Unconventional Calcium Reactor for the average reefer!!

McDam · May 6, 2019

Well Although it has been a long an busy couple of months I figured I should update this. The calcium reactor is running flawlessly and although I had one self-inflicted alk swing which caused some loss of color and fish that nip causing me polyp extension issues everything is good.

So to bring this up to speed right now the calcium reactor consists of a SodaStream CO2 bottle as supply. on it, I have a soda stream adapter and regulator with a 1/4" barbed fitting for the airline. the airline is connected to my DIY apex controlled continuous dosing pump, which is now complete. The dosing pump supplies C02 to the skims reactor and maintains a 6.7 ph. and the effluent drips into the refugium via pressure from the skims recirculating pump. no effluent pump required but I have the second pump if I decide to go this route. The reason at this point is that the stepper motors for the continuous dosing pumps are noisy, almost intolerable depending on the speed they are run at. changing the speed changes the frequency of the noise they emit. I have tried a few things to no avail including putting the pumps in a project box and mounting underneath the tank with the hopes the sound of the sump would drown it out. I have it at a manageable level but if anyone has any ideas how to silence a stepper motor please let me know. I think it has more to do with the driving circuit than anything, but for now, unless I try and build one I am stuck with the control board that came with the pump. because it has the 0-10V input we need to be able to control it with the apex.

Here are some pictures.
I have considered making a separate DIY thread to build this pump but just haven't had the time. if I do I will put a link here.

Not shown here is the 24V power supply, with standards 5.5 barrel connector that plugs into the back to power the pump. And the network cable that connects to the apex. pretty clean and simple when all said and done. so for any out there with a regular calcium reactor setup, this would replace the Kamoer continuos pumps for effluent dosing but with the ability to control remotely. and you can also use it to supply CO2 as I do and program it to maintain a stable ph in your calcium reactor and alert you when CO2 runs out.

McDam · May 6, 2019

And here is a quick update of the frags for progress sake.

I moved the pink Cadillac back further now making it harder to get a picture of. but you can see both in the bottom pic. Pink cady is nestled in the middle of the bonsai .

McDam · Feb 4, 2020

Time for an update.
The calcium reactor is running great. I have built a new pump, all-metal, with waterproof connections.

The pump is dynamically controlling pH in the reactor maintaining a pretty rock solid 6.7 +/- 0.02 pH. The ph control code varies the bubble rate (pump speed) to maintain a steady ph without the effect of daily ph swings you would see with just a constant bubble rate.

The effluent flow is on a 24-hour schedule that peaks and valleys with the daily ph swings. What I have observed is that the rate of alk consumption is proportional to the system ph. As ph transitions from its nighttime low to the daily high, the alk consumption is the highest. and at night alk consumption is very minimal when ph is lowest. This effluent flow schedule maintains a consistent alk throughout the day and matches the effluent flow with alk consumption.

Now if I could just control nutrients :S

kyleinpdx · Feb 4, 2020

This is impressive. nice work!

McDam · Aug 20, 2020

kyleinpdx said:
This is impressive. nice work!

Thank you, much appreciated.

Macca_75 · Oct 1, 2020

Impressive @McDam - did you ever do the full DIY build for these dosing pumps? Do you mind if I asked what brand pumps they are?

As for nutrients couldn't you run a Sulphur reactor - set it up with a ORP probe (to ensure you don't nuke it) and use a variable dosing pump to keep the nitrate levels where you want them?

McDam · Oct 2, 2020

Macca_75 said:
Impressive @McDam - did you ever do the full DIY build for these dosing pumps? Do you mind if I asked what brand pumps they are?

As for nutrients couldn't you run a Sulphur reactor - set it up with an ORP probe (to ensure you don't nuke it) and use a variable dosing pump to keep the nitrate levels where you want them?

Hi There Thanks for the kind words, been a while since I visited this thread, I think we are due for an update. Here's a little video.

The pumps were originally purchased from the manufacturer through Alibaba.

Ditrontech High-precision Liquid Dosing Pump Dc12v Or Dc24v Small Peristaltic Pump Flow 500ml/min - Buy Liquid Dosing Pump 12 Volt,Micro Dosing Pump,Chemical Dosing Pump Product on Alibaba.com

www.alibaba.com

They already come with a 0-10V driver that can simply be connected to the 0-10V port of the APEX. One cable to control two pumps. I did work with the manufacturer to build a complete unit but it turned out too costly for resale plus there where similar pumps such as the versa coming onto the market for way cheaper. But needless to say, this pump is still far more versatile than the Versa.

Yes, I am sure you could use these pumps for control of a sulphur reactor or anything you want as long as it can be measured. I am not sure ORP would achieve that for you as it measures dissolved organics and not nitrates and phosphates. However, that being said there may be a correlation there that I am unaware of. I don't have any experience with ORP or sulphur reactors.

Macca_75 · Oct 4, 2020

McDam said:
Yes, I am sure you could use these pumps for control of a sulphur reactor or anything you want as long as it can be measured. I am not sure ORP would achieve that for you as it measures dissolved organics and not nitrates and phosphates. However, that being said there may be a correlation there that I am unaware of. I don't have any experience with ORP or sulphur reactors.

Stunning reef you have there - I think I got a bit ahead of myself. The ORP for a sulphur reactor is around measuring if the reactor is working (it needs somewhere between -150mV and -180mV). With something like a GHL ION Director (when/if it is released) you could measure Nitrates automatically AND control the throughput through the reactor using your Dosing pumps (with a saftey rule that if the ORP is above -150mV slow the flow, don't speed it up)

Anyway great tank and love a good DIY

McDam · Oct 4, 2020

Macca_75 said:
Stunning reef you have there - I think I got a bit ahead of myself. The ORP for a sulphur reactor is around measuring if the reactor is working (it needs somewhere between -150mV and -180mV). With something like a GHL ION Director (when/if it is released) you could measure Nitrates automatically AND control the throughput through the reactor using your Dosing pumps (with a saftey rule that if the ORP is above -150mV slow the flow, don't speed it up)

Anyway great tank and love a good DIY

Thanks again and yes that would be an interesting use for it. The future of reefing is controllability. The control we have over timers and such is all so basic and we have readings and measurements for all sorts of stuff nowadays, so why not use that feedback to control things dynamically. It's a tuff concept to get across but I think once the benefits are realized it will take off.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...?spm=a2700.details.deiletai6.2.29993755NH9Ax0

Here is a single-use pump they sell as well. It has a manual dial but could also be wired up to accept the 0-10V control signal. already in a case. The price is alright.

Macca_75 · Oct 4, 2020

McDam said:
Thanks again and yes that would be an interesting use for it. The future of reefing is controllability. The control we have over timers and such is all so basic and we have readings and measurements for all sorts of stuff nowadays, so why not use that feedback to control things dynamically. It's a tuff concept to get across but I think once the benefits are realized it will take off.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...?spm=a2700.details.deiletai6.2.29993755NH9Ax0

Here is a single-use pump they sell as well. It has a manual dial but could also be wired up to accept the 0-10V control signal. already in a case. The price is alright.

If you look into Profilux and KH Director (I quote them as I use GHL) and it certainly can adaptoviley adjust dosing based on a test and a target. I'm sure the Apex system can do the same with the Trident. GHL are about to release ION Director which can also measure (and dynamically adjust to) Ca, Mg, K, Na, NO3 and the KH Director does Alk.

Reefing has never been easier.