Excessively high bubble count needed for CaRx

law086 · 02/15/2009, 09:18 AM

Hi folks,

I have a MRC CR-2 calcium reactor that I've been playing with forever trying to get it just right.

It seems to require an excessively high bubble count to keep my PH at 7.0 or 7.1 inside the reactor. I'm measuring the effluent PH between my first and second chamber with a PH controller.

At the moment, my effluent is super low at around 12ml per minute and my bubble count is high at about 30 bubbles per minute. I can run my bubble count higher and it doesn't do much in lowing my reactor PH. I can empty my 5 pounds CO2 bubble in around a month.

I recently checked my PH probe, so I don't think it's giving me a bad reading.

I'm trying to figure out why I need such a high bubble count to keep a fairly high reactor PH.

I'm using ARM small granular media and it's fresh. I tried looking for leaks using soapy water and didn't find anything obvious. I know the CO2 is making it into the pump intake because if I remove the CO2 line from the pump and submerse it in water, it comes out at about the same rate at the bubble counter measures.

The other thing I noticed is that when I pull the CO2 line off the pump intake, water really shoots out. I'm not sure if this is normal since the line is on the pumps intake.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm at my wits end with this thing and ready to switch to a two-part system.

law086 · 02/15/2009, 04:14 PM

bump for the night crowd

chadfarmer · 02/15/2009, 05:41 PM

every reactor is different

the design is a upflow design if i remember right that will waste more co2 that a downflow design

take your media ph down to 6.7 in the first chamber, so the 2nd should read 7.0 (or close to that)

and let it run

this isnt rocket science (than check you kh every 2 days and adjust more effluent or ph to get you where you want it ) your calcium should fall into place

law086 · 02/15/2009, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the reply. You'd think this wasn't rocket science.

To get my PH to something around 6.7, I'm guessing I'd have to inject a ridiculous amount of CO2, like over 5 bubbles per SECOND. Even then I'm not sure if it would work.

BTW - it's not an upflow design.

02/15/2009, 09:18 AM	#1
law086 Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 1,306	Excessively high bubble count needed for CaRx Hi folks, I have a MRC CR-2 calcium reactor that I've been playing with forever trying to get it just right. It seems to require an excessively high bubble count to keep my PH at 7.0 or 7.1 inside the reactor. I'm measuring the effluent PH between my first and second chamber with a PH controller. At the moment, my effluent is super low at around 12ml per minute and my bubble count is high at about 30 bubbles per minute. I can run my bubble count higher and it doesn't do much in lowing my reactor PH. I can empty my 5 pounds CO2 bubble in around a month. I recently checked my PH probe, so I don't think it's giving me a bad reading. I'm trying to figure out why I need such a high bubble count to keep a fairly high reactor PH. I'm using ARM small granular media and it's fresh. I tried looking for leaks using soapy water and didn't find anything obvious. I know the CO2 is making it into the pump intake because if I remove the CO2 line from the pump and submerse it in water, it comes out at about the same rate at the bubble counter measures. The other thing I noticed is that when I pull the CO2 line off the pump intake, water really shoots out. I'm not sure if this is normal since the line is on the pumps intake. Any help would be appreciated. I'm at my wits end with this thing and ready to switch to a two-part system. __________________ "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year." Current Tank Info: 180 RR ~ 150g sump ~ 100g fuge ~ 30g frag tank ~ Bermuda Aquatics 8C on Mag18~ GenX 55 return ~ 3 SureFlow MaxiMods, Tunze 6000 ~ 40w Gamma UV ~ 175w x 3 MH ~ 160w x 2 VHO

02/15/2009, 04:14 PM	#2
law086 Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 1,306	bump for the night crowd __________________ "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year." Current Tank Info: 180 RR ~ 150g sump ~ 100g fuge ~ 30g frag tank ~ Bermuda Aquatics 8C on Mag18~ GenX 55 return ~ 3 SureFlow MaxiMods, Tunze 6000 ~ 40w Gamma UV ~ 175w x 3 MH ~ 160w x 2 VHO

02/15/2009, 05:41 PM	#3
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	every reactor is different the design is a upflow design if i remember right that will waste more co2 that a downflow design take your media ph down to 6.7 in the first chamber, so the 2nd should read 7.0 (or close to that) and let it run this isnt rocket science (than check you kh every 2 days and adjust more effluent or ph to get you where you want it ) your calcium should fall into place __________________ 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

02/15/2009, 05:47 PM	#4
law086 Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 1,306	Thanks for the reply. You'd think this wasn't rocket science. To get my PH to something around 6.7, I'm guessing I'd have to inject a ridiculous amount of CO2, like over 5 bubbles per SECOND. Even then I'm not sure if it would work. BTW - it's not an upflow design. __________________ "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year." Current Tank Info: 180 RR ~ 150g sump ~ 100g fuge ~ 30g frag tank ~ Bermuda Aquatics 8C on Mag18~ GenX 55 return ~ 3 SureFlow MaxiMods, Tunze 6000 ~ 40w Gamma UV ~ 175w x 3 MH ~ 160w x 2 VHO