Restarting CA reactor after stagnant for 2x months?

[Wrasse-cal]

About 2 months ago, I started dripping kalkwasser to raise my pH. It worked wonderfully. Now, I am just about matching my evaporation with fully saturated kalkwasser and anticipate further supplementation being needed soon to match my KH consumption. So I plan on restarting my CA reactor.

My reactor has been stagnant for 2 months. I'm worried about the release of the byproducts of anoxic bacteria--such as when a deep sand bed is stirred. I'm suspecting I might be worrying about nothing given the low drip rate of the effluent, but wanted to check with more experienced reefers.

 

[joseserrano]

I would wash it out before use.

 

[evolved]

About 2 months ago, I started dripping kalkwasser to raise my pH. It worked wonderfully. Now, I am just about matching my evaporation with fully saturated kalkwasser and anticipate further supplementation being needed soon to match my KH consumption. So I plan on restarting my CA reactor.

My reactor has been stagnant for 2 months. I'm worried about the release of the byproducts of anoxic bacteria--such as when a deep sand bed is stirred. I'm suspecting I might be worrying about nothing given the low drip rate of the effluent, but wanted to check with more experienced reefers.

It's highly likely you've got hydrogen sulfide in there somewhere by now, even if it's just in the lines and not in the chamber. I'd definitely rinse or purge it out first.

 

[Wrasse-cal]

Hydrogen Sulfide is what I was concerned about.

I'll plan on purging the reactor.

 

[evolved]

Hydrogen Sulfide is what I was concerned about.

I'll plan on purging the reactor.

If you purge it into a bucket, you'll pretty quickly smell the tell-tale "rotten eggs" if hydrogen sulfide has indeed built up. If it has, you might want to consider giving the media a good rinse too.

 

[Bpb]

Yes. Remove it entirely, run bleach through everything. Rinse, dry. Set it up like new. Prepare yourself for the stink. It’ll be bad. I did the exact same thing about a year ago

 

[Wrasse-cal]

Yes. Remove it entirely, run bleach through everything. Rinse, dry. Set it up like new. Prepare yourself for the stink. It’ll be bad. I did the exact same thing about a year ago

Geez. This sounds like it's going to be fun.

 

[joseserrano]

When I have stopped using the CA reactor for whatever reason, I will always just keep water running through I, but just cut the CO2, to avoid this.

 

[evolved]

Geez. This sounds like it's going to be fun.

I'd argue bleaching is unnecessary overkill, and potentially more dangerous if it leaves any residual chlorine in the media.

 

[joseserrano]

I'd argue bleaching is unnecessary overkill, and potentially more dangerous if it leaves any residual chlorine in the media.

Agree, if going that far, just buy new media and water lines.

 

[Wrasse-cal]

When I have stopped using the CA reactor for whatever reason, I will always just keep water running through I, but just cut the CO2, to avoid this.

I almost did this, then thought, nah. Wish I had.

I'd argue bleaching is unnecessary overkill, and potentially more dangerous if it leaves any residual chlorine in the media.

I have a peristaltic pump feeding the reactor. Any reason not to just get two buckets, fill one with RODI, and cycle out the existing water into the other? I'd plan on doing that a couple of times, then repeat with saltwater.

 

[joseserrano]

Being lazy or cheap in this hobby doesn't pay off.

 

[Wrasse-cal]

Being lazy or cheap in this hobby doesn't pay off.

Agreed. But I am lazy.

Do you think that cycling the water as I described would not clean out the reactor?

 

[Rick.45cal]

If it were me and I was worried about hydrogen sulfide I would just drain the water from the reactor into a bucket and toss it out. If I detected hydrogen sulfide’s rotten egg smell I would then either dump out the media and replace it with new media, or dump the media in a bucket and then cover it with DI water and stir it around real good with a wooden kitchen spoon, then dump all the water out. and repeat the process until it washes clean. Then fill the reactor with the rinsed (or new media) and fill the reactor with new saltwater.

 

[evolved]

I have a peristaltic pump feeding the reactor. Any reason not to just get two buckets, fill one with RODI, and cycle out the existing water into the other? I'd plan on doing that a couple of times, then repeat with saltwater.

Should be okay - but you can do it faster with a bigger pump (if possible).

If it were me and I was worried about hydrogen sulfide I would just drain the water from the reactor into a bucket and toss it out. If I detected hydrogen sulfide’s rotten egg smell I would then either dump out the media and replace it with new media, or dump the media in a bucket and then cover it with DI water and stir it around real good with a wooden kitchen spoon, then dump all the water out. and repeat the process until it washes clean. Then fill the reactor with the rinsed (or new media) and fill the reactor with new saltwater.

But this is what I was trying to get at earlier, and more robust.

 

[Millimylilly]

I just did this exact scenario not too long ago. I just turned it on again, nothing bad happened