Need help dialing in calcium reactor

dfm34 · 02/27/2017, 07:54 PM

Three days a go I hooked up an MTC pro calcium reactor. Over that time alk has risen from 7.3 on Saturday am to 9.3 tonight. Yesterday when I hit 8.3 my desired level I lowered the output flow to the sump but tonight when I tested it was at 9.3. So I lowered the CO2 bible count from approx 2 every second to about one ever second.

Is there anything else I should do? I don't want to see my alk keep rising. Thanks in advance.

Dan

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125mph · 02/27/2017, 08:21 PM

Are you slowing effluency? Should only dial that down, don't mess with the bubbles if you have that at a constant rate. When the ph in the chamber is below about 6.5 or so, turn off bubbles with the solenoid.

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dfm34 · 02/27/2017, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 125mph

Are you slowing effluency? Should only dial that down, don't mess with the bubbles if you have that at a constant rate. When the ph in the chamber is below about 6.5 or so, turn off bubbles with the solenoid.

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Thanks yes I slowed the effluent. I used the wrong term and said I lowered the the output flow to the sump but meant I lowered the effluent rate. The MTC pro does not have a ph probe in the chamber so I will have to check it from the effluent and can't control the CO2 solenoid from an apex or ph controller.

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ca1ore · 02/27/2017, 09:48 PM

With that unit, it's a process of trial and error to get to the right levels. You should slow both the CO2 bubble rate and effluent flow and re-measure. then adjust again as necessary, either up or down but do both at the same time. It's a good idea eventually to put a pH probe in.

I have modified mine quite a bit in the last couple of years.

dfm34 · 02/28/2017, 11:48 AM

Interesting modification of you could pm me with the pieces for that modification I would be very interested in adding a probe.

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Vinny Kreyling · 02/28/2017, 05:45 PM

Dan,
Leave the bubble @ 1/ sec.
If the alk still rises increase the flow.
Getting the alk steady is the main protocol, then dose calcium to where you want it & the reactor will hold it there.

Bpb · 02/28/2017, 05:50 PM

Something that is counter intuitive to calcium reactors is that if the bubble rate is kept the same, slight reductions in effluent will INCREASE the amount your supplementing. This is because the co2 in the reactor chamber has more contact time and dissolves more media, which gives you a more concentrated effluent. Slight increases in effluent will REDUCE what you're supplementing. Less contact time. Higher ph, weaker effluent. This of course isn't a linear relationship and ultimately if you reduce it to next to nothing, the ph will bottom pit and shut off the solenoid

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Bpb · 02/28/2017, 05:54 PM

Didn't complete my thought. You can alter your effluent strength two ways obviously, by its rate and by bubble count. I'd recommend against messing with both. When dialing in my calcium reactor I started with a fairly slow bubble rate, and fast effluent. Kept the bubble rate stable and used the master flex to reduce the effluent little by little until alk stopped dropping, then I dosed 2 part to bring my levels where I wanted them. As I've removed and added corals, as I test I'll just speed up or slow down the effluent if tests indicate my alk is drifting g

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dfm34 · 02/28/2017, 07:44 PM

Well I tested tonight and it was 9.3 again so I am not touching anything tonight I will re test tomorrow but Bpb you raise an interesting point I did have to read it twice which is no reflection on you or how you wrote the post but more of my ignorance of the topic. Thanks

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ca1ore · 02/28/2017, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bpb

Something that is counter intuitive to calcium reactors is that if the bubble rate is kept the same, slight reductions in effluent will INCREASE the amount your supplementing.

Not if you're controlling CO2 with a pH meter and solenoid though.

02/27/2017, 07:54 PM	#1
dfm34 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spotswood, New Jersey Posts: 588	Need help dialing in calcium reactor Three days a go I hooked up an MTC pro calcium reactor. Over that time alk has risen from 7.3 on Saturday am to 9.3 tonight. Yesterday when I hit 8.3 my desired level I lowered the output flow to the sump but tonight when I tested it was at 9.3. So I lowered the CO2 bible count from approx 2 every second to about one ever second. Is there anything else I should do? I don't want to see my alk keep rising. Thanks in advance. Dan Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 180 gal DT with 75 gal sump/fuge,10 gal cryptic zone, 3x400w MH with 4x80w T5. life reef vs3 30" skimmer

02/27/2017, 08:21 PM	#2
125mph Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,405	Need help dialing in calcium reactor Are you slowing effluency? Should only dial that down, don't mess with the bubbles if you have that at a constant rate. When the ph in the chamber is below about 6.5 or so, turn off bubbles with the solenoid. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 180G Rimless Starphire 72x24x24 (Miracles) 3 x Ecotech XR15w G4 Pro \| T5 x 4 \| 2 x Mp40wQD GEO 612 Cal Reactor \| Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| Chaeto Reactor Synergy Reef CL44 Sump \| Neptune Apex

02/27/2017, 09:48 PM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	With that unit, it's a process of trial and error to get to the right levels. You should slow both the CO2 bubble rate and effluent flow and re-measure. then adjust again as necessary, either up or down but do both at the same time. It's a good idea eventually to put a pH probe in. I have modified mine quite a bit in the last couple of years. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs Last edited by ca1ore; 02/27/2017 at 10:00 PM.

02/28/2017, 11:48 AM	#5
dfm34 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spotswood, New Jersey Posts: 588	Interesting modification of you could pm me with the pieces for that modification I would be very interested in adding a probe. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 180 gal DT with 75 gal sump/fuge,10 gal cryptic zone, 3x400w MH with 4x80w T5. life reef vs3 30" skimmer

02/28/2017, 05:45 PM	#6
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Dan, Leave the bubble @ 1/ sec. If the alk still rises increase the flow. Getting the alk steady is the main protocol, then dose calcium to where you want it & the reactor will hold it there. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

02/28/2017, 05:50 PM	#7
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Something that is counter intuitive to calcium reactors is that if the bubble rate is kept the same, slight reductions in effluent will INCREASE the amount your supplementing. This is because the co2 in the reactor chamber has more contact time and dissolves more media, which gives you a more concentrated effluent. Slight increases in effluent will REDUCE what you're supplementing. Less contact time. Higher ph, weaker effluent. This of course isn't a linear relationship and ultimately if you reduce it to next to nothing, the ph will bottom pit and shut off the solenoid Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/28/2017, 05:54 PM	#8
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Didn't complete my thought. You can alter your effluent strength two ways obviously, by its rate and by bubble count. I'd recommend against messing with both. When dialing in my calcium reactor I started with a fairly slow bubble rate, and fast effluent. Kept the bubble rate stable and used the master flex to reduce the effluent little by little until alk stopped dropping, then I dosed 2 part to bring my levels where I wanted them. As I've removed and added corals, as I test I'll just speed up or slow down the effluent if tests indicate my alk is drifting g Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/28/2017, 07:44 PM	#9
dfm34 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spotswood, New Jersey Posts: 588	Need help dialing in calcium reactor Well I tested tonight and it was 9.3 again so I am not touching anything tonight I will re test tomorrow but Bpb you raise an interesting point I did have to read it twice which is no reflection on you or how you wrote the post but more of my ignorance of the topic. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 180 gal DT with 75 gal sump/fuge,10 gal cryptic zone, 3x400w MH with 4x80w T5. life reef vs3 30" skimmer