Help me with my calcium reactor setup. Please! :-)

BRS
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Personally I wouldn't run a calrx without a carbon doser regulator or better, and a masterflex/cole-parmer. At some point and time your feed pump will get restrictions and you'll end up with issues. In my case it caused the ph in the reactor to drop and turned the media to mush and my levels in my tank took a huge hit.
 
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Breakthecycle2 said:
IF anyone has any insight (sorry for jacking the thread), please let me know
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If your alk is raising with the cal reactor then u need to lower the co2 until u find the sweet spot. Dont worry about the pH inside the reactor most recommend 6.60 but u can run higher
 
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mdbannister said:
I just noticed that the regulator I'm looking at from @MarineDepot has a needle valve built into it. Do I need an additional one, or is that enough?

Also, I just noticed there's a "nano" CO2 regulator also available from MD (see it here). I think the first one I listed is better bc it comes with dual gauges, but I'm definitely not educated enough on this equipment to know for sure. Can someone compare the two? Is the regular regulator better than the nano version? I'm not seeing any advantages to the nano version except for space saving (I don't need to save space that badly on this particular build).
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If you don't want to mess around with counting bubbles the carbondoser (BRS sells it) works well but it is expensive but accurate.
 
AquamanE said:
@MarineDepot : I'm glad you agree with me but then you state a "Tee off your return". This again requires the use of the needle valve that comes with these systems. They themselves are often the cause of clogs in the effluent line.

Marine Depot carries Kamoer pumps. I use the kamoer single channel pump that handles continuous duty. These peristalsic pumps allow you to dose up to 100ml/minute with 0.5ml increments. I run mine in the 20 something range/min. No clogging, precise effluent rate at all times. I know this adds another financial element to the set up, but IMHO a breeze. Another element you dont have to worry about. IMHO, you set your CO2 working pressure, your bubble count, and then all you have to adjust is PH, and effluent rate. Ph with the controller, effluent rate at the pump with a few button pushes.
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@AquamanE Thanks for follow up here and I definitely agree. When using a Tee off the return, I just install a ball valve prior to the reduction of the line down to 1/4". This way you can dial back the pressure into the reactor with minimal risk of clogging. Then, just dial in the effluent drip using the pinch valve on the AquaMaxx Reactor. The nice part of a pinch valve is that if it does clog up, it is a little easier to clean/clear the line compared to inline needle valves.

A dosing pump rated for continuous operation is my favorite option after a Tee from the return line. The only downside is that continuous operation is hard on the pump heads and of course the added costs. I actually just switched over to an adjustable dosing pump to feed the Calcium Reactor on one of our office tanks this week. The pump is a new product we are testing to see if it will hold up to heavy use. I am pleasantly surprised at how steady the effluent drip rate is compared to the good ol' Aqua Lifter pump. The dosing pump should be adjustable to relieve the need for any sort of valve thereafter that will cause a clog as @AquamanE mentioned.

Either way, I think you will have success!

-Robert @ MD
 
WWC
I have another, somewhat radical suggestion if you have your sump(s) setup similar to mine. I dealt with clogged valves (ball, pinch and needle) over the years. I didn't like the idea of using a peristaltic 24/7. I have worked with them for 40 years and they do fail. I have several basement sumps. The display tank feeds to the basement into a 55 gal Bute, which then overflows into another 30 gal sump about 20"lower. I tried using the head difference to feed the reactor. 55 gal Brut into reactor inlet and reactor outlet into the lower 30 gal sump with outlet dripping about 2-3" lower than the higher water level in the 55 gal. To adjust flow, I just raise or lower the dripping outlet tubing. No restrictions, so fewer clogs. However, it still clogs So I installed a $20 Lifegard centrifugal pump backwards between the 55 gal and the reactor inlet so I could reverse the flow and dislodge sediment & clogs. I have my controller turn it on for 10 seconds every 6 hours. An inexpensive fix with no clogs in over a year and a constant feed/drip rate. Gravity never fails!

Bob
 
BRS
mdbannister said:
I'm getting ready to set up my first calcium reactor. I'm planning to use this one:

I'm planning to set it up like this:


I already have my feed pump, controller, and ph probe. Other than the needle valve, CO2 regulator (I'll be using this one by Aquamaxx), and the CO2 tank, will I need any other equipment?
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I would use the regulator with dual gauges unless you want to spend the $300 for the Carbondoser. I would go with the dual junction probe, I believe the one BRS sells is the same as Milwaukee. A small feed pump will work and again if you don't mind the money a continuous duty peristaltic pump like a Kamoer pump is the way to go.
 
The only problem I see with the method described in the video is that with a high demand tank you will eventually reach a point where you HAVE to increase the flow rate of the effluent. You can only drop the pH inside the reactor so far before you'll start turning your media to mush. But, it sounds like this method is good for smaller systems or when just starting out on a new tank with lower Ca/Alk demands. As the system grows you'll have to keep the pH inside the reactor at the recommended range and increase the effluent rate to maintain.
 
hatfielj said:
The only problem I see with the method described in the video is that with a high demand tank you will eventually reach a point where you HAVE to increase the flow rate of the effluent. You can only drop the pH inside the reactor so far before you'll start turning your media to mush. But, it sounds like this method is good for smaller systems or when just starting out on a new tank with lower Ca/Alk demands. As the system grows you'll have to keep the pH inside the reactor at the recommended range and increase the effluent rate to maintain.
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I start with a steady stream not drips of flow and a higher ph in the reactor then drop the ph down as demand increases. A larger reactor requires more co2 to keep ph in range. I think it is always better to go with a reactor one step larger than you think you will need.
 
Agreed, I think the idea behind using a steady effluent stream versus a dripping effluent is to eliminate clogs. Even if your demand increases, you could always increase your effluent and up your pH. I think the point of the video I think is to start with a strong enough steady effluent to stop clogs and then if your demand increases beyond what you are comfortable with the pH internally you can increase effluent, since it will be an even stronger stream, and start over with a higher pH. Hope that makes sense.
 
BRS

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