jlord1
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I am in need of someone Very knowledgeable in calcium reactors, having issues keeping alkalinity up.......lmk,thanks in advance
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Calcium reactor guru wanted. ........ (1 Viewer)
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jlord1
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tinman
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What is the alkalinity of your second chamber output?
That's actually a good problem to have. Usually people can't keep lower DKH with the reactor.
Increase your BPM slowly and test DKH every 4 hours. Like Tin said test the Alkalinity coming out of the effluent/reactor.
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jlord1
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Tank alk. 5.26, effluent 16.8
jlord1
Guest
Are there any adjustments to make so i can avoid dosing?
Here's my opinion. Take if for what it's worth, which may not be much. 
I don't use a controller on mine. I have a ph monitor, just so I have a general idea of ph inside the reactor.
I let the reactor run 24/7. I use a custom build high end dual stage regulator and an old Cole-Parmer peristaltic pump purchased off eBay.
IMHO, using a controller adds unnecessary complication. If setup correctly and you test alk often like you are supposed to, you shouldn't need a controller. If anything, use the controller as a failsafe, like if you see a drastic drop in tank ph you can have it shut down the reactor and send you an alarm so you know something is up.
Start off with a reactor ph around 6.7 by setting your effluent rate to around 80-90 ml/min and whatever bubble count is needed to achieve that ph.
This will give you a pretty good starting point from which you can make adjustments.
In the beginning test alk twice per day, morning and evening.
The best way to make adjustments is to NOT use the reactor to raise your Alk. You'll fight with it that much longer. Use baking soda or two-part to get it up to where it needs to be, and then try to get the reactor to HOLD it there by lowering the reactor ph by increasing your c02 a tiny bit.
If it drops too much, again... add baking soda or two-part to get it back to where you need it. It's a bit of a pain in the beginning but you'll slowly see it start to even out.
If alk gets a little too high, lower the bubble count a bit and see if it drops. You want to make very minor adjustments. If it starts to get much too high, pull the power to the solenoid for 12 hours and test again.
When you get to your target Alk within a few ppm you can start testing once a day.
I don't use a controller on mine. I have a ph monitor, just so I have a general idea of ph inside the reactor.
I let the reactor run 24/7. I use a custom build high end dual stage regulator and an old Cole-Parmer peristaltic pump purchased off eBay.
IMHO, using a controller adds unnecessary complication. If setup correctly and you test alk often like you are supposed to, you shouldn't need a controller. If anything, use the controller as a failsafe, like if you see a drastic drop in tank ph you can have it shut down the reactor and send you an alarm so you know something is up.
Start off with a reactor ph around 6.7 by setting your effluent rate to around 80-90 ml/min and whatever bubble count is needed to achieve that ph.
This will give you a pretty good starting point from which you can make adjustments.
In the beginning test alk twice per day, morning and evening.
The best way to make adjustments is to NOT use the reactor to raise your Alk. You'll fight with it that much longer. Use baking soda or two-part to get it up to where it needs to be, and then try to get the reactor to HOLD it there by lowering the reactor ph by increasing your c02 a tiny bit.
If it drops too much, again... add baking soda or two-part to get it back to where you need it. It's a bit of a pain in the beginning but you'll slowly see it start to even out.
If alk gets a little too high, lower the bubble count a bit and see if it drops. You want to make very minor adjustments. If it starts to get much too high, pull the power to the solenoid for 12 hours and test again.
When you get to your target Alk within a few ppm you can start testing once a day.
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Diesel
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Nope, you have to bring it as close to the Alk# you want to keep it at.
Manual dosing till you reach that # is a must and from there on you maintain it with your reactor.
Keep an eye on you PH as you work with CO2 that can lower it bit.
Manual dosing till you reach that # is a must and from there on you maintain it with your reactor.
Keep an eye on you PH as you work with CO2 that can lower it bit.
jlord1
Guest
So i need to get it stable and then dose to get it up to the right level?
I pretty much agree with everything previously stated. Small adjustments. I test Alk daily to determine the usage and dial in the reactor. But you need to bring alk up by manually dosing to where you want it at. Your usage at 8.5 alk and 5.2 could be significantly different. Lower alk the corals will stop pulling out as much out of the water as compared to if it was higher.
Diesel
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LOL, the other way.
Need to dose to get it to the right level and than keep it stable.
d2 basically said it all, follow that and your good.
Reefkeeper
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To add , I would check all paramitors first , manually dose until all is in the range you want,... I would check your mag level this has a huge effect on available alk ... Keep stable for a coupe days through manual dosing of 3 part , then follow previous post move forward... Don't increase alk more than 0.5 every 12 hours this I have read , but as your dkh is so low don't know if it's better just to pump up to 6.5 dkh straight away. With you already so low in your chamber ph and and +16 dkg coming from the reactor I would double check mag numbers it does not sound correct....
I have seen video about using your ph as guide ,.... No sure I agree with that ... I use the same method as the others....
I have seen video about using your ph as guide ,.... No sure I agree with that ... I use the same method as the others....
jlord1
Guest
Mag is at 1360.....
Reefkeeper
Guest
Then it must be your consumption is more the the effluent being dripped back into the tank,... Demini post is spot on I would suggest you follow as he directed. First use two part to get to the paramitors you want and then use calcium reactor to hold stable... Using calcium reactor to increase paramitors will drive you crazy....
Many years ago this was very helpful for me to learn the basics.
How to set up a Calcium Reactor | Melev's Reef
How to set up a Calcium Reactor | Melev's Reef
jlord1
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Alk is now at 6.33, i guess adding second chamber really does help. If it starts getting to high, i just need to lower effluent drip?
The goal would be to slightly raise your reactor's pH level which can be accomplished by increasing effluent flow rate and/or decreasing C02.
jlord1
Guest
Copy that........
