CalcFeeder Basic/Pro - latest generation calcium reactor

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

Hello John,
We simply didn't know about that - it was first time when broken tubing could be possible source of troubles with air inside reactor.
We didn't have similar accident before - we did our lesson now and that question/hint will be added to Q&A in our manual.
If you will notice any troubles with controller don't worry - we will take care about your and it will be replaced.

Regards

Przemek

Thanks for the response Przemek. There's a first time for everything. As I mentioned your support has been excellent.

[africangrey]

I think it might be much easier if Pac Sun uses the 1/4 OD RO tubing than the special one that have be Fedex in oversea. A quick run to Homedepot might have solved the problem than waiting 2+ weeks for the end user.

[Przemek_PacSun]

But we are using typical RO tubings - there isn't any other available here :-)

[gcarroll]

Maybe Pacific Sun should look into getting an American distributor at this points. The more products they sell, the more issues that can pop up. IMO, this is where many small European company's fail in our market.

[Przemek_PacSun]

We have Distributor - it's DeepWater Aquatics.
Since next week we start technical training in their HQ - we will be also on Global Pet SHOW in Orlando presenting our products(like IBR reactors, CalcFeeders, Althea T5 etc).

Regards

Przemek

[robbous]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

Thanks for the response Przemek. There's a first time for everything. As I mentioned your support has been excellent.

Przemek and his support is GREAT! Finally i have my reactor up and running now for 48 hours with no issue at all and i really do believe i won't have any more issues.Again thanks Przemek for your help in resolving my issues and for your understanding. I really do love this reactor its also one hell of a good looking reactor. Little tinkering for the next few days and ill have it all dialed in. good bye to dosing.

[lionfish300]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

This troubleshooting process took way too long. The rising and falling DKH has caused stress on my coral and I have lost a few. Hopefully if anyone else starts having this problem they can look to the pump tubing right away.

It had been 2 months since I set up my reactor. I have emailed back and forth with Tomasz about my pH rise due to air. I have and I am sure all of us that own this reactor do the same check and double triple check the connections, open and closed the reactor and gas chamber so many times. For me it work fine for three to four days ten pH go up. I am afraid to kill my corals that I work so hard to keep all these years. So instead of hook it up to my sump I have both in/out tubes in a separate container to keep an eye on pH. I will check my controller tube to see if I have the same problem as you John. Thanks for posting this

[mrtint]

Can anyone recommend a starting dose based of of my 2-part dosing?

I currently use B-IOC and dose 100mil of ALK and 100mil of CA

I'm setting up the Calc feeder Pro tonight with 2 little fishies Reborn media and remag but not sure how many mils a hour to start the pump at


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[Przemek_PacSun]

You should start with about 200ml effluent however in first 24 hours you need to measure it every few hours - and adjust depending from current alk levels.

[mrtint]

Am I testing the effluent of reactor or the tank ALK?
Is it 200mil per day or per hour?
Also. I'm using a D.C.-2. Is it best to not hook that up until the calcfeeder is dialed in?


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[Przemek_PacSun]

Alk in aquarium :-)
yes - 200ml/hour, you can connect your DC-2 since the beginning.

[Johnseye]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

New firmware has been prepared - it will be officially released on Friday this week on our website, however CalcFeeder users can contact now with service@pacific-sun.eu - our support will send it by mail with update instruction(there is needed only update app and USB cable - whole procedure took 5 minutes).

This firmware include:
a) refill mode - pump work continuously which can help removing air from mixing/main chamber
b) Standalone mode - allow to use controller to feed any other calcium reactor(which not work with optical sensor)
c) Alarm CO2 disable/enable - turn off alarm which protect against working with too slow carbon dioxide injection. Could be good solution if anybody use bubble counter with precise bubble adjusting(real bubble counter) and can't increase flow. This option give additional time for filling reactor with co2(it can be used also in initial reactor setup when carbon dioxide is very quickly dissolving in reactor).

Regards

Przemek

I give up, I can't find the firmware update anywhere on your site. Would you link it please? I've also emailed support.

[lionfish300]

Originally Posted by mrtint

Am I testing the effluent of reactor or the tank ALK?
Is it 200mil per day or per hour?
Also. I'm using a D.C.-2. Is it best to not hook that up until the calcfeeder is dialed in?


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Hey mrtint, check your pH that is coming out of reactor. Make sure that it is under 6.5 otherwise it will not work. I think this is the most important forget everything else if you have coming into your reactor or mixing chamber. Check your tank Alk to make sure that it does not drop. Hook up your D. C.-2. Good luck

[mrtint]

Thank you for reply. So your saying to:
-Hook up reactor
-check PH to make sure it is under 6.5
-hook up DC-2
-then adjust effluent according to ALK test on main tank?

Is there a way to lower PH if not below 6.5 or do I just need to check for air in reactor?

Also, do you monitor the PH coming out of the D.C.-2 after it's all hooked up. That's were I get confused because the main reactor needs to be below 6.5 to break media down but the degassing chamber brings it back up so how do we monitor PH in first chamber without a probe?
I understand how the optical eye works but most the problems seem to be the PH isn't low enough to break media down. Some people have a PH probe hooked to effluent to monitor but I guess they don't use a degassing chamber

Sorry for all the question..... I just had a bad experience with a reactor before (back in 90's) and have dosed ever since. Problem is now I have a 225 and am burning thru a gallon of B-ionic a month so I kind of need to use one to meet demand.
Thank You
Robert


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[Przemek_PacSun]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

I give up, I can't find the firmware update anywhere on your site. Would you link it please? I've also emailed support.

Please contact with support for firmware update file - they can also do it with you remotely if you will want.

Originally Posted by mrtint

Thank you for reply. So your saying to:
-Hook up reactor
-check PH to make sure it is under 6.5
-hook up DC-2
-then adjust effluent according to ALK test on main tank?

Is there a way to lower PH if not below 6.5 or do I just need to check for air in reactor?

Also, do you monitor the PH coming out of the D.C.-2 after it's all hooked up. That's were I get confused because the main reactor needs to be below 6.5 to break media down but the degassing chamber brings it back up so how do we monitor PH in first chamber without a probe?
I understand how the optical eye works but most the problems seem to be the PH isn't low enough to break media down. Some people have a PH probe hooked to effluent to monitor but I guess they don't use a degassing chamber

Sorry for all the question..... I just had a bad experience with a reactor before (back in 90's) and have dosed ever since. Problem is now I have a 225 and am burning thru a gallon of B-ionic a month so I kind of need to use one to meet demand.
Thank You
Robert


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If you will fill reactor with water completely and co2 will be set on proper dosage you will see first results after few hours. For removing air you can use "standalone" program in dosing pump - it will work continuously until pump will be stopped.
Reactor can bring down pH up to are 6.2(still very safe for mostly all media designed for calcium reactors).
Final pH depend from (mostly) media size and dissolving point(pH) - due dissolve some CO2 is consumed.

You should check alk in your tank because due fast dissolved media your alk in tank nan grow up very fast. Quick jump of alkalinity can stop your corals growing = so even higher alk jump(due not consumption).
If you are checking pH in effluent you should do that before DC chamber - in other way you will see false results (ph is higher after flowing thru DC column).
You don't need have continuous pH measurement in effluent - simply aquarium tests will be enough.

[mrtint]

Ok. Sorry I thought I posted that as a PM. Not on board


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[Johnseye]

I received my replacement tubing yesterday. It was simple to change. Everything is back up and running. I'll continue to keep a close watch on things, including PH and Alk over the next few weeks.

I have some additional pictures and commentary in my build thread.

*Johnseye's New 260g Build*

Here's a YouTube link of how to change it that Pacific Sun provided.

https://youtu.be/rsO45WASsEI

Here's what the split in the tubing looks like.

[wishntoboutside]

After working fine for a few weeks mine went into error mode. I guess I need to start over in this. Glad I was in town and not away. Very concerned if I lose power going forward as this was a lot of time to get this running right

[Przemek_PacSun]

You can turn off alarm and reactor will start after power failures without any trouble however it will not inform you when your co2 bottle will be empty or when pressure drop and co2 is not flowing properly (some regulators change gas flow during the time when co2 pressure drop in the bottle .

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by Przemek_PacSun

We have Distributor - it's DeepWater Aquatics.
Since next week we start technical training in their HQ - we will be also on Global Pet SHOW in Orlando presenting our products(like IBR reactors, CalcFeeders, Althea T5 etc).

Regards

Przemek

Congrats, it's been s long time coming. Will they be handling service or will users still have to go direct through you?

[HippieSmell]

Are the push tube connectors on the solenoid replaceble with something else, like threaded adapters? I don't want to go torquing on it and risk damage.

[mrtint]

FYI...... the footprint on your website is wrong for the AC-1. You list 230x390mm. Inches would be 9"x15.3"
My AC-1 is actually 11.5"x14.5"
The disappointment here is I went with the AC-1 for my 225 gallon tank only because it would fit at 9" unfortunately now I can't use it (I only have 10" of space for width) unless I set in on the floor outside of my stand.
Only other option is to install remote and hope the pump can handle 12-15 feet of line


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[wishntoboutside]

That really sucks I hop you can get it to work remotely

[PacSun Service]

@mrtint - if You mean 12-15 feet horizontally pump will handle with it no problem.

Best regards
Pacific Sun Service

[Przemek_PacSun]

@mrtint
We are checking that wrong informations provided on our website - probably they were published based on first versions of CalcFeeders released in last year after Interzoo Expo in Nurymberg.
We are checking it now, if there will be any problems please let us know - we will find solution for you.
Thank you for understanding.

Regards

Przemek