calcium reactor turning tank hazy?

wnutz · 03/25/2006, 05:19 PM

i just added a calcium reactor and the water in my tank looks a little hazy is this normal and if so how long does it last if not what have i done wrong?

seansod · 03/25/2006, 05:48 PM

Did you rinse the media well before adding it? If not that is the problem and it will settle. Just keep an eye on pH and alk.

Tony

wnutz · 03/25/2006, 05:57 PM

oops didnt realize i had to do that thanks alot i will keep an eye on it.

suasponte2/75 · 03/25/2006, 08:08 PM

I've never rinsed my media and never had a problem with a cloudy tank due to that. I use ARM media. Although, I've had problems when my effluent line is stuck and too much CO2 has built up and pulverized(?) the media in the chamber. When I get it unstuck it clouds up my tank for a bit (few hours) but no real harm done.

What's your effluent rate, bubble count, effluent PH, etc. This will help us try to diagnose your situation better.

HTHs,

Minh

wnutz · 03/25/2006, 08:52 PM

ya im using the media that came with the aqua medic reactor and it was dusty looking. it is clearing up the instruction says that the ph in the reactor should be between 5.9 and 6.5 and i have it at about 6.35 i am using about 65 bubbles per min and im not sure what the effluent rate is the reactor is supplied from a dosing pump and the people at aqua medic said it really doesnt need to be resticted with a valvebecause the pump pushes about 3l an hour.

suasponte2/75 · 03/26/2006, 01:00 AM

Hmm.. not too familiar w/ aqua medic but most reactors want you to limit the effluent rate at a certain amount to slow down the flow so the CO2 can contact the media longer (breaking the media down w/ less CO2). I have mine at about 65 bubbles per minute as well on my 180G. My effluent is pretty steady too and have it run into my skimmer to blow off some of the CO2 so it won't lower my tank's PH too much.

It takes a while to dial the reactor in but once you're set it's pretty steady. I love it since I don't really have to dose anything anymore. I was playing with the effluent rate and bubble count for weeks until it was dialed in (all the while testing).

Good luck,

Minh

suasponte2/75 · 03/26/2006, 01:03 AM

Ooh yeah... I also suggest ARM media since it breaks down at a higher PH (@7.5) which means less CO2 consumption and not lowering your tank's PH too much.

HTHs,

Minh

wnutz · 03/26/2006, 07:58 AM

what does your ph go down to at night and what does it run at during the day.

03/25/2006, 05:19 PM	#1
wnutz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bermuda Posts: 386	calcium reactor turning tank hazy? i just added a calcium reactor and the water in my tank looks a little hazy is this normal and if so how long does it last if not what have i done wrong?

03/25/2006, 05:48 PM	#2
seansod Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 135	Did you rinse the media well before adding it? If not that is the problem and it will settle. Just keep an eye on pH and alk. Tony

03/25/2006, 05:57 PM	#3
wnutz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bermuda Posts: 386	oops didnt realize i had to do that thanks alot i will keep an eye on it.

03/25/2006, 08:08 PM	#4
suasponte2/75 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Bay Area (Fremont, CA) Posts: 514	I've never rinsed my media and never had a problem with a cloudy tank due to that. I use ARM media. Although, I've had problems when my effluent line is stuck and too much CO2 has built up and pulverized(?) the media in the chamber. When I get it unstuck it clouds up my tank for a bit (few hours) but no real harm done. What's your effluent rate, bubble count, effluent PH, etc. This will help us try to diagnose your situation better. HTHs, Minh

03/25/2006, 08:52 PM	#5
wnutz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bermuda Posts: 386	ya im using the media that came with the aqua medic reactor and it was dusty looking. it is clearing up the instruction says that the ph in the reactor should be between 5.9 and 6.5 and i have it at about 6.35 i am using about 65 bubbles per min and im not sure what the effluent rate is the reactor is supplied from a dosing pump and the people at aqua medic said it really doesnt need to be resticted with a valvebecause the pump pushes about 3l an hour.

03/26/2006, 01:00 AM	#6
suasponte2/75 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Bay Area (Fremont, CA) Posts: 514	Hmm.. not too familiar w/ aqua medic but most reactors want you to limit the effluent rate at a certain amount to slow down the flow so the CO2 can contact the media longer (breaking the media down w/ less CO2). I have mine at about 65 bubbles per minute as well on my 180G. My effluent is pretty steady too and have it run into my skimmer to blow off some of the CO2 so it won't lower my tank's PH too much. It takes a while to dial the reactor in but once you're set it's pretty steady. I love it since I don't really have to dose anything anymore. I was playing with the effluent rate and bubble count for weeks until it was dialed in (all the while testing). Good luck, Minh

03/26/2006, 01:03 AM	#7
suasponte2/75 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Bay Area (Fremont, CA) Posts: 514	Ooh yeah... I also suggest ARM media since it breaks down at a higher PH (@7.5) which means less CO2 consumption and not lowering your tank's PH too much. HTHs, Minh

03/26/2006, 07:58 AM	#8
wnutz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bermuda Posts: 386	what does your ph go down to at night and what does it run at during the day.