calcium reactor and Alk

kendo · 03/20/2009, 01:02 PM

Hi, I just set up my calcium reactor a few day ago and now my Alk is way to high, It's around 18 dkh, so I shut it down to let the Alk come back down. How long will the ARM media last just sitting in the reactor.

MrPike · 03/20/2009, 01:36 PM

Depends on the PH - Best thing would probably be to turn your CO2 off, but keep the calcium reactor flowing. That way the water in the reactor won't be low enough to melt the media.

Keeping the water flowing will help avoid building up a really low oxygen environment that may be harmful later. If when you turn it on, make sure to smell the water a bit. If it gives you a nice egg fart smell thats hydrogen sulfide and you may need to drain that water into a bucket until it smells ok.

To answer your question about how long the media will last - forever if the PH is the same as in your tank.

HTH

03/20/2009, 01:02 PM	#1
kendo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Enterprise,Alabama Posts: 335	calcium reactor and Alk Hi, I just set up my calcium reactor a few day ago and now my Alk is way to high, It's around 18 dkh, so I shut it down to let the Alk come back down. How long will the ARM media last just sitting in the reactor.

03/20/2009, 01:36 PM	#2
MrPike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 718	Depends on the PH - Best thing would probably be to turn your CO2 off, but keep the calcium reactor flowing. That way the water in the reactor won't be low enough to melt the media. Keeping the water flowing will help avoid building up a really low oxygen environment that may be harmful later. If when you turn it on, make sure to smell the water a bit. If it gives you a nice egg fart smell thats hydrogen sulfide and you may need to drain that water into a bucket until it smells ok. To answer your question about how long the media will last - forever if the PH is the same as in your tank. HTH