Setup new ca reactor

[mikenam]

So I Just got done setting up a Ca reactor. The water inside the reactor is set to 6.4 ph. When I turned on the feed pump my whole tank dropped to 7.78 ph from 8.3 in a matter of seconds. What am I doing wrong?

I have a schuran pico reactor I'm using arm schuran type media. Connected AP regulator to ac jr to control ph.

[golfish]

Originally Posted by mikenam

So I Just got done setting up a Ca reactor. The water inside the reactor is set to 6.4 ph. When I turned on the feed pump my whole tank dropped to 7.78 ph from 8.3 in a matter of seconds. What am I doing wrong?

I have a schuran pico reactor I'm using arm schuran type media. Connected AP regulator to ac jr to control ph.

Mike, can you provide some more info on tank size, sump and such. I'm guessing your using a pH probe inside the reactor as well as the tank? If so where is the tanks pH probe? Can you swap em to double check em?

I wouldn't worry too much about the tanks pH for now. Go slow and keep an eye on the Ca and Alk levels. I always drip from the reactor in to a tall glass, taller then sump level so I can measure the pH coming out of the reactor. That's the main thing for me. I've never used anything other then one meter\probe. It goes from the tall beer glass to the tank when needed.

Go slow man.....

[mrsmithers]

i cant really see a tank dropping its ph in seconds, because you should have a slow flow coming out of the reactor... How did you measure the tanks ph? if you did a probe, did the water have a chance to circulate before you measured it with a probe?

[dahenley]

also, where does the effluent go after your CA reactor? do you run a second chamber to buffer the water for excess co2? a lot of people run their effluent line in a refugium and it will aid in the growth of your macro, or you could run it to a high flow area or even through your skimmer to help with excess co2.

just some outside opinions.

[mikenam]

thanks for the reply.

its a 90 gallon tank with a 15 gallon sump. I believe it is 65-75 total water.

i have a ph probe measuring inside the reactor. the reactor flows out to the sump (middle section refugium, which is the same location as the ph probe measuring the tank).

at first i open the feed pump all the way and the PH just dropped. I got worried and closed it to a drip. my ph was 7.5 so i tried to higher the ph with kalk. It worked but then ph dropped back down to 7.8. i didn't want to kill anything so i turned off the whole CA system and did a 15 gallon water change.

reading the replys i believe that

my PH probe might be bad. (ive had it for a little over a year now and havn't calibrated since. i will go and pick up a ph test kit tomorrow to verify.

my tank probe is next the the reactor exit so its reading low ph

[dahenley]

i have a ph probe measuring inside the reactor. the reactor flows out to the sump (middle section refugium, which is the same location as the ph probe measuring the tank).

i would put the tank ph probe in the first section of your sump. this way it gets pure tank readings and wont be diluted by the reactor water.

give that a try and let us know how it works

also, a recalibration wont hurt it!!!

[mikenam]

So I put the ph probe in the first section of the sump now the tank reads 8.23 . I drained the water from the reactor since the ph was stuck at 6.5 . The co2 valve is closed shut but the minijet feed pump and the recirculating pump ate both turned on. The ph probe in the reactor now reads 8.0. Right when I turned on the feed pump the sump ph probe dropped to around 8.13.

When I figure this reactor I will open the CO2 valve.

[dahenley]

that could be from dumping the low ph water in the d\isplay and it will reduce the ph all the way around. its like adding a cup of hot water to a gallon of cold. the hot will raise the gal of waters temperature a little, but not much due to the volume difference. after you keep the sump running with the main tank, and the reactor running with no co2, eventually they will read the same.