Calcium Reactor effluent line clogging

[shoggoth43]

Until I can snag a master flex or FX pump I’m feeding the reactor off a manifold. Not ideal but it is a DC pump so it should be fairly stable. I’m finding the reactor effluent line clogs and reduces output and I have to open the needle valve a bit and then back to clear it.

Would there be any advantage to placing the needle valve ahead of the reactor and leaving the effluent line completely open to reduce any clogging?

I’m also currently using a pH controller to set the reactor pH, simply because I can’t get a reliable drip rate out of it. It’s a Milwaukee regulator so the needle valve isn’t the greatest but I may try using the needle valve to control the CO2 more and just set the controller to not let the reactor dip below 6.5 and turn everything to mush, or set it to turn off if the tank goes below 7.8.

It all generally works but I’m definitely fiddling with it much more than I want to.

Recommendations?

 

[blstravler]

You could put the needle value before the the CaRx. I would not use the PH controller to turn your co2 on and off as you will only build up co2 and cause your media to get mushy - this could easily be clogging your effluent line. You want to look at the DKH of the effluent.

Read the thread - @jda gives a really awesome run down on how to set up a CaRx - the old school way and it works. If you set it up correctly you should never have the need to turn off your co2 based on ph in the CaRx.

calcium reactor cant keep up with alk

I have a korallin calcium reactor that is working great but it cant keep up with my demand. I have the effluent all the way open and ph set at 6.4 inside. Would adding a second chamber help a lot or not really? I really do not want to buy another whole calcium reactor right now. If a second...

www.reef2reef.com

Also if you are looking for a Kamoer FX pump there is a store in NJ named ReefCo and they have 2 or 3 used one for sale. They just moved to dosing from CaRx’s so he his selling his old equipment. They might even ship it.

 

[shoggoth43]

You could put the needle value before the the CaRx. I would not use the PH controller to turn your co2 on and off as you will only build up co2 and cause your media to get mushy - this could easily be clogging your effluent line. You want to look at the DKH of the effluent.

Read the thread - @jda gives a really awesome run down on how to set up a CaRx - the old school way and it works. If you set it up correctly you should never have the need to turn off your co2 based on ph in the CaRx.

calcium reactor cant keep up with alk

I have a korallin calcium reactor that is working great but it cant keep up with my demand. I have the effluent all the way open and ph set at 6.4 inside. Would adding a second chamber help a lot or not really? I really do not want to buy another whole calcium reactor right now. If a second...

www.reef2reef.com

Also if you are looking for a Kamoer FX pump there is a store in NJ named ReefCo and they have 2 or 3 used one for sale. They just moved to dosing from CaRx’s so he his selling his old equipment. They might even ship it.

That thread is already on my near future reading list.

I’ll definitely be contacting them to see if they have any available. Thanks for the tip.

-
S