knop c calcium reactor advice!

SteveNMegz · 05/26/2008, 03:02 PM

Just picked up this calcium reactor used, wondering if anyone has any tips/advice for setting up and using it?

Thanks!

frank2926 · 05/26/2008, 05:27 PM

First test your water and get Alkalinity and calcium to a level you want them at, using additives not the reactor. Right down what levels your are at. Once you start the reactor do NOT use any more Alk or calcium additives. Once you get your reactor set and dialed in, then dose to bring levels back to where you want them.
Now lets start up the reactor by setting the drip rate so it is so fast that it is almost a steady stream but not really a stream. Then set your CO2 bubble count to 30 bubbles per minute.
After a couple of days test your waters Alkalinity. Then raise or lower your Co2 bubble count. If you are way off of your set point you can increase the bubble count by 5 per minute at a time. You are going to be testing your water every other day or so until you test it and after a few tests your alkalinity is a constant number.

SteveNMegz · 05/26/2008, 06:11 PM

thanks for the help!
increasing the co2 will bring the alk and calcium up right?

frank2926 · 05/26/2008, 06:48 PM

yes,It increases the amount of Alkalinity and calcium in the effluent. but again. Do not use the reactor to raise the levels in your tank.
you are looking for the reactor to MAINTAIN your tanks levels.

SteveNMegz · 05/26/2008, 08:25 PM

ok thanks, our calcium is always high and our alk low, so we'll use some baking soda to level them out then start up the reactor.

SteveNMegz · 05/27/2008, 06:04 PM

any suggestions as to media to use in this reactor? and how about a feed line?

Thanks!

05/26/2008, 03:02 PM	#1
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	knop c calcium reactor advice! Just picked up this calcium reactor used, wondering if anyone has any tips/advice for setting up and using it? Thanks! __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/26/2008, 06:11 PM	#3
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	thanks for the help! increasing the co2 will bring the alk and calcium up right? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/26/2008, 08:25 PM	#5
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	ok thanks, our calcium is always high and our alk low, so we'll use some baking soda to level them out then start up the reactor. __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/27/2008, 06:04 PM	#6
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	any suggestions as to media to use in this reactor? and how about a feed line? Thanks! __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

05/26/2008, 05:27 PM	#2
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	First test your water and get Alkalinity and calcium to a level you want them at, using additives not the reactor. Right down what levels your are at. Once you start the reactor do NOT use any more Alk or calcium additives. Once you get your reactor set and dialed in, then dose to bring levels back to where you want them. Now lets start up the reactor by setting the drip rate so it is so fast that it is almost a steady stream but not really a stream. Then set your CO2 bubble count to 30 bubbles per minute. After a couple of days test your waters Alkalinity. Then raise or lower your Co2 bubble count. If you are way off of your set point you can increase the bubble count by 5 per minute at a time. You are going to be testing your water every other day or so until you test it and after a few tests your alkalinity is a constant number.

05/26/2008, 06:48 PM	#4
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	yes,It increases the amount of Alkalinity and calcium in the effluent. but again. Do not use the reactor to raise the levels in your tank. you are looking for the reactor to MAINTAIN your tanks levels.