GEO Calcium Reactor 618 - Help! - Page 5

RGibson · 01/01/2010, 07:43 AM

Any one have a good way to clean out the media that gets trapped under the holder that holds up the media screen on my geo 624 . The holder is cemented to the reactor and can not be remove.

jdieck · 01/02/2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGibson

Any one have a good way to clean out the media that gets trapped under the holder that holds up the media screen on my geo 624 . The holder is cemented to the reactor and can not be remove.

If is not much media I would not worry much about it. Given the flow it can not be carried into the pump and it will eventually dissolve.
If it worries too much, you can try leaving it in vinegar to dissolve it.

RGibson · 01/04/2010, 11:04 AM

jdieck your part two on calcium reactors was well done and will help many on reef central. Have a good day. Ralph

RokleM · 01/04/2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGibson

jdieck your part two on calcium reactors was well done and will help many on reef central. Have a good day. Ralph

He's referring to this if you're in the dark as to the meaning behind the comment:
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....efkeeping-blog
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....between-part-2

jdieck · 01/04/2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGibson

jdieck your part two on calcium reactors was well done and will help many on reef central. Have a good day. Ralph

Thanks, I really wish it could help many.

corywilson · 01/11/2010, 06:48 AM

I hooked up my 612 yesterday and everything went pretty smoothly except for a small issue with my regulator. I'm using a new Milwaukee regulator and initially I set the discharge pressure at 10 psi, after a few hours I noticed that this had dropped down to just a couple of psi. I then turned it up to around 15 psi and this morning it had dropprd to about 10 psi. So now I have adjusted it to 20 psi and ill check it after work to see where we are at. My question for everyone was is this normal for a new regulator?

RGibson · 01/11/2010, 08:32 AM

This is not normal for a new regulator.

corywilson · 01/11/2010, 10:13 AM

Should I return the regulator or is there something else I can try?

RGibson · 01/11/2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RokleM

He's referring to this if you're in the dark as to the meaning behind the comment:
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....efkeeping-blog
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....between-part-2

Read part 2 on calcium reactors
Ralph

jdieck · 01/11/2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corywilson

Should I return the regulator or is there something else I can try?

That is a normal behavior in single stage regulators. When trying to regulate the pressure in the lower range with low bubble rates, because of the small flow and the low sensitive of single stage regulators, when the pressure in the delivery chamber drops to the point where the regulator opens there is a rush of gas into the chamber that increases the delivery pressure very suddenly. Because of the low bubble rate the gas in that chamber takes a long time to drop you see the pressure slowly dropping until the regulator opens again. This behavior may cause you to try to set the pressure when the chamber is full so you may unscrew the adjusting knob too far without noticing a drop in pressure until hours later.
The way to prevent this is to try adjusting the pressure from zero up but without exceeding your target point. Once you exceed the target point even if you back down the pressure you will not see a drop in the gauge until hours later.

The best way to prevent this will be:
a) Unscrew the pressure-adjusting knob to close the regulator.
b) Unplug the CO2 line from the reactor.
c) Fully open the needle valve until the delivery gauge (Low pressure) reads Zero.
d) Fully close the needle valve just do not tight it too hard to prevent denting the seat.
e) Very, Very slowly screw in the pressure-adjusting knob while watching the delivery pressure gauge. The gauge needle will start to rise, stop adjusting the knob when the needle reads your target avoid exceeding the target (The Milwaukee will work fine between 20 to 25 psi).
f) Connect the line back to the reactor and slowly open the needle valve to set your bubble rate.
g) Wait 30 minutes to an hour and readjust the pressure knob if the pressure in the delivery gauge dropped and readjust the needle valve.

Note that you may notice certain surge where when the regulator opens the delivery pressure will rise to your target and overtime it may drop just to jump up again as the gas gets consumed. This will cause the bubble rate to increase and decrease periodically but it will not affect the operation of the reactor.

corywilson · 01/12/2010, 11:21 AM

Thanks Jose, I had read 100% of this thread prior to setting it up. So I started at a lower pressure and was working my way up but didn't want to go too far. Currently I'm at 22 psi and its been steady for about 16 hours.

On a side note my reactor is running 22 bpm and 30 ml/min and alk has slighly increased from 8 to 8.3 over 36 hours. I'm going to stay the course assuming it is just a test kit accuracy issue.

jdieck · 01/12/2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corywilson

Thanks Jose, I had read 100% of this thread prior to setting it up. So I started at a lower pressure and was working my way up but didn't want to go too far. Currently I'm at 22 psi and its been steady for about 16 hours.

On a side note my reactor is running 22 bpm and 30 ml/min and alk has slighly increased from 8 to 8.3 over 36 hours. I'm going to stay the course assuming it is just a test kit accuracy issue.

Yes, wait a bit longer before adjusting. Seems you are very close to the set point.

Reefer08 · 04/06/2010, 10:43 PM

Im having problems with my GEO 618. It seems that the reactor is not dissolving the co2 bubbles. The pH leave inside the reactor won't drop below 7, I usually run it at 6.60. I tried adjusting my solenoid to release more co2, hasn't helped. A lot of co2 builds up at the top of the reactor and causes the Eheim 1250 recirc. pump to start making weird noises and stop working. The Eheim pump works again when I drain the air in the reactor. Any advice whats going on here?? Everything was going great until recently

and I haven't made any changes.

jdieck · 04/07/2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer08

Im having problems with my GEO 618. It seems that the reactor is not dissolving the co2 bubbles. The pH leave inside the reactor won't drop below 7, I usually run it at 6.60. I tried adjusting my solenoid to release more co2, hasn't helped. A lot of co2 builds up at the top of the reactor and causes the Eheim 1250 recirc. pump to start making weird noises and stop working. The Eheim pump works again when I drain the air in the reactor. Any advice whats going on here?? Everything was going great until recently

and I haven't made any changes.

Yes, the recirculation powerhead looses priming and stops pumping when a large amount of gass enters it.
The accumulation of gas inside the reactor is usually a result of air being sucked in by the feed powerhead or due to excessive CO2 feed which I think it is happening in your efforts to lower the reactor PH.
High PH in the reactor despite the injection of CO2 typically can be due to:

a) PH probe not properly calibrated and the actual PH is lower than it actually reads.
b) The effluent flow is too high so CO2 does not have enough resident time in the reactor.

Try the following:
a) Insure the feed powerhead is fully submerged all the time and the area is free of bubbles. Sometimes the feed powerhead can suck in air if the water level drops like when making water changes or so.
b) Insure that your PH rpobe is properly calibrated and that if using a PH controller, insure that the set point is properly set, usually CO2 on at 6.7 CO2 off at 6.5
c) Start with an effluent flow of around 30 to 40 mil/min and a CO2 bubble rate of around 25 to 30 bpm and give it 24 hours for the PH to stabilize in the reactor.

Let us know how it goes.

RGibson · 04/29/2010, 06:28 AM

jdieck how low do you let the media in the calcium reactor get before you add more media?

jdieck · 04/29/2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGibson

jdieck how low do you let the media in the calcium reactor get before you add more media?

Because the lower it gets the lower the addition and the more adjustments you need to make, I usually top it off when 1/4 of the original media has been consummed. (3/4 remain). I have found out that usually down to this level you do not need to make any re-adjustments of the original set point.

Enjoy!

RGibson · 04/30/2010, 07:22 AM

Thank you

jdieck · 04/30/2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGibson

Thank you

beezer06840 · 05/14/2010, 05:36 PM

I bought a used 618 reactor from somebody who said the CO2 tank was full. It has been operating for almost a week with the reading on the high pressure gauge (cylinder content) around 800 psi. I came home today and it is showing just about 50. The solenoid side is about 15 psi. I can't tell if the tank is full or not by lifting it since I have no basis for comparison. My question is, does this sound like a faulty regulator or empty tank. Can you still have a psi >0 on the solenoid side if the high pressure gauge has dropped so much? I am going to take the tank to Airgas tomorrow to see if it is empty, but thought I would run this by the board first.
Thanks,
Brian

jdieck · 05/14/2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beezer06840

I bought a used 618 reactor from somebody who said the CO2 tank was full. It has been operating for almost a week with the reading on the high pressure gauge (cylinder content) around 800 psi. I came home today and it is showing just about 50. The solenoid side is about 15 psi. I can't tell if the tank is full or not by lifting it since I have no basis for comparison. My question is, does this sound like a faulty regulator or empty tank. Can you still have a psi >0 on the solenoid side if the high pressure gauge has dropped so much? I am going to take the tank to Airgas tomorrow to see if it is empty, but thought I would run this by the board first.
Thanks,
Brian

If you have a scale you might find out if the cylinder is full by weighting it. Most cylinders of more than 10 pounds capacity have their tare weight stamped near the neck of the cylinder, weight the cylinder and deduct the tare weight to know how much CO2 is in it. If you measure some content then compare it to the cylinder capacity to know how much is it. As an example, if the cylinder has a 10 pounds capacity and yor net weight is 3 pounds then it is 30% full.
For small cylinders you may know if there is CO2 inside by shacking it and see if you can feel liquid being shaken inside. BTW, CO2 inside the cylinder is in liquid form and because at ambient temperature it liquify at a pressure of around 830 psi the pressure can not rise much above that. When CO2 is consumed the liquid bubbles up to replace the gas withrawn so the pressure is maintained the same until all the liquid is gone so as soon as the pressure starts to drop it means all liquid has been consummed and there is only some CO2 left as gas and it is time to refill. I usually refill when the pressure drops to between 600 and 500 psi.
As far as there is some pressure reading on the high pressure side, you can have a reading on the low pressure side, just note that the regulator will stop regulating if the pressure on the high presure side falls below 100 to 200 psi depending on the regulator.

NewSchool04 · 05/14/2010, 10:51 PM

I'm looking to bring my 618 back online after sitting for about 6 months with tank water in the reactor. There also looks like detritus in the top 2" of the reactor. Should I replace all the media before starting it up?

Also, my CO2 cylinder has been sitting for 6 months, is there any danger of using it now or does it need to be refilled?

Canoe1 · 05/15/2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewSchool04

I'm looking to bring my 618 back online after sitting for about 6 months with tank water in the reactor. There also looks like detritus in the top 2" of the reactor. Should I replace all the media before starting it up?

Also, my CO2 cylinder has been sitting for 6 months, is there any danger of using it now or does it need to be refilled?

I would say yes to the media change and no to the CO2 change. No sense in having to shut it down and start over because of bad media..and CO2 is CO2....can't go wrong there as long as your gauges are reading correctly and your tank is close to full.

Regards,

jdieck · 05/15/2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewSchool04

I'm looking to bring my 618 back online after sitting for about 6 months with tank water in the reactor. There also looks like detritus in the top 2" of the reactor. Should I replace all the media before starting it up?

Also, my CO2 cylinder has been sitting for 6 months, is there any danger of using it now or does it need to be refilled?

As Canoe1 mentions, CO2 will be good to go as CO2 will not decompose and if you have a pressure of 750 psi or higher in the cylinder, otherwise it is empty.
On the media, the key issue will be accumulation of hydrogen sulfide due to die off and decomposition of bacteria in the stagnant water.
If the media does not look black, you may be able to use it after giving it a good rinse and stiring well with plenty of running water. If insure, just replace it.

NewSchool04 · 05/15/2010, 10:34 AM

Thanks Canoe1 and jdieck!

thi7b · 07/16/2010, 09:18 PM

Is it ok to use maxijet 400 instead 1200. The 1200 run very noise I think due the flow back pressure. The 400 run very quiet compare to the 1200. I ran it for a day. The reading coming from the eff. 13 on Elos test kit. But the tank water measure 7. I know 7 is alittle low. I'm trying to bring it up slowly.

01/01/2010, 07:43 AM	#101
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Any one have a good way to clean out the media that gets trapped under the holder that holds up the media screen on my geo 624 . The holder is cemented to the reactor and can not be remove. __________________ RGibson

01/04/2010, 11:04 AM	#103
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	jdieck your part two on calcium reactors was well done and will help many on reef central. Have a good day. Ralph __________________ RGibson

01/11/2010, 08:32 AM	#107
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	This is not normal for a new regulator. __________________ RGibson

04/29/2010, 06:28 AM	#115
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	jdieck how low do you let the media in the calcium reactor get before you add more media? __________________ RGibson

04/30/2010, 07:22 AM	#117
RGibson RGibson Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,377	Thank you __________________ RGibson

01/11/2010, 06:48 AM	#106
corywilson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 88	I hooked up my 612 yesterday and everything went pretty smoothly except for a small issue with my regulator. I'm using a new Milwaukee regulator and initially I set the discharge pressure at 10 psi, after a few hours I noticed that this had dropped down to just a couple of psi. I then turned it up to around 15 psi and this morning it had dropprd to about 10 psi. So now I have adjusted it to 20 psi and ill check it after work to see where we are at. My question for everyone was is this normal for a new regulator?

01/11/2010, 10:13 AM	#108
corywilson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 88	Should I return the regulator or is there something else I can try?

01/12/2010, 11:21 AM	#111
corywilson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 88	Thanks Jose, I had read 100% of this thread prior to setting it up. So I started at a lower pressure and was working my way up but didn't want to go too far. Currently I'm at 22 psi and its been steady for about 16 hours. On a side note my reactor is running 22 bpm and 30 ml/min and alk has slighly increased from 8 to 8.3 over 36 hours. I'm going to stay the course assuming it is just a test kit accuracy issue.

04/06/2010, 10:43 PM	#113
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	Im having problems with my GEO 618. It seems that the reactor is not dissolving the co2 bubbles. The pH leave inside the reactor won't drop below 7, I usually run it at 6.60. I tried adjusting my solenoid to release more co2, hasn't helped. A lot of co2 builds up at the top of the reactor and causes the Eheim 1250 recirc. pump to start making weird noises and stop working. The Eheim pump works again when I drain the air in the reactor. Any advice whats going on here?? Everything was going great until recently and I haven't made any changes.

05/14/2010, 05:36 PM	#119
beezer06840 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: san diego Posts: 81	I bought a used 618 reactor from somebody who said the CO2 tank was full. It has been operating for almost a week with the reading on the high pressure gauge (cylinder content) around 800 psi. I came home today and it is showing just about 50. The solenoid side is about 15 psi. I can't tell if the tank is full or not by lifting it since I have no basis for comparison. My question is, does this sound like a faulty regulator or empty tank. Can you still have a psi >0 on the solenoid side if the high pressure gauge has dropped so much? I am going to take the tank to Airgas tomorrow to see if it is empty, but thought I would run this by the board first. Thanks, Brian

05/14/2010, 10:51 PM	#121
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I'm looking to bring my 618 back online after sitting for about 6 months with tank water in the reactor. There also looks like detritus in the top 2" of the reactor. Should I replace all the media before starting it up? Also, my CO2 cylinder has been sitting for 6 months, is there any danger of using it now or does it need to be refilled? __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/15/2010, 10:34 AM	#124
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	Thanks Canoe1 and jdieck! __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

07/16/2010, 09:18 PM	#125
thi7b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 274	Is it ok to use maxijet 400 instead 1200. The 1200 run very noise I think due the flow back pressure. The 400 run very quiet compare to the 1200. I ran it for a day. The reading coming from the eff. 13 on Elos test kit. But the tank water measure 7. I know 7 is alittle low. I'm trying to bring it up slowly.