Calcium Reactor Help

childress5tyler · Aug 2, 2013

I have a GEO 618 calcium reactor and lately I've been having trouble with it. Before I explain my problem, I'll lay it all out. First off, as mentioned, its a GEO 618 reactor with smaller media. Its connected to a pH controller set to release CO2 when levels exceed 7.0. As of lately, the levels in my calcium reactor have been falling to around 6.5-6.6 (and I'm using 0 CO2 since the levels aren't above 7) and I am unable and unsure of how to raise the pH level. As of last week, all of my levels were awesome (420, 8.5, and 1350), but I tested tonight and got 6.9 alk and 380 calcium. Please help me solve my issue of a low pH and low alk. Should I increase the drip rate even further?

childress5tyler · Aug 2, 2013

I pulled out my pH probe and found a white, filmy substance on it and I wiped it off (still kept it wet) and now my pH controller is reading 7.01. Could that have possibly been the problem?

Xingu · Aug 2, 2013

Probes need to be cleaned and calibrated regularly, so that may very well have been the problem.

childress5tyler · Aug 3, 2013

So I turned the pH down to 6.55 instead of 7.0 in order to dissolve the media. I've been noticing I've had like 0 media dissolved in 3 months

AZDesertRat · Aug 3, 2013

Have you read and followed the instructions on how to set up and operate the reactor on the Geo site? I thing they have the simplest directions and I use them myself when setting one up or troubleshooting it.

Coraloliseffect · Sep 15, 2013

childress5tyler how's your ph and CA / ALK going? Your thoughts on the 618? Had my eye on this one.

childress5tyler · Sep 15, 2013

Coraloliseffect said:
childress5tyler how's your ph and CA / ALK going? Your thoughts on the 618? Had my eye on this one.

I love the reactor! It's so reliable and waaaaaay more efficient than manually dosing. Like any other ca reactor, it's a process of balancing pH and drip rate to achieve the desired readings. It took me about 2-3 months but I feel as though I've got it down. I've got my pH set a 6.60 and my drip rate at 1 per second. My ALK is pretty consistent at 8.79 and my calcium hangs around the 420-430 range. I love it

Coraloliseffect · Sep 15, 2013

Sweet

childress5tyler · Sep 15, 2013

Coraloliseffect said:
Sweet

With that said, what size tank do you have and how sps dominant to you plan to be?

Coraloliseffect · Sep 16, 2013

300 gal. Started mixed. But moving to sps lps dominant. (And set up another for softies ) all smaller frags now but in time I know will have to go reactor. Running kalk and a fan for increases evaporation.