Calcium Reactor during Cycling

[hbash]

I am on day 5 of my fishless tank cycle for a 2020 reef tank that is bare bottom, 150 pounds of real reef rock aquascape, 3 large media ceramic blocks (1 was cooking in buddies tank for a few weeks and 4 quarts of ceramic balls. All with several bottles of Dr.Tim's One And Only and the ammonia at about 4ppm. The reactor is a Reef Octopus CR3000D with an Ecotech Versa and CO2 Doser to control the CO2 coming into the bubble counter.

Several Questions (Nubee Alert):
Can I start the Calcium Reactor Now with no CO2 just to get it running even though the tank has 4ppm or so Ammonia?
Is Push or Pull the way to attach the Versa Doser (Ecotech says Push is better for their DOSER)?
How do you add the fluid to the bubble counter and is the fluid best to be RO, tank water or what?

 

[eraser2001]

Hi
In my opinion you don't need a calcium reactor in this moment. You just started the cycle. You will need when you add corals and asked for alk and calcium
When is time to set up your calcium reactor, the verse can set up like a pull.

 

[hbash]

Hi
In my opinion you don't need a calcium reactor in this moment. You just started the cycle. You will need when you add corals and asked for alk and calcium
When is time to set up your calcium reactor, the verse can set up like a pull.

Yes, I know that I don't need it yet, but I figured why not get it running without injecting the CO2.

I just wonder if the higher ammonia might trap in the media and leach out.

Also, EcoTech does recommend the push for their Versa Doser. One method (push or pull) is better in terms of leakage as well.

 

[eraser2001]

I don't have versa in my set up, but other peristaltic pump are used like pull options.
Regarding about the amonia, it will not get trap in the media.

 

[hbash]

I don't have versa in my set up, but other peristaltic pump are used like pull options.
Regarding about the amonia, it will not get trap in the media.

Do you know which way is better regarding a leak (push vs. pull)?

Thanks.

 

[eraser2001]

Do you know which way is better regarding a leak (push vs. pull)?

Thanks.

Could you explain more about leak?
Leak from the calcium reactor
Leak from the peristaltic pump

 

[DeniseAndy]

I don't see why you would want to run it. Maybe for a quick leak test. No reason to spend the extra electricity, water, and they will collect algae if exposed to light. Do it maybe fore a quick test run of the system, but to run through the cycle seems silly.
It should not hurt anything though if that is the concern.

 

[hbash]

Could you explain more about leak?
Leak from the calcium reactor
Leak from the peristaltic pump

 

[hbash]

I have heard that if a connection to the DOSER leaks, which I don't expect will happen that either the pull of the push method is less of a mess. Not really all that clear about it though.

I found this link to a BRS/Randy video on the topic:

BRS/Randy

 

[hbash]

Hi Folks. My three part question: still is looking for someone to explain how to add the water to the bubble counter of my Octa CR3000D Reactor. Please describe or send a link or to explaining/demonstrating this.

 

[Carwin]

If you run the calcium reactor with nothing consuming the materials you are adding, won't those elements simply accumulate to undesireable levels in the water? You don't want too much calcium, magnesium, etc in the water either.

 

[hbash]

If you run the calcium reactor with nothing consuming the materials you are adding, won't those elements simply accumulate to undesireable levels in the water? You don't want too much calcium, magnesium, etc in the water either.

I think (nubee here...) that as long as the pH is above say 7, no material will dissolve from the reactor and so only tank water will be returned to the tank.

 

[o2manyfish]

You are a long way from needing a Calcium Reactor. The amount of Calcifying coral it takes to consumer that calcium that's in your salt mix, where you would need to replace Calcium 24 hrs a day is quite a ways off.

If you start running your Reactor now, without CO2, you are just creating extra biological filtration. The problem being that when you eventually start the CO2 the drop to a pH of 6.0ish is going to kill all that bacteria, and now you have a Reactor pumping foul water into your system.

As for the push/pull on the dosing pumps. Pushing the water in creates pressure in the reactor which then pushes the water out. If there is any or too much restriction on the water leaving the chamber then the chamber pressure continues to build till the acrylic swells at the lids and water leaks out. Pulling water from the Reactor removes this issue.

A properly designed reactor has an entirely non restrive effluent line out - which flows down hill and exits above the surface of the water. So there is no possibility of restriction. Keeping a high effluent rate will help insure there is no calcification inside the effluent tubing to create a block. And regular maintenance on your part to make sure a calcium block doesn't occur where the effluent exits the tubing will insure it doesn't back up.

If you have a leak whether push or pull the leak is going to be pretty much the same amount. Your bigger concern is going to be having spare tubing for your dosing pump on hand. Because when it splits your going to have a leak regardless of where the pump is located.

Dave B

 

[hbash]

You are a long way from needing a Calcium Reactor. The amount of Calcifying coral it takes to consumer that calcium that's in your salt mix, where you would need to replace Calcium 24 hrs a day is quite a ways off.

If you start running your Reactor now, without CO2, you are just creating extra biological filtration. The problem being that when you eventually start the CO2 the drop to a pH of 6.0ish is going to kill all that bacteria, and now you have a Reactor pumping foul water into your system.

As for the push/pull on the dosing pumps. Pushing the water in creates pressure in the reactor which then pushes the water out. If there is any or too much restriction on the water leaving the chamber then the chamber pressure continues to build till the acrylic swells at the lids and water leaks out. Pulling water from the Reactor removes this issue.

A properly designed reactor has an entirely non restrive effluent line out - which flows down hill and exits above the surface of the water. So there is no possibility of restriction. Keeping a high effluent rate will help insure there is no calcification inside the effluent tubing to create a block. And regular maintenance on your part to make sure a calcium block doesn't occur where the effluent exits the tubing will insure it doesn't back up.

If you have a leak whether push or pull the leak is going to be pretty much the same amount. Your bigger concern is going to be having spare tubing for your dosing pump on hand. Because when it splits your going to have a leak regardless of where the pump is located.

Dave B

Appreciate the detailed answers. Thanks. Do you by any chance have an answer to the third part of my post? How to add water to the bubble counter of a CR3000D Calcium Reactor? Also, is it dangerous to have the CO2 tank under my main tank (explodes and drills a hole in the bottom of my tank...)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[o2manyfish]

Without seeing the particular one you have, disconnect the CO2 going in and the dosing pump should push water into the bubble counter and then eventually out of of the bubble counter. When you put the co2 back on it will out out some of the water and leave you a nice viewing window.

You would be better off to add a pH probe to your reactor and control the CO2 flow based on the pH rather than the bubble rate -- Will save you so many headaches.

As for a CO2 tank exploding --- Well if one were to explode your going to have a lot bigger issues in your life than what happened to your fish tank.

I've been in this hobby for many decades and yet to come across a story of 'Reefer Bob' whose CO2 blew up and broke his tank.

Dave B

 

[hbash]

Without seeing the particular one you have, disconnect the CO2 going in and the dosing pump should push water into the bubble counter and then eventually out of of the bubble counter. When you put the co2 back on it will out out some of the water and leave you a nice viewing window.

You would be better off to add a pH probe to your reactor and control the CO2 flow based on the pH rather than the bubble rate -- Will save you so many headaches.

As for a CO2 tank exploding --- Well if one were to explode your going to have a lot bigger issues in your life than what happened to your fish tank.

I've been in this hobby for many decades and yet to come across a story of 'Reefer Bob' whose CO2 blew up and broke his tank.

Dave B

I have the CO2Doser and I guess for the most part, as long as my reactor has the bubble chamber, I thought it would be cool to see the bubbling.