Out with the old! In with the new!

[JSB]

Can't stand the click huh?

I am getting used to it, but I may have a come apart eventually. Regarding bubble count, the way I figure it now, it really makes no difference, as long as it is on a controller. I would think it a bit of a pain if it were the only way to control pH in the chamber.

 

[H@rry]

You're right, let the controller "control" the ph in the chamber and forget about trying to count bubbles. That is for use without a controller, and you're right, it is a pain.

 

[JSB]

The clicking is starting not to be as noticable and I am loving the Ca/Alk stability. Why didn't I do this earlier?

 

[H@rry]

Why didn't I do this earlier?

Yeah, why?

 

[JSB]

Hey, was this PO4 spike to be expected? I have really been feeding lightly lately and doing proper maintenance. After adding the reactor, my PO4 jumped from around .02 to .06. This while running bio pellets and a fresh charge of GFO

 

[H@rry]

What brand of media are you using in the CaRx? I've heard some say that some of them have some PO4. I use ARM and haven't noticed a problem.

 

[JSB]

I am using ARM as well. Perhaps it is something else. The investigation begins...

 

[JSB]

Ok, so I tested the effluent of the CaRx and it tested 0.00. What? How can that be if the intake water is 0.06? So I tested the DT water again and it was also 0.00 where it was 0.06 yesterday before a 10% water change. I have been seeing accumulations of cyano an know there is an issue, but now I am more clueless than seeing the fleeting 0.06.

 

[H@rry]

A couple of weeks ago I opened a new pack of Hanna reagent. I noticed that on both tests the reagent seemed to dissolve almost completely (no noticable particles whirling around). They both tested 0.00. I'm guessing that the way the checker works is by comparing the original reading before the reagent with the last one. Apparantly PO4 interferes with the ability to dissolve it and the degree of difference is calculated and reported. This is just my guess as I have not seen anybody else mention it. I don't have quite the confidence in the Hanna Checker that I had at first, but hey, it's better than the other test kits I've tried.

 

[JSB]

Well, the Hanna is my best reference, so I will need to adapt. I will lean on my eyes more and the tests less. We will see how it works out.