Calcium reactor setting question?

Nlangan · 01/22/2010, 02:40 PM

New setup with a Geo 618 with coarse Caribsea ARM, RKE hooked up to solenoid on tank and hooked to pH monitor in the reactor. Vendor who sold me the Geo suggested I should keep the pH at 6.5 to slowly dissolve the media. I noticed that this is similar to the 6.4 Melev suggests on his helpful site. I set the RKE to 6.5 with 0.2 hysteresis. In theory, that would cause it to turn on at 6.7 until pH dropped to 6.3 where it would turn off.

While setting the reactor up I slowly increased my bubble count to get the pH in range and I think I hit a sweet spot where the pH varies between 6.3 and 6.7. In the week or so since I last touched the bubble counter/effluent valve the pH hasn't dropped below 6.3 causing the controller to shut off the solenoid.

Here is my question. I've been thinking that it might be a good idea to raise the bubble rate to bring the controller into play. First, it might reduce the amount of CO2 I need to maintain calcium if the unit is off sometimes. Second, since the controller can only push pH down then it really is out of the picture here. If something in the system causes pH to rise the controller can't respond because it's already doing everything it can to reduce pH. Current bpm is about 115.

What do you guys think - just another case of new tank jitters?

Nlangan · 01/23/2010, 08:34 PM

bump.

Let me restate the question more succinctly. Because I have a controller, I'm going to set my bubble rate higher than needed to achieve the desired pH. I've never run across instructions to do this but I think it is safer and will use less CO2. Anyone have an opinion?

01/22/2010, 02:40 PM	#1
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Calcium reactor setting question? New setup with a Geo 618 with coarse Caribsea ARM, RKE hooked up to solenoid on tank and hooked to pH monitor in the reactor. Vendor who sold me the Geo suggested I should keep the pH at 6.5 to slowly dissolve the media. I noticed that this is similar to the 6.4 Melev suggests on his helpful site. I set the RKE to 6.5 with 0.2 hysteresis. In theory, that would cause it to turn on at 6.7 until pH dropped to 6.3 where it would turn off. While setting the reactor up I slowly increased my bubble count to get the pH in range and I think I hit a sweet spot where the pH varies between 6.3 and 6.7. In the week or so since I last touched the bubble counter/effluent valve the pH hasn't dropped below 6.3 causing the controller to shut off the solenoid. Here is my question. I've been thinking that it might be a good idea to raise the bubble rate to bring the controller into play. First, it might reduce the amount of CO2 I need to maintain calcium if the unit is off sometimes. Second, since the controller can only push pH down then it really is out of the picture here. If something in the system causes pH to rise the controller can't respond because it's already doing everything it can to reduce pH. Current bpm is about 115. What do you guys think - just another case of new tank jitters? __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.

01/23/2010, 08:34 PM	#2
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	bump. Let me restate the question more succinctly. Because I have a controller, I'm going to set my bubble rate higher than needed to achieve the desired pH. I've never run across instructions to do this but I think it is safer and will use less CO2. Anyone have an opinion? __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.