Calcium Reactor / Solenoid problems

SPStoner · 10/01/2007, 05:51 AM

Ok, this one has me stumped. I am now on my 3rd solenoid, 2nd controller, and second regulator and the same problem is still occuring. Here's the issue. My solenoid gets stuck in the off position. This usually happens two or three times a day. I'll come downstairs and the pH of myy reactor effluent has risen to over 7.2. If I unplug the solenoid from the controller and plug it back in, it works again.

Here's what I am working with:

Schuran Jetstream 2 reactor

AquaMedic pH controller w/ Pinpoint probe
(also tried brand new American marine controller- same problem so switched back to AquaMedic)

Solenoid / Regulator combo from Azoo ( from DFS)
Also tried a replacement unit same make- no help. Also used a AquaMedic regulator w/ seperate solenoid and this also did not help.

What would cause this? Has anyone experieneced this?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

jdieck · 10/01/2007, 05:56 AM

Two ideas:
a) Low voltage reaching the solenoid
b) Solenoid installed backwards, It has an in and out side

SPStoner · 10/02/2007, 05:25 AM

Thanks. i tried switching the solenoid to a different circuit in my fish room, and so far so good. Hopefully, that was it.

Thanks for your help!

Tony

jdieck · 10/02/2007, 05:31 AM

Forgot to add that sometimes maintaining too low or too high a pressure from the regulator may also cause this.
Try setting the regulator between 15 and 25 psi.

Also to reduce wear on the solenoid and controller try adjustig your bubblerate so the solenoid do not need to open and close constantly. Set the bubblerate so the PH in the reactor is constant without the controller or at least so the PH drops very very slowly so the solenoid only have to switch every hour or two.

10/01/2007, 05:51 AM	#1
SPStoner Team RC Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA, but born and raised in Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,996	Calcium Reactor / Solenoid problems Ok, this one has me stumped. I am now on my 3rd solenoid, 2nd controller, and second regulator and the same problem is still occuring. Here's the issue. My solenoid gets stuck in the off position. This usually happens two or three times a day. I'll come downstairs and the pH of myy reactor effluent has risen to over 7.2. If I unplug the solenoid from the controller and plug it back in, it works again. Here's what I am working with: Schuran Jetstream 2 reactor AquaMedic pH controller w/ Pinpoint probe (also tried brand new American marine controller- same problem so switched back to AquaMedic) Solenoid / Regulator combo from Azoo ( from DFS) Also tried a replacement unit same make- no help. Also used a AquaMedic regulator w/ seperate solenoid and this also did not help. What would cause this? Has anyone experieneced this? Any ideas would be appreciated. __________________ "Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra Going on 31 years in this crazy hobby. Current Tank Info: 70 Marineland cube, 34 gallon Red Sea Max, 6 gallon Nano

10/01/2007, 05:56 AM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Two ideas: a) Low voltage reaching the solenoid b) Solenoid installed backwards, It has an in and out side __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

10/02/2007, 05:25 AM	#3
SPStoner Team RC Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA, but born and raised in Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,996	Thanks. i tried switching the solenoid to a different circuit in my fish room, and so far so good. Hopefully, that was it. Thanks for your help! Tony __________________ "Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra Going on 31 years in this crazy hobby. Current Tank Info: 70 Marineland cube, 34 gallon Red Sea Max, 6 gallon Nano

10/02/2007, 05:31 AM	#4
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Forgot to add that sometimes maintaining too low or too high a pressure from the regulator may also cause this. Try setting the regulator between 15 and 25 psi. Also to reduce wear on the solenoid and controller try adjustig your bubblerate so the solenoid do not need to open and close constantly. Set the bubblerate so the PH in the reactor is constant without the controller or at least so the PH drops very very slowly so the solenoid only have to switch every hour or two. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium