Geo 618 not working correctly/CO2 collects up top

ReefPharmer · 06/15/2014, 01:08 PM

Hey guys. I am setting up a Geo 618 on my 180 reef. The pump that came with it is the standard eheim 1048. When I set it up as instructed, the co2 collects up at the top of the chamber and after a few days there is an inch or two of CO2 (i assume) in the reactor.

Is that normal? How do i get the co2 to properly mix when I am dripping 1 bubble a second? that seems very slow (the ph meter reads 7.15ph in the chamber so I need more co2).

The feed pump is an aqualifter.

Also, is it possible for me to run the pump reversed so that co2 would possibly go into the pump instead of collecting at the top, making the reactor a reverse flow?

Thanks!

david_lee · 06/15/2014, 06:26 PM

For me when i first started my Geo Cal reactor i let it run wide open (effluent line/output) without Co2 for a day or so before turning the Co2 on..

mikeatjac · 06/15/2014, 06:34 PM

On mine an aqualifter was not enough, a MJ900 was perfect.

Triggercdog · 06/15/2014, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeatjac

On mine an aqualifter was not enough, a MJ900 was perfect.

+1...sounds like to me that you do not have enough flow going through your calc reactor....try a bigger feed pump...

smoothdog · 06/15/2014, 09:33 PM

Do you have the pump plumbed properly? The intake should pull from the top of the reactor and push out at the bottom. If plumbed this way it's not possible for that much co2 to collect.

ReefPharmer · 06/15/2014, 10:12 PM

The feed pump works well and the effluent line runs as intended. The issue is w the recirculating pump. When I looked at the instructions on Geo site, it is set up as a reverse flow. The water gets sucked out of the top and pushed into the reactor from the bottom. I am going to try using coarse media instead of the much finer crushed coral substrate.
Can anyone share what media you run in the 618 w the stock eheim 1048 recirc pump? How successfully does it work?

smoothdog · 06/15/2014, 11:53 PM

I just switched from a GEO 612 to a custom us to 824 and used coralvue medium natural media in both with no issue. I've also used coarse ARM in the 612.

06/15/2014, 01:08 PM	#1
ReefPharmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,836	Geo 618 not working correctly/CO2 collects up top Hey guys. I am setting up a Geo 618 on my 180 reef. The pump that came with it is the standard eheim 1048. When I set it up as instructed, the co2 collects up at the top of the chamber and after a few days there is an inch or two of CO2 (i assume) in the reactor. Is that normal? How do i get the co2 to properly mix when I am dripping 1 bubble a second? that seems very slow (the ph meter reads 7.15ph in the chamber so I need more co2). The feed pump is an aqualifter. Also, is it possible for me to run the pump reversed so that co2 would possibly go into the pump instead of collecting at the top, making the reactor a reverse flow? Thanks!

06/15/2014, 06:34 PM	#3
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	On mine an aqualifter was not enough, a MJ900 was perfect. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

06/15/2014, 09:33 PM	#5
smoothdog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 4,916	Do you have the pump plumbed properly? The intake should pull from the top of the reactor and push out at the bottom. If plumbed this way it's not possible for that much co2 to collect. __________________ Everything's better with Bacon! Current Tank Info: 150DD SPS dominant mixed reef. 100g sump/fuge, 6'x28"x12" frag tank, Diablo xs200 skimmer, Apex controller, Custom GEO 824 calcium reactor, panworld 200PS return pump. Lumenmax Elite reflector with Radium 250HQI bulb and 3 AI 32 HDs.

06/15/2014, 10:12 PM	#6
ReefPharmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,836	The feed pump works well and the effluent line runs as intended. The issue is w the recirculating pump. When I looked at the instructions on Geo site, it is set up as a reverse flow. The water gets sucked out of the top and pushed into the reactor from the bottom. I am going to try using coarse media instead of the much finer crushed coral substrate. Can anyone share what media you run in the 618 w the stock eheim 1048 recirc pump? How successfully does it work? Last edited by ReefPharmer; 06/15/2014 at 10:26 PM.

06/15/2014, 11:53 PM	#7
smoothdog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 4,916	I just switched from a GEO 612 to a custom us to 824 and used coralvue medium natural media in both with no issue. I've also used coarse ARM in the 612. __________________ Everything's better with Bacon! Current Tank Info: 150DD SPS dominant mixed reef. 100g sump/fuge, 6'x28"x12" frag tank, Diablo xs200 skimmer, Apex controller, Custom GEO 824 calcium reactor, panworld 200PS return pump. Lumenmax Elite reflector with Radium 250HQI bulb and 3 AI 32 HDs.

06/15/2014, 06:26 PM	#2
david_lee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: charlotte,nc Posts: 133	For me when i first started my Geo Cal reactor i let it run wide open (effluent line/output) without Co2 for a day or so before turning the Co2 on..