Cacium Reactor Design & Performance

[d2mini]

So i'm just getting into calcium reactors and trying to learn what I can on how they work and there is still some things I don't quite understand.
The basic idea behind all CaRx, regardless of features is the same. Get the ph inside the reactor down to the point where it dissolves the media and release alk and calc (and other trace) elements into your tank via the effluents.

So first, if this is the case, why is it that someone with Reactor A will have an effluent kh of 50, while someone running Reactor B will have an effluent kh of 20, when the reactor ph and the media are equal?

And second, lets say your Bubble Per Minute and your Effluent Rate to keep a ph of 6.5 in Reactor A is much different than your BPM and ER in Reactor B to keep the same ph.
The effluent with the slower rate should be more concentrated. But it's flowing into your tank at a slower rate. So if running the same reactor, is it possible for one BPM/ER setup to add more kh to the tank over a 24 hour period than the other?
Very confusing stuff. :wacko:
Can anyone shed some light on the subject?

 

[MBG75]

Different reactors are more efficient with co2 than others.

Ph is just a measurement. Can vary tank to tank. Depends on the probe and ph of incoming water vs co2. Also where it's measured from.

Co2 check valves can be different. Allowing more or less co2 to flow in at a given moment.

Consumption can be met with a slow drip of highly concentrated effluent. Or a fast drip of less concentrated effluent.

Basically there are many ways to achieve the same result.

 

[Eric B]

Here is a great write up about setting up a CA reactor and will give you some insight and have read it many times and use it as a starting guideline and adjust/tweak the reactor from there based on the tank needs.
Setting up a Calcium reactor via a Ph Controller | The Aquarium Solution (US)

 

[d2mini]

Different reactors are more efficient with co2 than others.

Ph is just a measurement. Can vary tank to tank. Depends on the probe and ph of incoming water vs co2. Also where it's measured from.

Co2 check valves can be different. Allowing more or less co2 to flow in at a given moment.

Consumption can be met with a slow drip of highly concentrated effluent. Or a fast drip of less concentrated effluent.

Basically there are many ways to achieve the same result.

But the function of a reactor is to dissolve the media.
So if both reactors are set to the exact same ph, shouldn't that dissolve the media the same?

I know you can't go by BPM because bubble sizes can vary from valve to valve.

And using the example in my initial post with the widely different effluent dkh readings, what if it takes MUCH lower ph to get the lower rate up close to the higher rate of the other reactor?
I keep reading that you end up with "mush" if your reactor ph is too low.

 

[Eric B]

But the function of a reactor is to dissolve the media.
So if both reactors are set to the exact same ph, shouldn't that dissolve the media the same?

I know you can't go by BPM because bubble sizes can vary from valve to valve.

And using the example in my initial post with the widely different effluent dkh readings, what if it takes MUCH lower ph to get the lower rate up close to the higher rate of the other reactor?
I keep reading that you end up with "mush" if your reactor ph is too low.

No all reactors will operate different from manufacturer to the next so a lower ph in one might need a higher in the other to achieve the same results. The media even if the same brand, type, etc. can cause 2 reactors from the same company to require different ph's to achieve the same result. It depends on many factors such as water flow through, etc and you will never be able to them both exact maybe fairly close though....

The small media will melt faster at a lower PH than the larger media but I run a mixture of both in my first chamber of my reactor and I would say if you get the PH in the upper 5's you will turn the small media into mush and unusable very quickly(I know from experience) Right now my PH controller is set to 6.40 - 6.30 and the tank levels are increasing slightly so I am slowly increasing the PH in the reactor higher until I stop seeing this increase in the display. I will then let it run for a few weeks testing every few days and if all is OK I will be set like that until media is dissolved and new media is needed. Hope that answers your questions!

 

[d2mini]

hmmm... very interesting!

Nice link you posted, too. I hadn't seen that one before.

 

[MBG75]

The only way to have 2 reactors putting out the same is by copying the exact amount effluent over a period of time and same effluent dkh.
Example. 2 reactors putting out 60ml per minute at 20 dkh.

Ph number is only a guide. All probes and calibrations are different and probes degrade with age.
Ph is only there as a reference and can be used as a safety with a controller.

 

[Dtech07]

you want to make sure its a recirculating Ca Reactor it will create a much more stable Ph in your reactor

 

[d2mini]

Is there an easy way to find your reactor's max output?
In other words, whatever combination of C02, Effluent rate and pH doses the most Alk into your tank in a 24 hour period.

 

[Dtech07]

You would need to have first a reactor that's rated to match past your needs meaning if you have a 100gal tank you'd want react that can handle 300gal do to the increased demand of ALK and Ca as corals become colonies. You would do and be the cause of that C02, ALK, effluent which would determine the Ph over a 24hr period ( other factors sch as lights and 02 c02 exchange plays into it also). This is why some shy away from Ca Reactors but it's really not that hard to as it's said Dial it in.

 

[rhcpnut1]

http://reef.diesyst.com/crarticle/crarticle.htm

 

[rhcpnut1]

http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html

 

[rhcpnut1]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

 

[Dtech07]

3 good reads and Ca Reactors have been improved on since those threads were written but they give the foundation to understand how to setup your reactor.
After a awhile my effluent stays at the same rate and I only adjust my C02 (some will agree and dis agree) to increase or decrease my ALK and Ca output.

 

[d2mini]

I'm actually finding the first link posted yesterday to be the most helpful.
I've already seen some of these others (thank you for posting, though) and it's interesting how they contradict each other.
Melev says set the psi to 12, yet the reef.diesyst link says more than 5 psi can cause leaks.
The first link says start at one drop of effluent every 2-3 seconds and melev says 60 ml/min.
It's head spinning.

I already got my reactor to hold things steady and i have a basic understanding of how it works, but the whole reason i started this thread is so i can try to understand it better and make sure the reactor is running at peak efficiency.

Thanks for the responses so far.
Although some info is confusing, it's still helping.

 

[Dtech07]

I have two links that seem hard to find but are really good reads:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/i...ctors-in-out-and-everything-in-between-part-1

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ctors-in-out-and-everything-in-between-part-2

 

[Dtech07]

I'm actually finding the first link posted yesterday to be the most helpful.
I've already seen some of these others (thank you for posting, though) and it's interesting how they contradict each other.
Melev says set the psi to 12, yet the reef.diesyst link says more than 5 psi can cause leaks.
The first link says start at one drop of effluent every 2-3 seconds and melev says 60 ml/min.
It's head spinning.

I already got my reactor to hold things steady and i have a basic understanding of how it works, but the whole reason i started this thread is so i can try to understand it better and make sure the reactor is running at peak efficiency.

Thanks for the responses so far.
Although some info is confusing, it's still helping.

Instead of looking at it as a exact but see it as a start that can vary depending on type of Ca Reactor and tank needs but the process is solid.

I do 1 bubble a second of C02 but a drop every second and quarter from the effluent this keeps my (for my tank and size) at 9 ALK, 1380 Mag, and 440 Cal. Ph in my reactor is stable at 6.51 and tank swings with lights on 8.2, lights off 8.1.

 

[MBG75]

I use a korallin 1502. I run a fast effluent and use a plants and aquariums regulator.
Like dtech, my effluent rate stays locked and I only adjust co2.

 

[Dtech07]

I use a korallin 1502. I run a fast effluent and use a plants and aquariums regulator.
Like dtech, my effluent rate stays locked and I only adjust co2.

That plant regulator is a good investment for Percision control or C02 just cost.

 

[d2mini]

That's my only issue with my standard regulator/solenoid… the most tiny turn of the needle valve dial makes such a drastic change in C02.