Calcium reactor CO2 alternative?

[Jon_W79]

Could you use an Ecotech Versa pump(or something similar)to continuously dose some kind of acid solution into a calcium reactor instead of using CO2? If this could work, and it is practical, what kind of acid would you use?

 

[Fishfinder]

CO2 is an acid

 

[Jon_W79]

CO2 is an acid

I know. I am just wondering if dosing some other kind of acid could be a practical alternative.

 

[Privateye]

It's an interesting question and I don't know the answer.

I will say that the thing about CO2 is lowers your pH, but does not lower you alkalinity. It's one feature that acid addition would not have. Not sure how relevant that is though. I use dosing pumps.

 

[Jon_W79]

It's an interesting question and I don't know the answer.

I will say that the thing about CO2 is lowers your pH, but does not lower you alkalinity. It's one feature that acid addition would not have. Not sure how relevant that is though. I use dosing pumps.

I believe that only strong acids will lower alkalinity.

 

[Yevoc]

I think most of the reef safe acids like vinegar or citric acid would end up being a carbon source and drive unwanted bacteria growth.

Like you are trying to liquid dose acid into a calcium reactor and you end up overdriving the bacteria and crash everything with true zero Nitrate and Phos.

 

[Jon_W79]

There are s

I think most of the reef safe acids like vinegar or citric acid would end up being a carbon source and drive unwanted bacteria growth.

Like you are trying to liquid dose acid into a calcium reactor and you end up overdriving the bacteria and crash everything with true zero Nitrate and Phos.

There are some very strong acids you can add to your aquarium that won't harm anything if you add them to the sump very slowly, and you don't add too much. They will lower ph and alkalinity though. I'm looking for an acid solution with a ph around 4.5(I think). At this ph I don't think it will lower alkalinity.

 

[Daddy-o]

There are s

There are some very strong acids you can add to your aquarium that won't harm anything if you add them to the sump very slowly, and you don't add too much. They will lower ph and alkalinity though. I'm looking for an acid solution with a ph around 4.5(I think). At this ph I don't think it will lower alkalinity.

4.5 would be 50% vinegar and 50% RO - roughly

 

[joseserrano]

What’s your goal In using an alternative?

 

[Jon_W79]

What’s your goal In using an alternative?

This is just an idea I came up with(I don't have plans to try it anytime soon). I'm letting other people know that I think this might be a good alternative, and I would like to know if people(especially very knowledgeable people)think this will work.

 

[Ben Pedersen]

You could use carbonated water..

 

[joseserrano]

This is just an idea I came up with(I don't have plans to try it anytime soon). I'm letting other people know that I think this might be a good alternative, and I would like to know if people(especially very knowledgeable people)think this will work.

question is, what would the alternative achieve. What is the purpose of the alternative?

 

[Yevoc]

There are s

There are some very strong acids you can add to your aquarium that won't harm anything if you add them to the sump very slowly, and you don't add too much. They will lower ph and alkalinity though. I'm looking for an acid solution with a ph around 4.5(I think). At this ph I don't think it will lower alkalinity.

Where I am going with that... Is the dosing of a carbon source with the of goal altering ph/alk, you still have to deal with carbon dosed into the tank. Do you end up with a totally over the top bacteria load? Your question is chemistry, mine is biological.

 

[Silent]

CO2 is so cheap it would be hard to find a less expensive alternative.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I wonder if the premise of the question began with CaRx cost and figuring out a way to make it more affordable. however Co2 is probably the cheapest aspect of a CaRx.

I guess the upfront cost of a regulator can get you if you go all out, but the price of a peristaltic pump like versa will make it a moot point.

I'm sure there are many ways to lower the pH in a reactor that can liquify the CaRx media. Quite honestly I can't think how it would be more efficient than adding a 10lb bottle and never touching it again for at least 6-12 months. If you were to inject a liquid acid to achieve the same goal you'd probably be fiddling with it every other week to make corrections and refill the acid chamber.

Gas is such an easier route, I couldn't see trading it to fumble around with acid.

 

[Jon_W79]

Jose, I'm trying to achieve knowledge about whether my idea has any significant benefits(I hope I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel). I'm trying to achieve possibly saving some money and also not needing to refill a CO2 tank. I'm not sure if there would be any significant benefits to this compared to CO2.

 

[jccaclimber]

CO2 is nice in that not only is it inexpensive, but that as it diffuses back out of the water and doesn’t carbon dose. If you wanted to carbon dose you have citric and acetic as options.
IMO the solution to not having to refill a 10 pound CO2 tank every 6 months is to get a 20 pound tank and only have to do it annually.
It is an interesting question and one I’ve personally wondered about, but I think it’s a case where there’s a reason it’s already done this way.

 

[Privateye]

I believe that only strong acids will lower alkalinity.

I could be wrong, but if I'm not mistaken weak acids like vinegar (acetic acid) will also reduce alkalinity.

CO2 associates with water molecules, forming carbonic acid. I don't know of any other acids that affect pH and not alkalinity, but if anyone can mention some it would send me down a rabbit hole of research into viable CO2 alternatives for Ca2+ reactors!

 

[maroun.c]

One more thing to note about using acids woukd be handling those abd the erosive nature if the solution and associated holding risks..

 

[Jon_W79]

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I could be wrong, but if I'm not mistaken weak acids like vinegar (acetic acid) will also reduce alkalinity.

CO2 associates with water molecules, forming carbonic acid. I don't know of any other acids that affect pH and not alkalinity, but if anyone can mention some it would send me down a rabbit hole of research into viable CO2 alternatives for Ca2+ reactors!

Here is something about it from Randy Holmes-Farley.