Need help setting up my mtc procal calcium reactor

[ReefBum]

Thats what I'm doing now. How do you drain the reactor do you lift it up so it drains from the intake?

I have always removed the media from both chambers and then sucked the water out with a shop vac. This will essentially allow you to remove the different lines without water getting all over the place. I also like to check to make sure there are no clogs at the bottom of the chambers. Not sure what size media you are using, but I prefer the large vs. the small.

 

[jgraz]

John I am also having the same issue with the effluent drip slowing down. I have my reactor sitting on the floor right next to my 100 gallon rubbermaid vat. The water is around the same height as the reactor and I still have the issues. I tried to cal MTC and there was no answer. By the way Reefbum thanks for the video it helped alot when I setup my reactor.

Sure. Glad it helped. Did you check to make sure that none of the lines are clogged?

I have always removed the media from both chambers and then sucked the water out with a shop vac. This will essentially allow you to remove the different lines without water getting all over the place. I also like to check to make sure there are no clogs at the bottom of the chambers. Not sure what size media you are using, but I prefer the large vs. the small.

Jay glad you brought this up again.

I did get in touch with Jeff at MTC and basically he wanted me to check all the lines and make sure non were clogged, other then that he didn't have any other input as to why this happens. So seeing as though i needed to add media i set about giving the reactor a good cleaning. I pulled all the old media and gave it a good rinse and topped off with the new media. While it was down I replaced all the lines though they all looked good. Got it up and running again and for the first few days the effluent was very erratic. After about a week of close attention I got it where I wanted, around 50ml per min. Since then I still have the usual problems. After about a week or 2 it seems to slow a bit. I adjust and go about my day. I have pretty much come to the conclusion that this is normal and I just give it a quick look everyday. As long as my alk is in my preferred range I'm happy.

Oh and for what its worth, my reactor is in the same location as yours. Just off the floor next to a 100G rubbermaid. Prior to cleaning it out I had the supply siphon off my refugium located directly above it. Now it is supplied via the sump. this did not seem to effect the flow in any way.