cant get calcium reactor below 7.5

walkerbrody · 08/24/2010, 03:49 PM

I set up my calcium reactor two days ago. My ph probe in the chamber reads 7.5. There is a fairly large undesolved co2 bubble at the top. I have the co2 set arround 20 bpm the effluent is running arround 40 ml/min. I was wondering if it is a time issue or if there might be some other reason my ph isnt approaching the 6.5 nessessary for the media.

Greg 45 · 08/24/2010, 04:16 PM

lower the effluent to .05
monitor tank dkh

jjstecchino · 08/24/2010, 06:58 PM

Also make sure your ph probe is calibrated

walkerbrody · 08/24/2010, 08:16 PM

its a new probe, but cheap... I lowered my effeluent rate and the ph is dropping. I have another possibility what do you guys think... The reactor media they sent is the wrong type but I used it anyway. The media is too fine. I was wondering if the fine media would slow down the recirculation rate making it more difficult for the co2 to desolve and cause higher ph levels.

phuzzykins · 08/24/2010, 08:35 PM

Two likely causes...

#1) Your pH probe isn't calibrated properly. Did you calibrate it with pH 4 and 7 reference solutions? If not, how did you calibrate it?

#2) The circulation pump has drawn so much co2 into it that it's air locked, and unable to circulate any water. If you have a large volume of undissolved co2 in your reactor, that's a very bad thing.

Finer media would probably just fluidize. How large is your media, and what type of reactor is it?

walkerbrody · 08/24/2010, 09:08 PM

the media is arm course... I ordered the origional arm but got the course. I think it is too fine and is slowing down the water. I didnt concider an air lock, Ill check on it now. My reactor is a small but well built 2 chamber reactor with a panworld 4opx pump

phuzzykins · 08/24/2010, 09:15 PM

You seem to be avoiding the question of calibration.

steelhead77 · 08/25/2010, 12:11 AM

IMO 20 BPM is too slow. Mine is running about 60 BPM and ph is a constant 7.0. The effluent runs into a cup hanging in my refugium and is running at a "broken river" rate. The ph probe is in the cup. This way I can put the probe into my sump anytime I want and check the ph of the tank. I've gone thru about 50% of the media in 8 months at this rate. My ph is rock steady at 8.3 my cal is a steady 460 and my alk is 11-12.

You may need to burp the reactor to get the CO2 bubble out. First just try shaking it to see if the bubble will exit one of the effluent lines.

walkerbrody · 08/25/2010, 04:34 AM

I calibrated the ph probes when I started the reactor Sunday. That shouldnt be a problem.

bnumair · 08/25/2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkerbrody

its a new probe, but cheap....

that doesnt mean its right on dot. u need to calibrate it with the solutions it came with.

JeF4y · 08/25/2010, 11:46 AM

if the probe is calibrated, 20 BPM is pretty low IMHO. I run about 40bpm and run at 6.8pH with 50ml effluent/min.

Your pH WILL lower. It's a matter of matching the BPM and the effluent drip. Increase the BPM and it will lower. Decrease the effluent and it will lower...

One thing to really keep in mind is that a CA reactor can take a couple of weeks to get set up right. The changes are VERY small and take a day to settle in.

BTW, from my experience (yours may vary), the ARM course media dissolves just fine between 6.8 -7.1... below 6.8 I was spiking the heck out of my Alk.

nivenethan · 08/25/2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeF4y

if the probe is calibrated, 20 BPM is pretty low IMHO. I run about 40bpm and run at 6.8pH with 50ml effluent/min.

Your pH WILL lower. It's a matter of matching the BPM and the effluent drip. Increase the BPM and it will lower. Decrease the effluent and it will lower...

One thing to really keep in mind is that a CA reactor can take a couple of weeks to get set up right. The changes are VERY small and take a day to settle in.

BTW, from my experience (yours may vary), the ARM course media dissolves just fine between 6.8 -7.1... below 6.8 I was spiking the heck out of my Alk.

Agree....my settings are very similar.

Greg 45 · 08/25/2010, 01:14 PM

do a search by Jose Dieck
He has a sight on how to set up calcium reactor
very detailed inst.

walkerbrody · 08/25/2010, 03:37 PM

I decreased my effluent rate to 20ml/min as sugested and my ph dropped to 6.7. Im wondering if the small media is restricting the flow through the media area. the water enters the first chamber at the top and exits there also into the second chamber.

08/24/2010, 06:58 PM	#3
jjstecchino Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 409	Also make sure your ph probe is calibrated __________________ Claudio Click on my username and 'Visit jjstecchino's homepage!" to view my 180 gallon reef build thread. Current Tank Info: 180 Gallon Reef in Infancy

08/24/2010, 08:16 PM	#4
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	its a new probe, but cheap... I lowered my effeluent rate and the ph is dropping. I have another possibility what do you guys think... The reactor media they sent is the wrong type but I used it anyway. The media is too fine. I was wondering if the fine media would slow down the recirculation rate making it more difficult for the co2 to desolve and cause higher ph levels. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

08/24/2010, 09:08 PM	#6
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	the media is arm course... I ordered the origional arm but got the course. I think it is too fine and is slowing down the water. I didnt concider an air lock, Ill check on it now. My reactor is a small but well built 2 chamber reactor with a panworld 4opx pump __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

08/25/2010, 12:11 AM	#8
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	IMO 20 BPM is too slow. Mine is running about 60 BPM and ph is a constant 7.0. The effluent runs into a cup hanging in my refugium and is running at a "broken river" rate. The ph probe is in the cup. This way I can put the probe into my sump anytime I want and check the ph of the tank. I've gone thru about 50% of the media in 8 months at this rate. My ph is rock steady at 8.3 my cal is a steady 460 and my alk is 11-12. You may need to burp the reactor to get the CO2 bubble out. First just try shaking it to see if the bubble will exit one of the effluent lines. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's

08/25/2010, 04:34 AM	#9
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	I calibrated the ph probes when I started the reactor Sunday. That shouldnt be a problem. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

08/24/2010, 03:49 PM	#1
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	cant get calcium reactor below 7.5 I set up my calcium reactor two days ago. My ph probe in the chamber reads 7.5. There is a fairly large undesolved co2 bubble at the top. I have the co2 set arround 20 bpm the effluent is running arround 40 ml/min. I was wondering if it is a time issue or if there might be some other reason my ph isnt approaching the 6.5 nessessary for the media. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

08/24/2010, 04:16 PM	#2
Greg 45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bayonne,N.J. Posts: 1,159	lower the effluent to .05 monitor tank dkh

08/24/2010, 08:35 PM	#5
phuzzykins Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 685	Two likely causes... #1) Your pH probe isn't calibrated properly. Did you calibrate it with pH 4 and 7 reference solutions? If not, how did you calibrate it? #2) The circulation pump has drawn so much co2 into it that it's air locked, and unable to circulate any water. If you have a large volume of undissolved co2 in your reactor, that's a very bad thing. Finer media would probably just fluidize. How large is your media, and what type of reactor is it?

08/24/2010, 09:15 PM	#7
phuzzykins Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 685	You seem to be avoiding the question of calibration.

08/25/2010, 11:46 AM	#11
JeF4y El Conquistidor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,057	if the probe is calibrated, 20 BPM is pretty low IMHO. I run about 40bpm and run at 6.8pH with 50ml effluent/min. Your pH WILL lower. It's a matter of matching the BPM and the effluent drip. Increase the BPM and it will lower. Decrease the effluent and it will lower... One thing to really keep in mind is that a CA reactor can take a couple of weeks to get set up right. The changes are VERY small and take a day to settle in. BTW, from my experience (yours may vary), the ARM course media dissolves just fine between 6.8 -7.1... below 6.8 I was spiking the heck out of my Alk. __________________ I've made a small fortune in Reefing! I just started out with a large fortune and the rest came easily. Want a Cleaner Wrasse? Consider a shower! ;-) Current Tank Info: 60 Cube!

08/25/2010, 01:14 PM	#13
Greg 45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bayonne,N.J. Posts: 1,159	do a search by Jose Dieck He has a sight on how to set up calcium reactor very detailed inst.

08/25/2010, 03:37 PM	#14
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	I decreased my effluent rate to 20ml/min as sugested and my ph dropped to 6.7. Im wondering if the small media is restricting the flow through the media area. the water enters the first chamber at the top and exits there also into the second chamber. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

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