calcium reactor/alkalinity

[swissgaurd]

must be age cant seem to remember
if i increase the amount of efluent does alkalinity go up or down.

thanks
vic

 

[red02]

up is what it will do

 

[VegasRick]

should go up. Do you have a pH controller to regulate the co2?

 

[swissgaurd]

no controller,ive always monitored and worked out for me pretty good.

i need to bring my alk down.
so if i increase Co2 alk should go down correct ?

 

[VegasRick]

no...... increase your co2 and it lowers the ph in the reactor. lower ph means more dissolves, too low of a ph and it turns to mush.
generally you increase your effluent and increase co2 to raise alk.
to lower it the opposite

 

[NeverlosT]

That is my understanding too. I don't believe that altering pH in the reactor alters the CA/Alk balance in the effluent. If you want higher alk or CA in the main tank, increase effluent flow, if you want your reactor pH to remain stable with higher effluent flow, you have to increase your CO2 dosing to the reactor.

Currently my Alk is a bit low, I will be increasing effluent and CO2 bubble rate when I get home from work...