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Anyone NOT running calcium reactor all day and night?

I am in a battle with my reactor to tune it in. My calcium is at 412 with the dKH on the high side at 14. My ph in the chamber is 8.0 and I am trying to slow the drip down but I can't. Works fine for a day and stops and adjust again for a day and stops. Finally got it dripping but its about 5 drips a second, can't lower it anymore. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Wondering if I should run the reactor about 12 hours and shut it down for 12 to bring the calcium down to 390 range or so and the dKH to a more manageable 10 or so.

I know there is a seltzer technique to bring the dKH down but thinking permanent fix for it. I have slowed the bubble rate down to 1 bubble a second and in turn it raised the ph in the chamber to about 8.2. Don't want to get it too high.

So that leads to my question, anyone NOT running calcium reactor all day?

Thanks.

Joe
 

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Joe. Before I had my reactor hooked up to my ACJR, I used to shut it down when my levels started getting too high. Nervr had any problems.
 

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
We had built our own Ca reactor with the club a bit over a year ago. We always struggled with getting/keeping it dialing in. Either it would slow the drip to nothing over time or the drip rate would be too fast. Very annoying. When the main chamber "exploded" John decided he'd had enough and we bought an MRC. It is SO much more predictable. We're feeding it off of our main and we've got the effluent dialed in perfectly. The needle valve on it is just that much better than the one we were using on our old Ca reactor.

We use our ACII to turn the bubbles on and off to keep the PH in chamber at just under 7. The only thing we adjust is the effluent.

The only problem I see with not running it 24/7 is that you lose some of the consistancy that the reactor is supposed to bring you. Other than that, as long as you leave the water running through it and just turn off the CO2, you should be fine.
 
I seriously doubt you can disolve the medai at 8.0 Ph. Your reading must be incorrect. The Ph in the reactor should be in the 6.5 range give or take.

The reactor should be run 24/7. You need to adjust it by the Co2 (bubble rate), or the effluent. If you turn on and off the Co2 everyday, it is difficult to maintain the proper Ph in the reactor.

With my reactor, it takes between 24-30 hours for me to bring my Ph down in the reactor from the tank Ph of say 8.15 down to 6.5.
Ken
 
I'd agree with ken6217 that the PH reading in the chamber doesn't sound right.

In the reactor the PH is normally (if functioning correctly) very low. The problem many/some reefers experience is that the PH of the main tank drops too low at night when running the reactor. This was always my problem. While not the ideal, I had no choice but to turn off the reactor at night and drip Kalk/Limewater at night to keep the PH up. A lot of reefers have to do this.

Some people are lucky and have no problem with 24/7 reactor run times and others struggle to balance dripping Kalk and running the reactor to keep PH & Calcium in line. No 2 systems are the same and it'll take experimentation to see what works and doesn't work for you.

The only suggestions I'd recommend are to make sure you are using a high quality needle valve (replace what you have if need be) to make adjustments "stick" and keep a close watch on the system chemistry for a while to make sure you aren't jumping all over the place chemistry wise. If your drip/bubble rate is changing every couple of days you'll never get it dialed in.

Calcium reactors can be super easy or downright tricky to get working well (just like skimmers). Just take your time and make little adjustments and you'll get it dialed in before you know it.

I'm not sure if I added any helpfull info to the thread or not but know how difficult it can be so I thought I'd comment to at least give you some support and let you know you're not alone in the problem you are having.

Carlo
 
I am going to need to get another needle valve, because this one just is not doing it. Any ideas on what MRC is using or what is a quality one and where to get it?

I dropped the ph down in the chamber, lowered the drip, but like I said the f-ing thing stopped on me again.

In regards to dissolving the media, I am running BB and my calcium is a constant over 410 and I have checked it with 3 test kits, so it possibly is dissolving slowly.

Probe is good, backed up readings with two test kits.


Learned:

1. On/off is definately not the way to go.
2. Need new Needle Valve.
3. Lower chamber ph to 6.5 range.
4. Maintain patience.

Thank you Phyllis, Ken and Carlo for info.
 
I am using a MTC Ca reator. It is on the pricey side but I think it is the best, if not one of the best one out there. It is two chamber, has a lab grade glass flowmeter, and a automatic CO2 venting assmebly. My tank has been setup 5 months now and I finally have had it dialed in just right over the last month or so. I have the CO2 at 1 bubble per sec, and the effluent at .01ml sec. My alk is constant at 11 dkh and Ca between 415 and 425 ppm. My Ph runs between 8.05 and 8.20. Of course all is dependant on how much alk and ca is being taken up by the tank inhabitants.
Ken
 

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Be careful about the 6.5 (I know, I know, too many opinions, lol). ARM requires a PH around 7 to prevent it from turning to mush. I keep mine between 6.8 and 7 with the ACII.

I think John knows where to get the needle valves. I'm sure he'll chime in.

I'll take any extra patience you happen to have around. Not my strong suit, lol.
 
I got the reactor in November, so not wanting to get rid of it. If I could get a new Needle valve, should be able to clear the problem up.

Lowered the ph to 7.5 and running it that way, will lower it down more after I check the tank parameters tomorrow night.

Fun, fun, FUN!
 
Hi,
I am running a Korallin 4002 calcium reactor. It is one I could grow into, for 1600gal. It takes 20 lbs of media. I have my effluent ph at 6.5, as recommended by the German made Korallin instructions. No matter how much co2 you add in addition, your reactor will never create an effluent ph lower than 6.5, so in addition to testing ph you should test the effluent dKH. I almost threw this reactor out the window, with the same needle valve dilemma. THen i purchased a more accurate one, it is wonderful now. See the one i bought.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CO3151
I now run my co2 15 hrs a day, leaving the reactor running. My solenoid shuts for the night. it takes 20 minutes for my effluent to get back to 6.5 after having no co2 input all night. Previously, I was getting a ph of 7.8, 7.7 in the night, from 8.2 in the day! What a kalkwasser mess i was making to fix it every night. After changing my thinking, and methods, my ph stays at 8.2 in the day and drops to 8.1 in the night. I have an aquacontroller pro that showed me the problem time of night. HOLY MOLY what a change.
Just remember, this is only my experience. Other ways to run your ca reactor are just as effective. There are many ways to skin a cat. DEFINITELY CHANGE THAT NEEDLE VALVE> And HAVE FUN>>>because this is the reason we all do this obsessive hobby.
RENEE
 
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