Proper Settings For GEO 612 Calcium Reactor

percula99 · 08/05/2006, 03:49 PM

I have a GEO 612 Calcium Reactor on my 180 gallon reef. When I purchased it, I originally set it with a very low CO2 and effluent rate. (40 drips per minute of effluent, 10 bubbles per minute of CO2). I went on Reef Central, and posted a question as to what the proper settings were. The replies I received were to set it much higher than I had been. (60 ml per minute of effluent, 45 bubbles per minute of CO2). I find I go through CO2 much faster than expected. A 5 lb cylinder lasts me three months. Can anyone provide your recommended settings for the 612 reactor.

Thanks in advance.

golfish · 08/05/2006, 04:30 PM

each reactor and tank is different....we might have the same tank, same reactor, same corals and have the ML's per minute and bubble count set totally diff....playing with it is the only way to find what settings work for you.

percula99 · 08/05/2006, 05:27 PM

I know that golfish. I am asking if there is a recommended setting for this reactor. I have had a couple of reactors in my time, which have usually been set with lower settings as I had stated in my question. With the GEO, I have been told that those settings don't work. So I am asking if anyone who has a GEO can recommend what settings thay are using. I know each system is different, I just want a frame of reference to start (over) from.

golfish · 08/05/2006, 05:50 PM

Ok, then I'll just come out and say NO, there is no "recommended setting for this reactor", how could there be?

I'm sure most users will have their own little start settings but you've already been through that.

I have an idea, did ya ask George? Or do ya think he's going to give a ballpark setting?

If you've already used two other reactors then there really shouldn't be a problem..Having a 5 pound can last 3 months sounds like a long time to me.

mattseattle · 08/05/2006, 06:27 PM

Well, my 5 lb can lasts almost a year on my Geo reactor. I have it set up on a controller though and I keep the pH in my reactor at about 6.8 / 6.9. I have the effluent set to about 45 - 50 ml a minute. I have a 120 gallon SPS tank that is lightly loaded right now. So there is really no recommended settings for any calcium reactor but I started off with a 45 ml a minute per the instructions that George sends with the reactors. I think tweaked the CO2 to keep my alk/calc stable.

Not sure if that helps or not.

percula99 · 08/05/2006, 08:55 PM

Yeah mattseattle, having a 5 lb cylinder last a year sounds right to me. I bought this reactor from a friend who went to a 500 gallon tank and couldn't use this one anymore. So, I don't know who George is. I assume he is the guy running GEO. I sent him an enail already, but it is the wekend, so I don't expect to hear from him until next week. I'm just trying to solicit a little advice from someone who might have a GEO 612.

poopsko24 · 08/05/2006, 09:04 PM

i'm not sure about my effulent drip rate, but my co2 bubble count is about 40. I just adjust it according to my alk in the effulent and tank.

chadfarmer · 08/05/2006, 11:41 PM

good starting point is a bubble every 4 seconds and a effuent of 40 mL a min

that after 24 hours check
make one adjustment wait 24 hours

after adjustment always wait 24 hours or longer

percula99 · 08/06/2006, 08:03 AM

I got a reply back from George sooner than I expected. Here is what he had to say:

"You will need to dial in the reactor to meet the demands of your aquarium. I would use 30-45 ml per minute of effluent and about the same of co2 bubbles per minute as a starting point and adjust from there. Here is a nice link >Reactor Setup help
It sounds like you have a slight leak on the co2 system."

I will check on that leak he thoought I might have. Thanks to those who gave me some positive feedback.

08/05/2006, 03:49 PM	#1
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	Proper Settings For GEO 612 Calcium Reactor I have a GEO 612 Calcium Reactor on my 180 gallon reef. When I purchased it, I originally set it with a very low CO2 and effluent rate. (40 drips per minute of effluent, 10 bubbles per minute of CO2). I went on Reef Central, and posted a question as to what the proper settings were. The replies I received were to set it much higher than I had been. (60 ml per minute of effluent, 45 bubbles per minute of CO2). I find I go through CO2 much faster than expected. A 5 lb cylinder lasts me three months. Can anyone provide your recommended settings for the 612 reactor. Thanks in advance.

08/05/2006, 11:41 PM	#8
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	good starting point is a bubble every 4 seconds and a effuent of 40 mL a min that after 24 hours check make one adjustment wait 24 hours after adjustment always wait 24 hours or longer __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

08/05/2006, 04:30 PM	#2
golfish Team RC Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Alta Loma, Ca Posts: 6,776	each reactor and tank is different....we might have the same tank, same reactor, same corals and have the ML's per minute and bubble count set totally diff....playing with it is the only way to find what settings work for you.

08/05/2006, 05:27 PM	#3
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	I know that golfish. I am asking if there is a recommended setting for this reactor. I have had a couple of reactors in my time, which have usually been set with lower settings as I had stated in my question. With the GEO, I have been told that those settings don't work. So I am asking if anyone who has a GEO can recommend what settings thay are using. I know each system is different, I just want a frame of reference to start (over) from.

08/05/2006, 05:50 PM	#4
golfish Team RC Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Alta Loma, Ca Posts: 6,776	Ok, then I'll just come out and say NO, there is no "recommended setting for this reactor", how could there be? I'm sure most users will have their own little start settings but you've already been through that. I have an idea, did ya ask George? Or do ya think he's going to give a ballpark setting? If you've already used two other reactors then there really shouldn't be a problem..Having a 5 pound can last 3 months sounds like a long time to me.

08/05/2006, 06:27 PM	#5
mattseattle Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 1,332	Well, my 5 lb can lasts almost a year on my Geo reactor. I have it set up on a controller though and I keep the pH in my reactor at about 6.8 / 6.9. I have the effluent set to about 45 - 50 ml a minute. I have a 120 gallon SPS tank that is lightly loaded right now. So there is really no recommended settings for any calcium reactor but I started off with a 45 ml a minute per the instructions that George sends with the reactors. I think tweaked the CO2 to keep my alk/calc stable. Not sure if that helps or not.

08/05/2006, 08:55 PM	#6
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	Yeah mattseattle, having a 5 lb cylinder last a year sounds right to me. I bought this reactor from a friend who went to a 500 gallon tank and couldn't use this one anymore. So, I don't know who George is. I assume he is the guy running GEO. I sent him an enail already, but it is the wekend, so I don't expect to hear from him until next week. I'm just trying to solicit a little advice from someone who might have a GEO 612.

08/05/2006, 09:04 PM	#7
poopsko24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 792	i'm not sure about my effulent drip rate, but my co2 bubble count is about 40. I just adjust it according to my alk in the effulent and tank.

08/06/2006, 08:03 AM	#9
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	I got a reply back from George sooner than I expected. Here is what he had to say: "You will need to dial in the reactor to meet the demands of your aquarium. I would use 30-45 ml per minute of effluent and about the same of co2 bubbles per minute as a starting point and adjust from there. Here is a nice link >Reactor Setup help It sounds like you have a slight leak on the co2 system." I will check on that leak he thoought I might have. Thanks to those who gave me some positive feedback.