactor ( mostly 5 mil / min rate using kamoer )....

Which of the 2 approach is better?!

I hid large co2 bottle and ran 50’ of plastic tubing. In small tubing, air can be run long distances with no problem. Not so with nutrient rich saltwater, that will grow things inside tube diameter.

 

[delv2323]

How does water flow through it then? It is either pulled (negative pressure in the "vessel") or pushed (positive pressure in the hahaha "vessel").

 

[Subsea]

How does water flow through it then? It is either pulled (negative pressure in the "vessel") or pushed (positive pressure in the hahaha "vessel").

CO2 enters water input at bottom of vertically mounted reactor. Low pH water flows up thru media and spills back to tank at the top of the reactor. Hydrostatic head of 2’ is the only pressure in reactor at bottom with zero pressure at top of reactor. Excluding 14.7 psi of athmospheric pressure.

 

[kris2001]

Ok guys... I removed the check valve and co2 tank reg is now 1 ' above water line.... No issues ..I mean co2 tank is still full and I doubt it will overshoot the effluent outlet and get in tank of co2 if and when it runs empty.

Couple Q's:
1) At 62f co2 gauge says it is 700 psi...seems ok to me . Is this normal?
2) I use ARM media ... Will that melt a bit at 7.4 ph2 value or will it melt *only* when hitting below 6.7 ph2 value?
If it somewhat melts at 7 ish range I am gonna move the 'stop co2 value' closer to 6.8 over like 4 days or so. Current ph2 value in reactor is 7.2.

thx....

 

[delv2323]

Man I wish I could see this reactor. I'm having trouble envisioning and open top spillway reactor operated reliably from what sounds like a siphon from the aquarium.

 

[kris2001]

I have an update guys...
The co2 tank is higher than the sump...
When not on sw climbs the co2 tubing about 15 inches that's all...

Question:
After a month after installing the MRC reactor it's finally tuned. A bubble rate of 3 per second, reactor ph at 6.76.

Effluent is 22 dkh. DT alk is 9 dkh.

Kamoer peristalic pump feeding reactor is outputting into sump at approx a drop a second or more.

I haven't calibrated that pump it's slightly off anyways it's pumping 12.5 ml a min.

My friend showed me his reactor ph it's flat without fluctuation.

That's first pic. Rest are mine.

Is it bad for solenoid to turn on every 20 to 30 mins? He says it's supposed to be on always.... so that it's tuned to melt media at exactly the consumption rate.

Should i reduce the bubble count now to accomplish a flat curve for reactor ph swings daily?

Pls see pics Tia

 

[ca1ore]

I have always run my CaRx under slight positive pressure. It improves the CO2 dissolution and allows me to easily purge any occasional gas buildup. Consequently, I do run a check valve. Currently I use the one that came with my carbon doser regulator. 4 psi ‘crack’ rated.