Ca Reactor Question

[Alabamareef]

I've hooked up a Korallin c1502 reactor. I've followed directions from someone
named Dragon_Slayer. The directions told me to get my ph in the range of
6.50-7.00. I've done this and its been stable for a couple of hours. Now I've
measured my dkh via salifert kit and I get a reading from the reactor of
14.7dkh. The directions say to have your dkh above 25. On the salifert kit there
is no 25. I'm sure I'm looking at something wrong, Please Help

 

[KoleTang]

Probably shouldn't publicly call someone out. Not good forum tact.

Some people try to "double" the salifert tests by doing a second dose of the reagent then using a little math to calculate the measurement. Not sure how accurate this is though.

Just to clarify, you are talking about the pH and Alk in the reactor correct?

 

[Alabamareef]

Not sure why you think I'm "calling someone out" Dragon_Slayer's directions are AWESOME and very easy to follow. Just want to clear that up, Dragon_Slayer's Korallin setup instructions are AWESOME. I just don't understand how in his directions and the company's directions they are saying the effluent dkh is suppose to be above 25. So Mr KoleTang get off the negative high horse........ because nothing was ever said that was bad about Dragon_Slayer. Was only hoping someone else knew him or how to convert this from his directions.....:wink:

 

[FF337]

See if you can slow the effluent down a tad to increase theco2
Contact time with the media.

 

[Alabamareef]

I'm not sure I understand what your saying. My effluent dkh is 14.7. The dkh in my DT is 8.3. So why would I want the contact time more. My question is why are the instruction saying above 25 dkh for the effluent. And from what I see the test kit can't measure 25 dkh. it only goes to 15.7 on a salifert kit

 

[Jds1002000]

The longer the water stays in the reactor, the higher the DKH will be in your effluent. Gives the C02 longer to break down the media.

 

[Jds1002000]

You need a high DKH in the effluent because it will be diluted in the DT. If your reactor is pumping out 14dkh it will be way too diluted to keep up your target DKH in the display tank.

 

[Alabamareef]

ok but that's what I don't understand. As per a salifert kit 15.7 is the highest it can measure. Now I'm at 14.7. So how do you measure any higher than 15.7.

 

[Alabamareef]

OK I also understand about contact time. As well as ph inside the reactor. My reactor has a ph probe inside and I'm controlling everything with an apex. I've got the CO2 solenoid programed:

 

[Alabamareef]

Fallback OFF
If CaRpH > 06.35 Then ON
If CaRpH < 06.25 Then OFF
If Outlet CaRxPump = OFF Then OFF

 

[Alabamareef]

I understand it's not only contact time. And the fact you adjust the CO2 and effluent together. How do you guys measure your effluent dkh may be a better question?

 

[Eric B]

I have a Korallin c3002 reactor also and I only measure the PH via a probe in the reactor lid. I have never measured the DKH of the effluent and I use to have the apex via the PH probe for the co2 regulator control. I had it set as low as you do but most all aragonite media will dissolve at higher PH's and some even start to melt away at that low of a PH and reactor was always in need of adjusting. My opinion is that you are just wasting co2 trying to keep it that low as when I had mine set that low I would just get a constant build up of co2 below the lid every other day. Since then I have increased the PH to 7.00 to 6.70 on the apex and also took the vent in the lid and ran it via john guest tubing back into the suction of the pump via a tapped 90 degree fitting so I no longer had to bleed excess co2 out every other day. I also adjust the flow to the reactor via a john guest needle valve and not the exit so the tubing doesn't clog from the higher amount of CA in the effluent out of the reactor. I also have it set as a constant drip into the sump and now it runs perfectly like a CA should and have not touched it in weeks and my CA stays at 440 and DKH is also in line in my display tank and media is slowly dissolving. I tried to follow the actual instructions to set it up via Korallin but it was never stable set up that way, but after the tweaks I performed I was able to get it running so I never have to touch it anymore. Good luck getting yours stable!

 

[KoleTang]

Not sure why you think I'm "calling someone out" Dragon_Slayer's directions are AWESOME and very easy to follow. Just want to clear that up, Dragon_Slayer's Korallin setup instructions are AWESOME. I just don't understand how in his directions and the company's directions they are saying the effluent dkh is suppose to be above 25. So Mr KoleTang get off the negative high horse........ because nothing was ever said that was bad about Dragon_Slayer. Was only hoping someone else knew him or how to convert this from his directions.....:wink:

I misinterpreted the way you were coming across. I don't see how what I said was negative or high horsed, but I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Good luck with reactor.

 

[Jds1002000]

I use API

 

[Alabamareef]

Thanks Eric B. I also ordered the John Guest Needle Valve upgrade. Currently My ph is 6.52. I know per the instruction per Dragon_Slayer he wanted the ph between 6.5 and 7.0. What size tank is your reactor on?

 

[Alabamareef]

No worries. Maybe I'm a little frustrated as well so if I came across the wrong way I'm sorry also.

 

[pickupman66]

Alabamareef,

I have been running a Ca/Rx for a few years. here is my best advice. Set the effluent to a steady drip. just under s solid stream. set the PH in the reactor to 7.0. Test your tank to get a baseline, then in a week, test again. if it the same, leave it, BUT if it went down, lower the PH in the reactor to 6.9. Repeat. If still losing ground in your tank, lower it a bit more. If you get to 6.5 and are still losing ground, turn the effluent up a bit. this is how I dialed in my Cr-5 Reactor on my 180. If you are using a controller to kick on a solenoid valve on your CO2 tank, then DONT sweat the bubble counting. just make sure it is a nice steady bubble so it lowers it from kick on time to the kick off time in about 10-20 seconds.

Give it a few weeks to dial in your reactor. they cant be adjusted every 30 mins to your tank.

NOW, if on the first test, you lost ALOT of ground, replinish with 2 part to keep it in respectable levels, then do a bit larger jump on the Reactor PH. you dont want to go TOO low on the reactor or you will turn your media to mush. I use teh ARM media in mine. it is way more potent than the previous stuff i used and I had to completely reset my reactor.

Doing it this way, you dont worry about maxing out a salifert kit. Ca/RX are maintainers and not designed to raise and lower tank levels. do that with 2 parts and dose only what you need to get that individual element up (Ca or Alk) I like to run my tank at 8.0 or 8.5. any higher and I tend to burn tips.

 

[pickupman66]

Oh and I doubt my dKh in my reactor is that high. I dont care what it is so long as the PH is right and my tank is right.

 

[Alabamareef]

Thanks pickupman66. I've got everything adjusted as you said. We'll see in a week. Thanks Got my apex set with a high and low limit: Fallback OFF
If CaRpH > 06.90 Then ON
If CaRpH < 06.60 Then OFF
If Outlet CaRxPump = OFF Then OFF

 

[Alabamareef]

Thanks for everyone's advice.