Clogging output from calcium reactor

[lost66]

What do you use to restrict the flow from calcium reactor? I use something like this and after few days it is clogging. I have to manually open it to flush the build up and close. Annoying because I have to check drops each few days. If I forgot I have alk swing.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The issue is calcium create deposits quickly and builds like plaque in arteries. I make a point of cleaning out my lines every 7-10 days to prevent this

 

[Smite]

I got sick of inconsistent effluent rates so I bit the bullet and bought the kameor peristaltic pump. I use it to pull through my calcium reactor and haven’t had an issue since. I got it back when they came out and it’s still running strong.
They do have a slight noise to them though.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

That was always an issue I had, both my calcium reactor and Kalk did the same

 

[lost66]

I got sick of inconsistent effluent rates so I bit the bullet and bought the kameor peristaltic pump. I use it to pull through my calcium reactor and haven’t had an issue since. I got it back when they came out and it’s still running strong.
They do have a slight noise to them though.

Can you shed more light on that? Any picture of your setup? I think that may be a solution for me.

 

[Smite]

Can you shed more light on that? Any picture of your setup? I think that may be a solution for me.

So I tried to look for a link but the one I have is not WIFI, so it was cheaper than the ones that are out now. I want to say I paid $200 or slightly below that but it was a few years ago.

I have the kamoer set up after my calcium reactor since peristaltic pumps can push a decent amount of pressure and I don't want to add PSI to my reactor if there is ever a clog. I also feel the way the peristaltic pump rolls water through the line, it helps to break up anything that might get pulled through but that's just a personal thought I've had.

Here is my layout for pulling:
john guest tubing from clean area of sump to "feed" on my Geo reactor. You could even add a sponge filter.
Geo 6x18 effluent goes to my degassing secondary 6x18 chamber
Effluent from secondary chamber goes to kamoer feed side
Kamoer pump outlet back to return section of my sump. This section is before my skimmer to help degas co2 further.

I'm making adjustments now ordering parts to have the effluent feed into my chaeto reactors feed. That way I can feed chaeto growth with any excess co2 left after secondary chamber (like a planted tank) and then have the chaeto reactor drain line feed before my skimmer and degas even more. I couldn't do this without the pump since I would need to see the effluent drip. I base everything off ml/minute with the kamoer so there is no need to see the effluent.

It's truly set and forget. It's also very easy to slightly increase your output as needed!

I'll post a picture but I'm not a neat freak under the tank so it's hard to make out what goes where.

 

[Smite]

 

[lost66]

@Smite Thanks! I just checked the price of this pump. Way over my budget. Will try to find ecotech versa or some other cheap alternatives.

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

Kamoer X1 Pro T (stepper motor) is 150 bucks, works great.

 

[lost66]

Kamoer X1 Pro T (stepper motor) is 150 bucks, works great.

After a short research I think this is my only option. Amazon has bunch of Kamoer pumps but they are not rated for continues flow.
My problem now is to retune my reactor. Right now I run it at 13ml/minute and this pump starts from 70ml/min. BRS has a video showing the flow doesn't change alk that much with the different flow but I bet it changes ph level in DT and selenoid triggers more often. This and ATO is the source of the noise in my tank.

 

[HuduVudu]

@Smite Thanks! I just checked the price of this pump. Way over my budget. Will try to find ecotech versa or some other cheap alternatives.

You need a continuous pump. Those are generally not cheap.

I would really warn against the versa's, my experience with them was not good.

This is how the hobby gets expensive, incrementing in. It is why you do not want to get a ton of equipment, but spend heavily on the equipment you do get.

 

[Smite]

I ran my reactor for a little over a year with no specific pump feeding it with good success but like you mentioned constant tweaking. I did have better success by running a higher ph value in the reactor so I could run a steady drip on my effluent, closer to a stream. That seemed to stay more consistent for me. It was fed of my manifold from my return pump. I had a 1/4" gate from brs on the effluent. That seemed to work better than restricting the line side of the reactor for me. I'm not sure what effect that had on ph, I didn't really pay attention to it.

I ended up getting sent to a site that was out of town and I was gone M-F. That's what pushed me over the edge to buy the pump. At that point I had way more than $200 in coral at risk in the system. This hobby has a funny way of manipulating that value of the dollar over time. At least for me!

 

[brahm]

Kramoer is pricey, but for years I tried to run CARX and always went back to 2 part due to the headache and constant tweaking, this time around it has to be hands down the best dosing system I have used in over two decades of reefing.

It took a few weeks to get things dialed but for the most part, has been set and forget for about a year. I see a daily swing of around of < .1 weekly swing of around .2 but w/the apex it self corrects.

 

[lost66]

I ran my reactor for a little over a year with no specific pump feeding it with good success but like you mentioned constant tweaking. I did have better success by running a higher ph value in the reactor so I could run a steady drip on my effluent, closer to a stream. That seemed to stay more consistent for me. It was fed of my manifold from my return pump. I had a 1/4" gate from brs on the effluent. That seemed to work better than restricting the line side of the reactor for me. I'm not sure what effect that had on ph, I didn't really pay attention to it.

This is what I will do for now. $150 for a "dripper" is way of my budget at this point. I don't have that many SPS left in my tank to have it super precisely tuned. I will raise PH in the reactor and increase the flow. I think the clogging won't go to 0 as it is doing right now. Right now I have 13ml/min which is minimal. like 1-2 drops/second.
Thanks!

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

Right now I run it at 13ml/minute and this pump starts from 70ml/min.

that rating is a little misleading... it's limited by RPM not volume per say. it will pump anything from 0.01ml/min to it's maximum that it will deliver at 350 RPM, on my pump that's 93ml/min

 

[brahm]

what if you increased the rate and reduced the duration.

 

[lost66]

what if you increased the rate and reduced the duration.

What do you mean? Calcium reactor output is 24/7 dosing and this one of the point of the whole idea.

 

[brahm]

What do you mean? Calcium reactor output is 24/7 dosing and this one of the point of the whole idea.

If the flow is too slow to stop it from clogging, put it on a timer and increase the rate. You can have it run on any set interval be it 12 hours, or only when your lights are on; when the tank is consuming the most, and your ph is going to be at its highest.

My CARX doesn't output 24/7 I use my programming in my Apex to decide how long it runs based on my trident, but it always runs a 55/ml. Which is basically a fancy way of doing the same thing. I have programming that changes how frequent it runs threw out the day as I've been able to find patterns in usage based on lighting schedule. It's broken up into Day Time, Peak usage, and Night time. Doing it this way vs a steady consistent amount flattened my swing.

 

[outhouse]

after 15 years I have the bullet proof cheap solution. All im using is a cheap plastic inline gate valve for 1/4 " tubing. The trick is to raise effluent just past drops, so that you have a continuous trickle. Never clogs, ever.

Once you get output going enough it wont clog. I also use a homemade second chamber to help keep PH higher

 

[lost66]

after 15 years I have the bullet proof cheap solution. All im using is a cheap plastic inline gate valve for 1/4 " tubing. The trick is to raise effluent just past drops, so that you have a continuous trickle. Never clogs, ever.

Once you get output going enough it wont clog. I also use a homemade second chamber to help keep PH higher

This is my approach for now. I cannot justify spending $160 for a dripper. What I am little bit worried about is to retune reactor. I am worried if I increase the flow I will have a spike of alk even if I raise PH inside reactor from 6.6 to 6.7.