Why wont my Calcium reactor work correctly ? HELP PLEASE

[Water Dog]

The OP’s CaRx looks like a CR612, not a CR618. If it was the 618, it’d be taller than the SMC415 secondary chamber. Really doesn’t matter though, as others have said, increase the effluent rate.

 

[MabuyaQ]

That reactor looks properly filled to me. On the older models, there is a line on the reactor that shows how much to fill, at about 2/3, which is what it looks like he has in there now.

I don't care for what fill line there might be. Every Ca-reactor is based on retention time of the acidic water used to dissolve the media. The higher the retention time of the water the longer the acidic water is in contact with the media so it can disolve and the less fluctuation you have. How do you create retention time, virtually by using a circulation pump (flowrate of pump/volume of water in reactor chamber equals the same inrease in reactor size.) So more media than water is less virtual retention time as there is less water recirculating (also why small grained media is a no go because the extra pressure this creates reduces flowrate of the pump). And real retention time by having more water in the reaction chamber. 1/3 of the reactor filled with media is plenty, and once it doesn't and lowerin pH isn't an option/possibility you need a bigger reactor.

 

[foxt]

I don't care for what fill line there might be. Every Ca-reactor is based on retention time of the acidic water used to dissolve the media. The higher the retention time of the water the longer the acidic water is in contact with the media so it can disolve and the less fluctuation you have. How do you create retention time, virtually by using a circulation pump (flowrate of pump/volume of water in reactor chamber equals the same inrease in reactor size.) So more media than water is less virtual retention time as there is less water recirculating (also why small grained media is a no go because the extra pressure this creates reduces flowrate of the pump). And real retention time by having more water in the reaction chamber. 1/3 of the reactor filled with media is plenty, and once it doesn't and lowerin pH isn't an option/possibility you need a bigger reactor.

GEO is pretty clear in the manual - fill to the line, about 2/3. It is also where I successfully run mine. HeBut, to each his own.

The OP is getting effluent of at least 25dKH, which should be plenty. Seems like the issue he has with maintaining the alk in his tank is that he is drip-drip-dripping the effluent into the DT, and he needs to increase the effluent rate. When he does that, if he is unable to keep a low enough pH in the reactor with increase CO2 rate, then maybe he can look at increasing the water/media ratio. But seems like he should try adjusting his effluent flow first.

 

[minus9]

Agreed, it's the 612 and the older version as well. As mentioned, increase feed rate of your effluent to a steady stream and go from there.

 

[C. Eymann]

There is a popular reference formula to be a starting point to reach desired KH of the effluent.

KH × Effluent drip rate = CO2 bubble rate.

That's where I have always started off when tuning a reactor, generally takes about 3-4 days to fine tune the reactor to keep the aquariums alk stable. Important to also note its better to tune a reactor primarly using effluent rate, ph, bubble count in balance rather than having it run off the CO2 solenoid/ph controller-you should rarely ever hear the solenoid snap on and off


OP
Considering your previous experience with reactors I'm suprised you are having trouble increasing effluent Dhk, have you made sure the internal circulation pump is running free of obstructions?

 

[foxt]

Let's try it this way:

I can not keep my ALK stable . The reactor will not keep up with demand and I have no idea why .

Because you aren't adding enough alk to offset the consumption rate of your tank.

Ive resorted to dosing 7ml a day of BRS soda ash in conjunction with the reactor to keep my ALK stable .

If alk is stable, then you know the consumption rate of your tank. I don't recall how 7ml of soda ash translates to alk, but you can look it up.

Once you have the alk consumption rate, you just need to calculate what the effluent rate at 26dKH needs to be to maintain your alk. This calculator can help you with that: http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html

It might also just directly translate your soda ash dose rate to your effluent rate, but I didn't look closely to see if soda ash is one of their input choices.

 

[gilman]

I have adjusted the effluent drip to a beaded stream . Im running 6.5-6.4 so I might bring it back up . Ill adjust the media level this weekend if it doesn't straighten out since I have it like 1.5” down from the top since changing out the media .

Thank you everyone for your help .

It is definitely a 612 you guys are right .

 

[d2mini]

Media level for that reactor is fine. Same one I was running. If i got down to only 1/3 filled I'd know it was time to fill it back up!

 

[MabuyaQ]

Took some time to find it, but any Ca reactor works most efficient at a set pH with a retention time of around 5 hours (at the 5 hour mark there will be a 600-650 ppm of Ca and 80-ish KH). So most efficient maximum effluent is watervolume divided by 5. Overfilling significantly reduces retention time and maximum effluent.

 

[gilman]

So today effluent is 15.6 dkh coming out of the reactor with a stream and the ph control set to 6.5 on - 6.4 off . My tank didnt however drop dkh today .

 

[foxt]

Seems like you may be there then. If you are stable, you know that you need to supply effluent at 15.6dKH at whatever flow rate your effluent is at now (I would measure it) and with the reactor pH held at 6.4-6.5.

Do you have any idea about how often your pH controller shuts down your CO2 flow? If it is not constantly on, you may be able to cut back on your bubble rate at this point. Or maybe not

 

[gilman]

Seems like you may be there then. If you are stable, you know that you need to supply effluent at 15.6dKH at whatever flow rate your effluent is at now (I would measure it) and with the reactor pH held at 6.4-6.5.

Do you have any idea about how often your pH controller shuts down your CO2 flow? If it is not constantly on, you may be able to cut back on your bubble rate at this point. Or maybe

Seems like you may be there then. If you are stable, you know that you need to supply effluent at 15.6dKH at whatever flow rate your effluent is at now (I would measure it) and with the reactor pH held at 6.4-6.5.

Do you have any idea about how often your pH controller shuts down your CO2 flow? If it is not constantly on, you may be able to cut back on your bubble rate at this point. Or maybe not

Hopefully the tank dkh goes up tomorrow then because Im still dosing 5ml of soda ash a night . I dont think Im quite there yet .

 

[C. Eymann]

Doesn't add up, reactor pH is ~6.5, effluent is at a steady stream reading 15.6 dkh? bubble count must be awfully high to maintain that.

To me this looks like there is a problem with recirculation inside the reactor, I agree with ca1or that the amount of media isnt a problem.

OP are you absolutely sure the recirculation pump is primed? running? unobstructed?

Because your measurements and effluent rate point me in the direction that the water in the reactor is not being repeatedly passed through the media/being more saturated with dissolved CaCO3

 

[gilman]

Doesn't add up, reactor pH is ~6.5, effluent is at a steady stream reading 15.6 dkh? bubble count must be awfully high to maintain that.

To me this looks like there is a problem with recirculation inside the reactor, I agree with ca1or that the amount of media isnt a problem.

OP are you absolutely sure the recirculation pump is primed? running? unobstructed?

Because your measurements and effluent rate point me in the direction that the water in the reactor is not being repeatedly passed through the media/being more saturated with dissolved CaCO3

I dont know I have to pull it apart to check . The pump is definitely moving water but maybe not like it should . Im going to break it down this weekend and go through it all .

 

[foxt]

Before you do that, measure the flow rate of your effluent. "steady stream" could mean lots of things.

 

[foxt]

Doesn't add up, reactor pH is ~6.5, effluent is at a steady stream reading 15.6 dkh? bubble count must be awfully high to maintain that.

To me this looks like there is a problem with recirculation inside the reactor, I agree with ca1or that the amount of media isnt a problem.

OP are you absolutely sure the recirculation pump is primed? running? unobstructed?

Because your measurements and effluent rate point me in the direction that the water in the reactor is not being repeatedly passed through the media/being more saturated with dissolved CaCO3

He also has a reactor that he said was almost full of media. That's probably contributing to the situation.

 

[jda]

If you want to learn a more reliable and efficient method of using a CaRx, I can help you with this. It will NOT involve a pH probe or controller with a co2 dumping method. It does require that you learn a few things, but it is not hard - when you are done, you won't even need a second chamber, your co2 will last longer and your output will be more consistent.

This is basically the normal old method of using a CaRx and it is superior to the method in that video (which I hate) or what some people recommend, but it is not for everybody. I have helped a lot of people with this who went down the pH controller path and got sideways only to be happy now. Let me know. If you do not, then I will not bother you anymore.

 

[gilman]

Before you do that, measure the flow rate of your effluent. "steady stream" could mean lots of things.

Best way to do that ?

 

[foxt]

Do you have anything that you can use to measure milliliters of liquid, like a graduated cylinder, 100ml bottle, anything of known volume, even a measuring cup? Works out best if you can do it in ml. Put your effluent tube in there, and measure how long it takes to fill up to a specific volume, like 10ml, or 50ml (we don't know what rate you have now, so you may have to try a couple of times to get a consistent measurement).. Then convert to ml/min, and we can go from there.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Great reading- Now im really confused. Received a damaged unit and ordered a new Vertex. I have tank and regulator and just need to add media. Not sure the lines are in the right places. Once verified, I am adding reborn and crushed coral. No clue what i'm doing but praying