Calcium Reactor Tuning Issues

[eb2292]

Hey guys,

So I've been fighting with my calcium reactor over the past couple weeks trying to get it dialed in. I feel like no matter what I do, CO2 collects and the recirculating pump makes an absolute racket. My setup is as follows:

Target CalRx pH: 6.7-6.8
Geo 612 Reactor
ARM Coarse Media
Reef fanatics (second hand) regulator
Kamoer FX-STP Peristaltic feed pump

I have my feed pump running at 55 ml per minute and the CO2 solenoid is controlled by my apex.
Everytime I try to bump up the feed pump a little to purge the extra CO2, I can't reach my target CalRx pH. If I reduce the bubbles, same effect. (It is possible I am not getting enough range between no bubbles and lots of bubbles with the Reef Fanatics regulator - my hypothesis).

I have tried fast feed rates, slow feed rates (with proportionate bubbles to hit my target pH) but same issue.

It's driving me nuts. Is the regulator the issue?

Thanks!

 

[GoVols]

Never had an issue with CO2 building up in my recirc. pump.

Could your pump or plumbing be drawing in air?

 

[eb2292]

It’s not building up in the recirc pump, it’s building up in the reactor chamber, then it gets sucked into the recirc pump and makes the constant sloshing sound

 

[GoVols]

It’s not building up in the recirc pump, it’s building up in the reactor chamber, then it gets sucked into the recirc pump and makes the constant sloshing sound

That would be frustrating :mad:

I've never seen an build up of CO2 trapped in stage one.

When my regulator switches on the CO2 gets chopped up in the recirc. pump asap and when the regulator switches off the pump is dead silent.

Have you contacted GEO?

 

[eb2292]

That would be frustrating :mad:

I've never seen an build up of CO2 trapped in stage one.

When my regulator switches on the CO2 gets chopped up in the recirc. pump asap and when the regulator switches off the pump is dead silent.

Have you contacted GEO?

The tank is right next in my home office so it drives me absolutely nuts lol.

I've googled around a bit and have found a few threads relating to Geo CalRx and CO2 buildup but not many documented solutions. I have yet to contact Geo, but I will if I can't figure it out.

I have a feeling it has something to do with not having fine enough grain control over my CO2. The reef fanatics reg is garbage lol. The tiniest little turn dumps CO2 and takes a massive amount of fiddling.

 

[GoVols]

The tank is right next in my home office so it drives me absolutely nuts lol.

I've googled around a bit and have found a few threads relating to Geo CalRx and CO2 buildup but not many documented solutions. I have yet to contact Geo, but I will if I can't figure it out.

I have a feeling it has something to do with not having fine enough grain control over my CO2. The reef fanatics reg is garbage lol. The tiniest little turn dumps CO2 and takes a massive amount of fiddling.

FWIW:
GEO told me to run the large Reborn media with 10% of ZEOmag in stage one and the small ARM media in stage two.

(lol)
Don't know if it's your regulator , but I feel your pain... :mad:

 

[eb2292]

FWIW:
GEO told me to run the large Reborn media with 10% of ZEOmag in stage one and the small ARM media in stage two.

(lol)
Don't know if it's your regulator , but I feel your pain... :mad:

Interesting about the media. I think the ARM coarse that I’m using is very similar in size. Maybe I will try reborn next time around.

But a small update to this, after a ton of just siting in front of the stand staring at the bubble counter and regulator, I noticed that even when the regulator is shut off by the Apex, it’s still dumps co2 in for another few minutes. This must be the issue. I ordered the CarbonDoser reg and it should be here by the weekend. Hopefully that does the trick.

 

[GoVols]

Thanks for the update, @eb2292

Looks like you've found the cause, and happy for you!!

 

[jda]

You could have a small leak in the intake. I had this once and mine would fill up with air, but it was so slow that it took me a few weeks to figure it out. I just needed to tighten the fitting.

Other than this, using a PH controller is not all that efficient nor a good way to run a reactor, IMO. Just tune it by hand - it is easy to learn and you really need to know how it works anyway. 40 drops and 10 bubbles per minute will get you in the right range, then increase in this same ratio until you get the hang of it. I have never used a PH controller nor really tested the PH in the reactor - I do test the dKh coming out. If my effluent dKh is above 20, then I am happy.

 

[eb2292]

You could have a small leak in the intake. I had this once and mine would fill up with air, but it was so slow that it took me a few weeks to figure it out. I just needed to tighten the fitting.

Other than this, using a PH controller is not all that efficient nor a good way to run a reactor, IMO. Just tune it by hand - it is easy to learn and you really need to know how it works anyway. 40 drops and 10 bubbles per minute will get you in the right range, then increase in this same ratio until you get the hang of it. I have never used a PH controller nor really tested the PH in the reactor - I do test the dKh coming out. If my effluent dKh is above 20, then I am happy.

This is good information about the intake. I haven't really adjusted any of the plumbing since I got the reactor. I will do some testing with that. Thank you.

I just got my CarbonDoser reg in and let me tell you, this thing is incredible. So freaking easy. I should have bought one the first time around. The other regulator was awful - it's possible it was shot from the get go. Time will tell though.

 

[ZaneTer]

Any update on your situation?

 

[biecacka]

Jda- you are saying to count 40from the effluent and 10 bubbles and that gets you In the ballpark? About what number do you get from that? I use a ph probe and my apex to control mine, but I’d love to hear how this works. Maybe even try it, my demand is so low now that I run mine around 7.15 for a super slow melt on the media and it keeps up. But I know as it grows so will my demand. Not to mention that I am tired of my effluent clogging so I’m considering a peri pump of some sort, or switching to dosing. I’ve also considered the CalcFeeder Pro reactor (similar to a Dastaco in application).

Corey