Help with calcium reactor

Pizzapro83 · Oct 9, 2009

I have had a calcium reactor for eight months.I was told to replace the media when it was gone. It is still full. My calcium and mag have been low. I have the reactor setup for the ph to turn on at 6.93 and off at 6.91. To get more calcium and mag out of the media would I lower the ph in the reactor? And if yes. What would I lower it to?

Murfman · Oct 9, 2009

Mine is set to run from >6.8 to <6.6. You don't want it to drop below 6.2 though. What is your Ca level at ? Mg? How many drips per minute is your effluent going? How big is your tank?

Pizzapro83 · Oct 9, 2009

My cacium and mad have always ran a little high. Now the have been low Mag is 1250 and calcium is is like 400. I have a total of 190 gallons. I was doing like two drips a second. I have doubled it to four and it is still the same. Should I lower the ph? And to what?

Pizzapro83 · Oct 9, 2009

Anyone else??

reefdan · Oct 9, 2009

the media isn't dissolving at that pH. try 6.4-6.6

you have a mag supplement in there as well? zeomag? dolomite? they will not dissolve unless at 6.2-6.3

Pizzapro83 · Oct 9, 2009

I do have zeomag. So i should set it to 6.4 co2 off 6.6 co2 on? And will the levels go up to a extreme amount and to fast?

reefdan · Oct 9, 2009

i have mine set at about 25 bpm and a a drip rate of about 80 drops/minute. i also have it wired to a controller that doesn't let it drop before 6.25.

do your research but i read that zeomag will not dissolve above 6.3.

you don't want to use your reactor to increase levels. it will work but that's not what it's made to do. it's much easier to balance your levels using 2 part and then set your calcium reactor to replace the elements based on your system's depletion rate.

without knowing your system's size and ca/alk comsumption, it's impossible for anyone to recommend a suggested bpm and effluent rate.

Murfman · Oct 9, 2009

I have two monitors, one on a controller that controls on and off of the CO2. The other is to monitor pH in the tank. Like ReefDan said, get your pH, alk and Ca where you want and adjust your reactor to maintain those levels.