Ca Reactor (more questions)

[MikeNapoli]

I just did a test run on the MRC CA reactor I picked up from Mr.X and I have a few questions after seeing it run.

Are there a certain amount of bubbles, each second?,each minute? that are supposed to come out of the bubble counter? And if so what's the general rule of thumb?

My Ph going into the reactor was 7.8 and coming out was 6.2. Should the effluent be higher or lower?

Last question, how much media should be in each chamber? My first chamber is filled 1/2 way with media and the second chamber is filled 1/4 of the way.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Brian]

Do you have a flow meter on your reactor...I have mine set to 3-5 ml/minute(?)
I also have my first chamber filled about 3/4 of the way and the second chamber is filled just about to the top (there are lines marked on the chambers for the media level)

My reactor also runs almost a consistent PH of 7 using the AC Jr. I dont remember the exact numbers but I'm pretty sure the CO2 turns on @ 7.1 and off at 6.9 and I have my bubble counter set at approximately 1 bubble/second. That's what works for me...it may not suit your needs though.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[MikeNapoli]

I don't have a flow meter. But I'll get one somewhere. I know the CO2 is plugged into the ACjr but is the CA reactor pump plugged in as well or does it run continuously?

Also where is your PH probe on your system that turns on the CO2? I know it goes in the effluent but where does your effluent go to hold your probe? If that makes sense.

I'll add more media to each chamber.

Thanks again Brian.

 

[JohnS_323]

I don't have a flow meter. But I'll get one somewhere. I know the CO2 is plugged into the ACjr but is the CA reactor pump plugged in as well or does it run continuously?

Also where is your PH probe on your system that turns on the CO2? I know it goes in the effluent but where does your effluent go to hold your probe? If that makes sense.

I'll add more media to each chamber.

Thanks again Brian.

You're going to want to leave the recirc pump on all of the time, so that doesn't need to go through the ACJr.

As for the effluent, we made a small "cup" that holds the pH probe and the effluent line. It's a pretty simple design. I took about a 4" piece of 1.25" PVC and glued an end cap on it. I have that mounted to a bent piece of acrylic and have it hanging over my sump. The effluent pours into (and overflows) that cup. The pH probe is in the cup and is tied to an ACII that turns the Co2 flow on or off depending on the pH in that cup. We have to make some assupmtions on the correlation between the effluent pH reading and what we believe the pH is in the first chamber. The pH coming out of chamber 2 is higher than that of chamber 1, so we have to account for that difference. I think the optimal pH for chamber 1, using ARM, is somewhere around 6.7 to 6.9 (any l,ower than 6.5 and the media turns to mush from what I hear). Therefore, we regulate our effluent in the 7.1 to 7.3 range (I think - I'll confirm this).

HTH.

 

[MikeNapoli]

Ok ... the cup design thing helps alot. Makes everything clearer.

The water I was using to test my CA reactor was from a water change last week. I ment to do the test last week but didn't get around to doing it and the PH dropped because it was just sitting there.

Good news is the test is done and now I can just sit back and wait for my Kalk reactor.

 

[Brian]

I don't have very good DIY skills, so I made a cup to hold the probe out of a solo cup with a little hole poked in the bottom of it...not too pretty, but it works!