CalcFeeder Basic/Pro - latest generation calcium reactor

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hi Rob,
We will prepare video showing setup that reactor, we know about that other Customer (also from USA)which reported us problems with higher pH in effluent every day - there have to be the same reason like in your situation.
We know that nobody need to completly understand how it's working however in fact similar constructions(but using floating sensor not optical) are on market since many years and also are rock steady.
Ok, but now before movie is prepared I will give you few hints.
Firstly what I see - your valve between pump and media chamber is to much open.
This can be opened when you are suing small size media but as I see you are using extra large coarse.
You need to adjust valve to that position that your pump will not suck any air/carbon dioxide from mixing chamber.
So please follow that steps now:
1. Close valve to half(45 degree or more). Observe that your pump is not sucking any bubbles/air(they generate this sound).
You shouldn't see any bubbles in inspection tube(transparent tube before pump in).
If they still are(like own your movies) - close valve more. Close "CO2 reflow" valve.
After thats finished - disconnect controller from power supply(pls don't disconnect solenoid valve/optical sensor when the power is connected to controller - it can "hang up" your controller = white screen).
2. Now when it's done - stop pump - and remove air from first mixing chamber(you can take off cap and refill it manually). Additionally, you can take/pick up silicon seal and check for any particles under that(which can make this seal not placed proper in his row).
Disconnect plastic (white/blue) tubings from their "ports" - check that they are cute smoothly - and if it's ok - put them again to the end.
3. Remove air from media chamber. You can do it using few cups of water from your aquarium.
4. Main pump can't be started if that two chambers are not completely filled with water.
5. When it's done - you should start main pump.
6. Connect your controller to power. It will start pump for few second - and after that it will start filling your mixing chamber with carbon dioxide.
7. If during first attempt it will not be done - you need reset controller. Go to menu - then press button Reset.(or you can turn off/on power supply - but it's "hard reset" method).
8. If during second attempt mixing chamber is not still filled with carbon dioxide (to optical sensor level) - go to point 7. Repeat them until optical sensor will "see" gas level and on screen you will see green status of optical sensor.
9. Now your feeding pump will start working again(it will not start until there will be OK flag(green status) from optical sensor.
10. Adjust flow to your requirements - In first week period monitor your effluent alkalinity(not only in aquarium).
If your tank kH is dropping - check effluent pH/kH.
If its ok(pH below 6.5) 0 increase flow thru calcium reactor because it mean that your calcium/alkalinity order is higher than your actual flow.

It's true that CalcFeeders are new on market but in fact they were tested and designed in first quarter 2016(year ago) - some of units were tested even in 15.000 liters tank (media capacity - 70kg) and that construction is very simply and more reliable than with pH(which should be calibrated every few months - half year at least).
We are using them also in our farms/shops and actually thats issue were reported to us two times only (and one by ReefShop during tests phase before Interzoo in May last year)
Only what can go wrong is if something is not properly connected or have "air leak" into reactor - a specially where is "under pressure" effect as I said - and any "leakage" will go to air suck into this column.
Weak areas are:
- silicon gasket (dirt/particles blocking proper sealing)
- air taken by not completly putted tubings into proper ports.
I'm sure that together with you our support will find a solution and source of your troubles.
Please be in touch with Tomasz directly, he is not reading RC(don't have account).
Also please all other reefers - if you have ANY questions and you need quick help - please go directly to support(service@pacific-sun.eu) - ReefCentral is not visited by me sometimes for many days and I can miss something important/help request/ questions.
Thank you!

Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hi Rob,
We will prepare video showing setup that reactor, we know about that other Customer (also from USA)which reported us problems with higher pH in effluent every day - there have to be the same reason like in your situation.
We know that nobody need to completly understand how it's working however in fact similar constructions(but using floating sensor not optical) are on market since many years and also are rock steady.
Ok, but now before movie is prepared I will give you few hints.
Firstly what I see - your valve between pump and media chamber is to much open.
This can be opened when you are suing small size media but as I see you are using extra large coarse.
You need to adjust valve to that position that your pump will not suck any air/carbon dioxide from mixing chamber.
So please follow that steps now:
1. Close valve to half(45 degree or more). Observe that your pump is not sucking any bubbles/air(they generate this sound).
You shouldn't see any bubbles in inspection tube(transparent tube before pump in).
If they still are(like own your movies) - close valve more. Close "CO2 reflow" valve.
After thats finished - disconnect controller from power supply(pls don't disconnect solenoid valve/optical sensor when the power is connected to controller - it can "hang up" your controller = white screen).
2. Now when it's done - stop pump - and remove air from first mixing chamber(you can take off cap and refill it manually). Additionally, you can take/pick up silicon seal and check for any particles under that(which can make this seal not placed proper in his row).
Disconnect plastic (white/blue) tubings from their "ports" - check that they are cute smoothly - and if it's ok - put them again to the end.
3. Remove air from media chamber. You can do it using few cups of water from your aquarium.
4. Main pump can't be started if that two chambers are not completely filled with water.
5. When it's done - you should start main pump.
6. Connect your controller to power. It will start pump for few second - and after that it will start filling your mixing chamber with carbon dioxide.
7. If during first attempt it will not be done - you need reset controller. Go to menu - then press button Reset.(or you can turn off/on power supply - but it's "hard reset" method).
8. If during second attempt mixing chamber is not still filled with carbon dioxide (to optical sensor level) - go to point 7. Repeat them until optical sensor will "see" gas level and on screen you will see green status of optical sensor.
9. Now your feeding pump will start working again(it will not start until there will be OK flag(green status) from optical sensor.
10. Adjust flow to your requirements - In first week period monitor your effluent alkalinity(not only in aquarium).
If your tank kH is dropping - check effluent pH/kH.
If its ok(pH below 6.5) 0 increase flow thru calcium reactor because it mean that your calcium/alkalinity order is higher than your actual flow.

It's true that CalcFeeders are new on market but in fact they were tested and designed in first quarter 2016(year ago) - some of units were tested even in 15.000 liters tank (media capacity - 70kg) and that construction is very simply and more reliable than with pH(which should be calibrated every few months - half year at least).
We are using them also in our farms/shops and actually thats issue were reported to us two times only (and one by ReefShop during tests phase before Interzoo in May last year)
Only what can go wrong is if something is not properly connected or have "air leak" into reactor - a specially where is "under pressure" effect as I said - and any "leakage" will go to air suck into this column.
Weak areas are:
- silicon gasket (dirt/particles blocking proper sealing)
- air taken by not completly putted tubings into proper ports.
I'm sure that together with you our support will find a solution and source of your troubles.
Please be in touch with Tomasz directly, he is not reading RC(don't have account).
Also please all other reefers - if you have ANY questions and you need quick help - please go directly to support(service@pacific-sun.eu) - ReefCentral is not visited by me sometimes for many days and I can miss something important/help request/ questions.
Thank you!

Regards

Przemek

WOW Przemek great instructions!!!!! Fantastic explaining what to do but i still think a video would be great as well for beginners like myself,seeing something visually really does help with setting up equipment. Well i did not need to use your instructions i ended up filling chambers with water and when it came to tightning the screws on the cover that is what i think was an issue with me. ended up using some pliers to tighten even more that my fingers could not do ( very sore thumb and index finger from tightening screws) i also closed that knob near the pump until there were no bubbles running though the clear tube that runs between the pump and mixing chamber. my effluent PH is measuring 6.3 coming out of degassing chamber and my tank KH is currently at 8.5 and holding steady now for 10 hours ( ph of effluent also holding steady at 6.3) i had the controller have one error message about an hour ago because it did not sense co2 in the chamber so i adjusted the valve as mentioned above and also the Blue valve for reflow and it seemed to work, also adjusted my bubble count on co2 to 2 bubbles a second it was running about 4 bubbles a sec using the adjuster on my regulator. so at the moment all is running great for the last 10 hours other then that one error message which actually makes me nervous not knowing when it will happen again i just happened to be in the filtration room when it had the error bout an hour ago, not sure why it happened seeing it was running fine the last nine hours maybe you could give me an idea why it did that. but again all is working ok for now and i will be monitoring this constantly. Thanks for the detailed instructions for my unit and i will keep them for future reference in case i need it and i still think you should make a vid on set up and operation.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hi Rob,
Yes, definitely we will prepare video with instruction how to setup CalcFeeder reactors.
Regarding error - this can happen when your co2 bubbles ratio is too low and controller can't refill dissolving carbon dioxide during "saturation" period.
Saturation period usually take up to 48 hours - during this time water "buffer" carbon dioxide inside media and controller turn on/off solenoid valve quite often. After that, when pH stabilize - controller turn on/off co2 refill not so often like previously and reactor go to "stable work" mode.
I think that even 3-4 bubbles per second will be ok, you have largest serial production reactor - it have reaction chamber 300mm :-))
Please let us know if you will have any other questions.
I wish nice weekend.

Best Regards

Przemek Cybulski

[mrtint]

Przemek
Do you ever sleep you are on boards all hours and returning emails very quickly...... thank you for your hard work supporting all your products. I am very happy with my Hyperion pandora and my kore 5th. Can not wait to receive my calcpro feeder. I'm sure once we all figure out how to dial in..... it will turn out just as great as your other products


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[robbous]

Originally Posted by mrtint

Przemek
Do you ever sleep you are on boards all hours and returning emails very quickly...... thank you for your hard work supporting all your products. I am very happy with my Hyperion pandora and my kore 5th. Can not wait to receive my calcpro feeder. I'm sure once we all figure out how to dial in..... it will turn out just as great as your other products


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very well said! ;-)

[robbous]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hi Rob,
Yes, definitely we will prepare video with instruction how to setup CalcFeeder reactors.
Regarding error - this can happen when your co2 bubbles ratio is too low and controller can't refill dissolving carbon dioxide during "saturation" period.
Saturation period usually take up to 48 hours - during this time water "buffer" carbon dioxide inside media and controller turn on/off solenoid valve quite often. After that, when pH stabilize - controller turn on/off co2 refill not so often like previously and reactor go to "stable work" mode.
I think that even 3-4 bubbles per second will be ok, you have largest serial production reactor - it have reaction chamber 300mm :-))
Please let us know if you will have any other questions.
I wish nice weekend.

Best Regards

Przemek Cybulski

Quick question is it normal for the PH of the effluent to go from 6.3 all night to just now going up to 6.6? controller and everything thing else is fine. just did not know if its normal for PH of effluent to rise like that during the day.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hi Rob,
Im sorry for late reply - I forgot to say - please don't open co2 reflow valve(leave it closed).
In properly set main valve there shouldn't be so many gas under main media chamber cap.
I got idea now that maybe some air is sucked thru this valve(hidden effect - not completely sealed) and it's responsible for this "air leakage".
pH can stabilize after 24-48 hours - however you should measure effluent ph not after degassing chamber - but in effluent from reactor(for that test phases please disconnect your degassing chamber)
@mrtint
Haha .. :-) Yes, I sleep very well however my work is my hobby also - so I can share my time between my family, holy and work - in result I have a lot of time for our Customers ;-)

Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Ph of effluent coming out of media reactor is running 6.6 is this low enough to dissolve media? I am still trying to dial this in, blue lever ( reflow) is off completely but now ph is slowly rissing in effluent from media chamber

[Przemek_PacSun]

Yes, pH 6.6 is still ok for dissolving media however if after next some days you will see pH higher than actually - please let us know.
If you have opened that valve (co2 reflow) previously maybe it caused sucking some air inside reactor.
This valve usually should be closed - because during dissolving media there is produced gas which (if will be sucked by reflow line) will take space instead of carbon dioxide(in mixing chamber). Less co2 = higher pH.
Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Ok morning up date just checked ph in effluent coming from media part of reactor and it measures 6.4 (apex probe) ph of effluent coming from degassing chamber is at 6.53 ( apex probe) KH in Display is at 8.5 and i am currently dosing 3.300 L/HR from controller all looks good no bubbles in reaction chamber and no bubbles going though main recirculation pump on reactor also reflow ( blue shut off valve) is closed.All is looking good so far. Thank you so much for all your help up to this point Przemek you wrote a lot of things to help me out with this reactor here on this thread which i am sure will also help any others that are having any issues with reactor or just trying to figure it out. there were a few things that you mentioned on here that really made me understand things a little better Przemek and again a HUGE HUGE THANK YOU! i love your products and think they are of top notch quality!!!

[robbous]

Just took this this morning of my 500 Gallon Display



[URL=http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/robbous/media/IMG_0425_zpsnpw3fckq.jpg.html][/URL

[robbous]

Here is my reactor setup in my basement filtration room, notice my Pacific Sun 5TH Kore doser Pro in the background along with a Pacific sun Black Python Lamp over the refugium i bought that pacific sun lamp back in 2009 its there first LED Lamp that they sold and i bought 3 a master and 2 slaves and i still use this one to this day.

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[Redfish1980]

I'm loving the look of the new reactors! You don't have to hide them anymore

[Alfrareef]

Looks good but... it's huge! I don't have space for that.

[DanConnor]

They have multiple sizes

[wishntoboutside]

My replacement arrived today. The box looks ok but I still have to unpack it. This could be a good day.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Originally Posted by robbous

Ok morning up date just checked ph in effluent coming from media part of reactor and it measures 6.4 (apex probe) ph of effluent coming from degassing chamber is at 6.53 ( apex probe) KH in Display is at 8.5 and i am currently dosing 3.300 L/HR from controller all looks good no bubbles in reaction chamber and no bubbles going though main recirculation pump on reactor also reflow ( blue shut off valve) is closed.All is looking good so far. Thank you so much for all your help up to this point Przemek you wrote a lot of things to help me out with this reactor here on this thread which i am sure will also help any others that are having any issues with reactor or just trying to figure it out. there were a few things that you mentioned on here that really made me understand things a little better Przemek and again a HUGE HUGE THANK YOU! i love your products and think they are of top notch quality!!!

Dear Rob,
thank you VERY MUCH for such a nice words :-) It motivate us even stronger for much more work and making our products better and better.
Thanks to situations like with you we can improve our manuals, we understand what can be not clear for our Customers - on which aspects we should focus more, which other are maybe not so important.
Within next week we will release new firmware for CalcFeeders controllers with new option added - it will be "water filling" mode. In this mode feeding pump will work continuously until Customer will stop it - it will help remove air from mixing and media chamber before reactor will start first time.
I will inform about new firmware available also here.
Thank you again for your support(also other our Customers) - were appreciate it every day. :-)
Thank you.

PS.1 Your tank looks amazing - it have very big potential and I see that forest of growing hard corals soon! :-)

PS2. John, hope that now everything will be ok, Im glad to hear that unit arrived not damaged this time :-). We are sorry again for that whats happened.

Best regards

Przemek Cybulski

PS3.
Many of you ask us about reactors - please visit us during Global Pet Show in Orlando March this year - I will be there and it will be my pleasure to explain all of you how our products works, what they can do - and why they are one of best on the market ! ;-) Ha! (DeepWater Aquatics both)

[Alfrareef]

Originally Posted by DanConnor

They have multiple sizes

Oh! I'll give it a look. Thks!

[Przemek_PacSun]

Originally Posted by robbous

Here is my reactor setup in my basement filtration room, notice my Pacific Sun 5TH Kore doser Pro in the background along with a Pacific sun Black Python Lamp over the refugium i bought that pacific sun lamp back in 2009 its there first LED Lamp that they sold and i bought 3 a master and 2 slaves and i still use this one to this day.

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So you are one of first users our Black Python lamps (haha - they are only one with "strange" name.....). 2009 - so already it's almost 8 years... :-)
Thank you for trust in our products, I deeply appreciate it
Small contest now:
What are the names of our products (lamps, etc.) - where they came from? :-)

Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Ok update as of 9 Pm effluent ph coming from reactor is at 6.9 and effluent ph coming from degassing chamber is at 6.75 and KH in Tank is at 8. I increased the flow of effluent from 3.5000 l/hr up to 4.000 l/hr to increase KH in display to 9. It seems as I raise the flow of effluent going though controller ( l/hr) my ph rises in the effluent coming from media reactor.

[robbous]

https://youtu.be/IXwqCUjP4z0
If you notice the optical sensor will turn red, at the same time the controller step motor will turn not allowing the CO2 to turn on, i'm wondering if it's because my liters per hour dosing is set at 4 L/hr which I need to have so I can increase the effluent to the tank to raise KH to where I want it to be. I've been monitoring the ph for the last few hours via my apex on my phone and the effluent PH from media reactor is rising and is currently 7.1 which tells me there is no co2 being injected into co2 chamber. The optical sensor obviously recognizes that there's no CO2 but has not been able to inject it because the step motor will come on before the CO2 silonoid valve comes on.

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hi Rob,
Im in touch with Tomasz - please reset your controller(Menu > Reset) and wait for reply from Tomasz.
Thank you.

Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hi Rob,
Im in touch with Tomasz - please reset your controller(Menu > Reset) and wait for reply from Tomasz.
Thank you.

Regards

Przemek

Will do hopefully I'll hear back from him soon and won't have to wait a day for each email between each other again I'm still trying to get this thing dialed in its been a couple of weeks now it's nice to come here because I seem to get quick responses from you when I have issues and by the way the effluent now coming from the media part of the reactor is up to 7.3

[PacSun Service]

Hello.

Rob our worker send You email with some question. To improve communication speed please answer directly on service@pacific-sun.eu.
Our service workers didn't follow forums and it will be easier to find solution with direct contact by mail.

Please also look on photo - take out all tubbings from fittings and cut about 1cm (tubbing must be cut stright) then fit them in place.
Best Regards

Pacific Sun Service.

[robbous]

Originally Posted by PacSun Service

Hello.

Rob our worker send You email with some question. To improve communication speed please answer directly on service@pacific-sun.eu.
Our service workers didn't follow forums and it will be easier to find solution with direct contact by mail.

Please also look on photo - take out all tubbings from fittings and cut about 1cm (tubbing must be cut stright) then fit them in place.
Best Regards

Pacific Sun Service.

hello i did check email and there is nothing there from you in my email or in junk email. ill cut tubing like you said. i did notice one i reset controller via menu and i also turned down the flow valve near pump and solenoid kicks on and off now injecting co2 into mixing chamber. maybe by increasing the LITERS per hour going though the step motor pump the other valve on the recirculation pump needs to be turned down.