Calcium reactor tunning

helldiver · Mar 14, 2016

My calcium reactor seems to be not stunned properly and can not seem to tune looking for suggestions how to fix
My alkalinity keeps about was at 10 dkh and now at 12 dkh in 7 days my calcium was at 470 and now it is at 400,
How do I increase calcium and lower alk in calcium reactor

M_norrick · Mar 14, 2016

I'm not a pro by any means but have you checked your magnesium? are you running a ph controller to maintain ph in reactor?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2016

helldiver said:
My calcium reactor seems to be not stunned properly and can not seem to tune looking for suggestions how to fix
My alkalinity keeps about was at 10 dkh and now at 12 dkh in 7 days my calcium was at 470 and now it is at 400,
How do I increase calcium and lower alk in calcium reactor

That result did not come from your reactor. It delivers calcium and alkalinity in an appropriate ratio and you can not intentionally or accidentally skew it.

Tune the reactor ONLY using alkalinity, since it responds much faster to over or under dosing than does calcium. If it is maintaining alkalinity, then it is tuned right. Since alk is rising a bit, you need to deliver a bit less CO2 (such as with a needle valve or raising the pH in the reactor if it is pH controlled).

The alk rise and a calcium drop can only come from water changes with a low calcium mix or testing error (well, assuming you actually put calcium carbonate media in the reactor, and not magnesium carbonate).

Marquiseo · Mar 14, 2016

Use a higher internal pH for your calcium reactor. Start at 7.3(off) - 7.4(on). If your dkH, drops then you'll have to move down to 7.2-7.3. And continue going down till you see your Alk starts a very slow decline or even better become stable. Find your Alk range and either dose, if low, to that point or turn off your Ca reactor till your dkH drops to your desired degree. Each day you are testing your dkH at the same time.

AZDesertRat · Mar 14, 2016

http://www.geosreef.com/index.php/instructions/instructions/1-calcium-reactor-instructions/file

I have found the above useful for tuning a calcium reactor.

helldiver · Mar 14, 2016

Ty I have it on a controller ,I Do not do water changes yet the tank only has corals .I have a ph controller for co2 and one that monitors ph,I do run magnesium and calcium reactor media those seem to be in balance running 80-20 mixture calcium, my effluent rate is at 30 what pressure should my regulator be at if I up the effluent rate and raise ph value in reactor,what happens.
Ok I had co2 off today for 10 hrs,turned back on;tested alk at 9,target range is gonna be 8.0-9.0 I am not at 1600 on 3/14 once I get alk wher I want it and consistant,I know I will have to bring ca and mg up to proper level to see if it maintains

hybridazn · Mar 14, 2016

This video explains how to get your reactor set up in a very easy way.

helldiver · Mar 14, 2016

ty that the video I have been looking for

reefjunkie53 · Mar 17, 2016

What I'm curious about is if u leave the effluent line constant will u have a ph problem in the tank?

reefjunkie53 · Mar 17, 2016

I just recently purchased a calcium reactor so after watching the vid I think I want to try his method I have 150 gallon system do you think it affect my ph in the display with the effluent constant

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2016

reefjunkie53 said:
What I'm curious about is if u leave the effluent line constant will u have a ph problem in the tank?

CaCO3/CO2 reactors always tend to lower pH. Proper tuning minimizes the issue, but it is always there.

Adequate aeration with normal air will bring the pH back up, but many folks either have elevated CO2 in their home air (keeping pH low), or incomplete aeration .

AZDesertRat · Mar 17, 2016

The effluent drip rate remains constant. It is the pH controller and probe starting and stopping the CO2 that lowers and raises the pH. You program a setpoint and a range or span or some controllers have a high and low setpoint. With the first style when the pH rises above the setpoint by the predetermined value the CO2 solenoid opens and once it drops below the setpoint the CO2 stops flowing. With teh second style the CO2 comes on at the high setpoint and goes off at the low setpoint. It is important you have your pH probe in the correct location to monitor this pH change.

reefjunkie53 · Mar 18, 2016

Would u guys recommend me putting the effluent line in my fuge by my algae scrubber or by my protein skimmer intake

reefjunkie53 · Mar 19, 2016

[emoji225]

helldiver · Mar 19, 2016

Run mine through floss and my carbon but it is my opinion definitely not by skimmer I see a lot of people run in a cup And let it overflow so they can test effluent only check out melsreef he share a lot of info

titoreefs · Mar 20, 2016

If you want to raise calcium and lower kh a bit with your Ca reactor youd have to lower your efluent count.
You can do this very gradually testing your tanks alk.

titoreefs · Mar 20, 2016

Generaly a calcium reactor will maintain levels at an inside ph of 6.7 or lower depending on your tanks demand.
If your alk starts to rise you lower the efluent count and that will lower the ph a little more inside the reactor and will raise the calcium and mag levels and lower alk to desired levels.

helldiver · Mar 21, 2016

Ok will try what effluent rate do you think for base line

titoreefs · Mar 21, 2016

I usually start with one drop per 3 sec and go up or down as needed

reefjunkie53 · Apr 1, 2016

I figured I would post an update on the calcium reactor it's been running for like 2 weeks now and has not affected my ph one bit I put my effluent line through my bio balls then it goes threw the fuge with cheato and algae scrubber n skimmer [emoji322]