Calcium Reactor question

[Ewan]

Originally posted by ReefWorld03
Not sure about the opening the window thing, but I have two ph meters and calibrated them monthly, two different brands, actually it was done as recently has last weekend.

Just thought I'd mention it. I'd be a shame to go through the hassle with a meter at fault.

Here's an article that mentions the fresh air factor:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
It's a necessary read in this situation. I'd be surprised if you haven't read it already.

Well insulated homes tend to accumulate CO2. This will drive your system pH down. Opening a window slightly will generally show an improvement within 30 minutes (IME, tank size considered) if the problem is in fact excessive CO2.

As a matter of fact, over the years I've developed the ability to guess the effect on my pH as a result of several guests, smokers, etc. over the course of an evening. My wife smokes constantly, and having the windows closed gives a consistant, reproducable result. I quit smoking for the sake of my reef tanks. Seriously. When my mother-in-law comes for a visit, I make sure to have lots of kalk on hand. Between my wife and her mother, they both make each smoke constantly. The result is a nice low pH.

No regard for my livestock.

-E.

[drock59]

"I quit smoking for the sake of my reef tanks. Seriously."

Giving up one addiction for another.

[Mogrash]

Yes, the reason I mentioned to aerate water with an airstone then check the pH is because of the closed house high CO2 in the air syndrome. However, based on his pH when the reactor is not running I would think that may not be the problem, nor his pH meter.

Really your reactor is not dialed in properly/not functioning properly. There is no reason to have a pH of 7.5 with the reactor on unless it isn't being setup properly given your parameters with the reactor off. A pH of 7.8 on the low maybe, ideally at least 8.0. Still lower than the recommended 8.2-8.4 range but doable. Stable levels of cal/alk as long as the pH isn't too low is fine. 7.5 though is still too low. I would suggest you try adjusting the pH based on Randy Holmes method of calcuation so that at least you are working with true numbers rather than just adjusting this and that and hoping it works.

Not that the adjustments that others have suggested wont work, because they do..but I look at it from an empiricle point of view because in the end you understand why something worked.

Can you measure the pH and alk coming out of the reactor? How many bubbles/min of CO2 are you doing? What is the rate of flow? Answers to these questions will help others with a similar reactor to chime in and troubleshoot....

Stupid question...but where is your pH meter for your tank located? Is it near or close/downstream of your effluent? If so what is the pH in your main tank?

[ReefWorld03]

Mogrash,

I will be trying the air stone this weekend. Yes I can measure the PH and alk coming from the reactor which I will do first thing tonight after work. 1 bubble every 3 seconds and 50ml every minute of flow from the reactor. I have one ph probe in the tube which the flow of the reactor is dripping into located in the return pump chamber of my sump which is no where the tank probe. The tank PH probe in the the sump area where the water returns to the sump from the tank.