Calcium reactor dial up.

dmorazan · 12/31/2009, 12:27 AM

I have been checking for threads about dialing a calcium reactor. I have a Geo 612 with lbs CO2 tank. what is your bubble count on the CO2 and how many drips on your discharge? how can you test your output to see if what is coming out is correct? is there a thread that I can read that i was not able to find? and please give me me your comments on the geo 612. thanks

captsluggo · 12/31/2009, 07:31 AM

The instructions can be had at geosreef.com
I have a 612 and can honestly say it works great for me.
It is recommended to set your CA, ALK, and MAG where you want them before trying to dial in the reactor. Start with an effluent drip rate of 50ml per minute, CO2 bubble count of 30 per minute, then wait 24 hours and test.
I test ALK for dial in.
If you are using a PH controller, the best way to go IMO, just set the CO2 count to maintain ~6.5 to start.
It is a good idea to have the effluent discharging near the skimmer intake in order to help diffuse excess CO2.
I personally don't test the effluent, but the instructions advise against letting the effluent PH get below 6.0
The GEO reactors are generally regarded as very nice units.
Captsluggo

fsn77 · 12/31/2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captsluggo

If you are using a PH controller, the best way to go IMO, just set the CO2 count to maintain ~6.5 to start.

I recently set up a different model of GEO calcium reactor and have to completely agree with that statement. When using a pH controller, the exact bubble count itself is not so important, as long as it is low enough to keep excess CO2 from building up in the reactor while the solenoid is open and high enough to keep the solenoid from remaining open all the time.

Starting with a low effluent drip rate also made things go well for me. I started at 40 mL / minute and didn't have to change it much from there.

dmorazan · 12/31/2009, 01:53 PM

how about if you are not using a controller? I do not have one yet so what has worked fo you?

rbnice1 · 12/31/2009, 01:58 PM

Personally I wouldn't use a calc reactor with out a controller to much can go wrong. Im not using a geo but mine is similar size and operation as the 612, im at a bubble rate of 1 bubble per second but my solenoid is only on about 10 minutes ever hour so you may want to start with a low bubble count let it run like that for 6-8 hours then test pH and alk of the effluent every hour or so till you get the bubble count correct.

12/31/2009, 12:27 AM	#1
dmorazan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fresno ca Posts: 113	Calcium reactor dial up. I have been checking for threads about dialing a calcium reactor. I have a Geo 612 with lbs CO2 tank. what is your bubble count on the CO2 and how many drips on your discharge? how can you test your output to see if what is coming out is correct? is there a thread that I can read that i was not able to find? and please give me me your comments on the geo 612. thanks

12/31/2009, 01:53 PM	#4
dmorazan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fresno ca Posts: 113	thanks how about if you are not using a controller? I do not have one yet so what has worked fo you?

12/31/2009, 07:31 AM	#2
captsluggo Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 76	The instructions can be had at geosreef.com I have a 612 and can honestly say it works great for me. It is recommended to set your CA, ALK, and MAG where you want them before trying to dial in the reactor. Start with an effluent drip rate of 50ml per minute, CO2 bubble count of 30 per minute, then wait 24 hours and test. I test ALK for dial in. If you are using a PH controller, the best way to go IMO, just set the CO2 count to maintain ~6.5 to start. It is a good idea to have the effluent discharging near the skimmer intake in order to help diffuse excess CO2. I personally don't test the effluent, but the instructions advise against letting the effluent PH get below 6.0 The GEO reactors are generally regarded as very nice units. Captsluggo

12/31/2009, 01:58 PM	#5
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Personally I wouldn't use a calc reactor with out a controller to much can go wrong. Im not using a geo but mine is similar size and operation as the 612, im at a bubble rate of 1 bubble per second but my solenoid is only on about 10 minutes ever hour so you may want to start with a low bubble count let it run like that for 6-8 hours then test pH and alk of the effluent every hour or so till you get the bubble count correct.