Best way to tune a calcium reactor

Acroporaaddict · Nov 20, 2018

I'm looking for the easiest, most consistent way to set up my CaRx. Im working with a Vertex RX-C 6D calcium reactor, Carbon Doser regulator, Kamoer FX-STP peristaltic pump and a pH probe run from my Apex.
Out of the two ways below, what would be your preferred method? Any input or see any flaws in my plans?

Option 1.
Set internal reactor pH to a set number, say 6.7. Control the amount of effluent entering the tank by adjusting the peristaltic pump up or down. In my mind if the pH inside the reactor is a stable number, the effluent leaving the reactor should have a consistent alkalinity and calcium. If I need to "dose" more alk or Ca all i would do is increase the ml/min through the reactor via the Kamoer.

Option 2.
Set a consistent feed flow through the reactor with the Kamoer, say 60ml/ min. set the pH inside the reactor high around 7.4 and slowly work my way down by making daily adjustment to the internal pH until it the dosed effluent matches my tanks consumption.

I feel like option 1 would be the better choice? any opinions and feedback would be appreciated

LouieP · Nov 20, 2018

Heres the best way to dial in your CaRx.
The most important thing is to test your alk daily as you dial it in.

Option #2 is better.

Acroporaaddict · Nov 20, 2018

LouieP said:
Heres the best way to dial in your CaRx.
The most important thing is to test yoyr alk daily as you dial it in.

Option #2 is better.

That's what I was trying to explain in option 2. Haven't watched that video in awhile. Should probably refresh my memory by giving it a view tonight.

Diznaster · Dec 15, 2018

It's been a while, but I think Option #2 is better only if you are using a needle or pinch valve. The advantage of option #2 is it eliminates the constant plugging of the valve because it is open enough not to easily plug. You won't have this problem with the Kamoer FX-STP. Actually running the pump faster will decrease the life of your peristaltic hose. The downside to option #2 is that you are using more CO2 than really needed. Wasting money and possibly adding more CO2 to your tank. The more flow thru your reactor the more CO2 it takes to keep the pH low. I have the FX-STP and the Apex and here is what I do (it is mostly option #1 with a tip from option #2).

Set the Apex to control the desired band of pH, whatever you feel melts the media best (mine is 6.5-6.6)
Set your Kamoer to the desired drip rate (start a little on the low side of what you think you need). Note on Apex what the display says for mL/minute. This is the last time you ever look at drip rate
Adjust your CO2 regulator flow by looking at your Apex graph of reactor pH (bubble count, but not looking at bubble count). Like in option #2 this is only to keep your regulator solenoid outlet from cycling quickly. You want it to be mostly on, but shut off occasionally (off for about 10 minutes every 30 minutes is a decent place to start).
Monitor your KH/Cal and if low simply turn up your Kamoer flow a click (note new flow rate on Apex log)
Make a virtual output on Apex and use a defer statement. Use it for an alarm to tell you if your regulator solenoid outlet never turns off within an hour. This means you need to turn up the CO2 regulator flow because you have increased the effluent flow from the Kamoer beyond what regulator is set to supply. Or your CO2 tank is empty.

This method has worked wonderful for me. I started with pinch/needle valves and drip rate, but always had it plug up and stop. I went to option #2, but then I was making my low pH issues worse (low pH is always high CO2). I have CO2 scrubber and not much fresh air, that might not be an issue for some. Now my effluent passes thru both reactor chambers as slow as possible and exits at near original pH. You might need to tweak this a bit since you have a carbon doser regulator. I think it would work the same since it basically just replaces a needle valve with a quick cycling of the solenoid to control CO2 flow rate. I think the carbon doser is unneeded for this setup. I like the idea of it in theory, but I don't like the constant short cycling of a solenoid valve. It is a mechanical component that will wear out and fail after a certain amount of cycles. I'd rather have a constant duty rated solenoid cycle off once every hour or two. This way it isn't getting worn much from mechanical wear, but it also cycles enough that it isn't going to get stuck open because it hasn't shut off in months.

An example for the Apex VO would be:

Name: CO2_OK
Set OFF
If Output CO2 = OFF Then ON
Defer 060:00 Then OFF

Set an alarm so if this output is OFF then the alarm is ON. You can also do the reverse to tell if your regulator solenoid is stuck open, but you could do that with pH probe in the reactor also (I did both, because why not)

Also I debated if I should push into or pull from the reactor with the Kamoer. I decided to pull from the reactor. That way if there are any leaks the Kamoer will suck air from the hole and do nothing. If I was pushing it would leak from the hole instead.

ShadowR55 · Dec 16, 2018

Diznaster said:
It's been a while, but I think Option #2 is better only if you are using a needle or pinch valve. The advantage of option #2 is it eliminates the constant plugging of the valve because it is open enough not to easily plug. You won't have this problem with the Kamoer FX-STP. Actually running the pump faster will decrease the life of your peristaltic hose. The downside to option #2 is that you are using more CO2 than really needed. Wasting money and possibly adding more CO2 to your tank. The more flow thru your reactor the more CO2 it takes to keep the pH low. I have the FX-STP and the Apex and here is what I do (it is mostly option #1 with a tip from option #2).

Set the Apex to control the desired band of pH, whatever you feel melts the media best (mine is 6.5-6.6)

Set your Kamoer to the desired drip rate (start a little on the low side of what you think you need). Note on Apex what the display says for mL/minute. This is the last time you ever look at drip rate

Adjust your CO2 regulator flow by looking at your Apex graph of reactor pH (bubble count, but not looking at bubble count). Like in option #2 this is only to keep your regulator solenoid outlet from cycling quickly. You want it to be mostly on, but shut off occasionally (off for about 10 minutes every 30 minutes is a decent place to start).

Monitor your KH/Cal and if low simply turn up your Kamoer flow a click (note new flow rate on Apex log)

Make a virtual output on Apex and use a defer statement. Use it for an alarm to tell you if your regulator solenoid outlet never turns off within an hour. This means you need to turn up the CO2 regulator flow because you have increased the effluent flow from the Kamoer beyond what regulator is set to supply. Or your CO2 tank is empty.

This method has worked wonderful for me. I started with pinch/needle valves and drip rate, but always had it plug up and stop. I went to option #2, but then I was making my low pH issues worse (low pH is always high CO2). I have CO2 scrubber and not much fresh air, that might not be an issue for some. Now my effluent passes thru both reactor chambers as slow as possible and exits at near original pH. You might need to tweak this a bit since you have a carbon doser regulator. I think it would work the same since it basically just replaces a needle valve with a quick cycling of the solenoid to control CO2 flow rate. I think the carbon doser is unneeded for this setup. I like the idea of it in theory, but I don't like the constant short cycling of a solenoid valve. It is a mechanical component that will wear out and fail after a certain amount of cycles. I'd rather have a constant duty rated solenoid cycle off once every hour or two. This way it isn't getting worn much from mechanical wear, but it also cycles enough that it isn't going to get stuck open because it hasn't shut off in months.

An example for the Apex VO would be:

Name: CO2_OK
Set OFF
If Output CO2 = OFF Then ON
Defer 060:00 Then OFF

Set an alarm so if this output is OFF then the alarm is ON. You can also do the reverse to tell if your regulator solenoid is stuck open, but you could do that with pH probe in the reactor also (I did both, because why not)

Also I debated if I should push into or pull from the reactor with the Kamoer. I decided to pull from the reactor. That way if there are any leaks the Kamoer will suck air from the hole and do nothing. If I was pushing it would leak from the hole instead.

I like your method, I have the Vertex reactor with the carbon doser and Kamoer as well. I’ve been running the Kamoer at 50ml/min with a PH of 6.6-6.65. Will reduce the drop rate and PH tomorrow and see how that goes.