Where do you keep your Calcium Reactor?

lyscer · Dec 4, 2016

Just curious where everyone keeps their reactors. Under the tank? Separate room? other?

My new GEO CR612x2 is showing up on Tuesday and I have had a spot in the garage on the other side of the wall from the DT planned out as the place to keep the reactor but I noticed that my C02 bottle's PSI guage dropped significantly with the temperature change with winter here and I don't want to get erratic results from changing temperatures due to weather changes all year long. So I am trying to figure out where others keep their reactors. If I need to I will build a little shelve in my stand above the sump to hold the reactor since there is no way it is fitting in my actual sump. I am just trying to look for a way to get the most consistent results possible.

Thanks!

Supurderek · Dec 4, 2016

I would not think temperature change would affect co2 pressure too much. At worst, best to install a ph probe in chamber to keep general tabs and check. I have mine automated to regulate with a probe and don't worry at all.

lyscer · Dec 4, 2016

From what I have read 850psi is at 72 degrees and the gases expand as it gets warmer creating a higher pressure, and as it gets colder creates a lower pressure. I'm just not sure how this translates to a consistent pressure in the low pressure gauge side. I would think that it would fluctuate a bit but I'm not sure. My other concern is with having a reactor filled with water in the garage where a quick drop in temperature is inevitable since the door gets left open while the kids are playing in the snow, shovelings, etc.. The unit would be right next to the house which may provide some transfer of heat but I think it would be negligible. I am really starting to talk myself out of having it in the garage haha.

My controller has a PH probe on it and I am going to be putting that in the reactor once I hook it up.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 5, 2016

I'm curious about this too.

lyscer · Dec 7, 2016

Ended up putting the reactor on the sump for now. I'm sure it will bug me and I'll move it, but that is its home for now. Thanks for all the input.

lyscer · Dec 12, 2016

as a quick update for those following along at home ;) - I moved the C02 tank into a small cabinet that I have next to my tank. The cabinet temperature stays between 82-85 degrees. I found the as the C02 gas heated up my high pressure went from like 700psi to 1,000 psi. I had the low pressure side set at 15psi and it dropped to about 13 psi with the warmer temp. It also seems like as the gas gets colder the low pressure rises. So there may be a correlation between those. It seems like there is but this is on a limited data set of a week of observation.

Aside from that. This reactor is awesome. I am currently running it just slightly above the @geo recommended getting started instructions (http://www.geosreef.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/geos_reef_calcium_instructions.pdf). I am running ~25 bubbles/min and 30 ml effluent/minute. My levels appear to be staying the same over a 4 day period so we will see if they slowly drift as I continue along.

Overall I am super pleased with the unit. I think it is fantastic and I can see why there are so many raving fans of GEO reactors.