Calcium reactor solenoid help

sternicus · Mar 27, 2018

Still need some help with my calcium reactor. I have it shutting the c02 on when the ph in my calcium reactor goes above 6.7 and turns it off when it gets below 6.6. Thing is my solenoid clicks on and off a lot. My apex is showing it dropping the internal ph down to 6.65 or so and then it goes back up. What am I doing wrong? I’ve tried opening the effluent more, and closing it some as well. Not sure where to go. Also I’m using arm media and a standard regulator with solenoid

dbl · Mar 27, 2018

Can't help with the CaRx, but I did move this thread to a more appropriate forum in hopes of getting better response.

Breadman03 · Mar 27, 2018

I'm going to assume you got the Milwaukee MA957 regulator setup. When I set mine up, I found that the needle valve+my fingers=large adjustments. I found that using pliers, very gently, allowed me to make tiny adjustments that allowed me to stabilize my pH.

bubblemytip · Mar 27, 2018

You could add a 'defer' statement at the end of your apex programming. Eg. Last line of the code might be "defer 001:00 then ON". This would mean the pH has to be 6.6/6.7 for at least 1 minute before the solenoid clicks on/off - ie it makes the reading have to be stable first.

Otherwise, fine tune your regulator as best you can or get a better regulator could be another option.

What is the pressure reading on your regulator gauges? How many ml/minute of effluent are you running?

reef life · Mar 27, 2018

I got tired of my old regulators sticking on occasion. I broke down and bought the carbon Doser with no bubble counter from BRS. I just wish I would've bought this regulator years ago!

sternicus · Mar 27, 2018

It doesn’t seem to me like anything is sticking. I closely followed the video of the guy with the geo reactor and I have my on setting at 7.4 and off setting at 7.3 controlled via apex. Ph goes to 7.42 then down to 7.4 again. It just keeps going like this on and on on and off all night. About every ten minutes. Very frustrated

sternicus · Mar 27, 2018

It just seems like the ph is always rising and the way I have it set up, it just pushes it down alittle then it floats right back up, shouldn’t it just be dosing co2 almost the whole time?

ca1ore · Mar 27, 2018

I have found the best way to setup a CaRx is to get the bubble count to the point that the CO2 runs continuously. I'm able to keep the pH stable at 6.6 and just cycle the solenoid twice a day so it doesnt stick. Been using it for 15 years this way ....

watdachuck · Mar 28, 2018

2nd purchasing a carbon dose. Also, I was always under the impression a range of at least .2 or +/- .1 works best when using a PH controller.

reef life · Mar 29, 2018

sternicus said:
It just seems like the ph is always rising and the way I have it set up, it just pushes it down alittle then it floats right back up, shouldn’t it just be dosing co2 almost the whole time?

What is your effluent rate? (The flow exiting reactor)

reeftivo · Mar 29, 2018

+1 on what's the effluent set at?

pH in reactor will rise slower with a slower effluent rate. if you set you controller/apex to within .2 range & have a slow, but constant stream of effluent, then you can adjust your bubble count so the controller will not cycle the solenoid as much. mine cycles on/off about 4 times within 24 hours (every 6 hours from what i have noticed). holds my alk at 8.6 day and 8.7 through the evening, calcium is 430 (7.0 to 7.2 is my sweet spot for the controller-light load). Loving the streaming effluent method.

I'm using my old jbj regulator and it works fine, but I've been eyeing the carbon doser for a while now. The only turn off is people say the clicking drives them nuts. that's the only thing holding me back since my tank needs to be relatively quiet (living room).

PerplexyHexy · Apr 27, 2019

Wanted to bring this discussion back... Im having the same issue with my setup... what did you end up doing @sternicus? My carbondoser is going on/off like every 5 mins... I cant get the bubble count to be consistent either... I have psi at 5 and dial at 10 and Im getting a bubble every 5 seconds... no matter what I do...
Running this code on apex
Fallback OFF
If pH2 > 6.5 Then ON
If pH2 < 6.5 Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON
Its just turning on and off like I said every 5 mins

sternicus · Apr 27, 2019

PerplexyHexy said:
Wanted to bring this discussion back... Im having the same issue with my setup... what did you end up doing @sternicus? My carbondoser is going on/off like every 5 mins... I cant get the bubble count to be consistent either... I have psi at 5 and dial at 10 and Im getting a bubble every 5 seconds... no matter what I do...
Running this code on apex
Fallback OFF
If pH2 > 6.5 Then ON
If pH2 < 6.5 Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON
Its just turning on and off like I said every 5 mins

I hate be a non help but, I just got rid of it and got a doser lol. Was too noisy for my liking