Need help: Calcium Reactor not keeping consistent drip rate.

PotRoast · 07/06/2012, 10:46 AM

Hi there.

My CARx has been ****ing me off big time. I can't keep a steady effluent drip rate. If it is turned down to a few drops per second it will not keep that drip rate....it usually stops dripping altogether after a couple days.

So to compensate I have been running a very fast effluent with a lot of drops of CO2.

I assume my problems is rooted in the needle valve....it used to keep a consistent drip rate but not anymore. But I have been reading that the problem could be my pump.

I have a MRC duel reactor with an ehiem pump.

Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to fix this?
Anyone know where I can get a better needle valve?
Could it be the pump?

sirreal63 · 07/06/2012, 11:25 AM

Soak the effluent valve in vinegar, they tend to get clogged. If you increase the effluent drip rate, you have to offset that with a higher reactor ph to keep the output the same. Long term solution is a continuous duty peristaltic pump or a higher effluent flow.

tkeracer619 · 07/06/2012, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

SLong term solution is a continuous duty peristaltic pump

This IME is the best way to go. I have been using one for years and would refuse to operate a calcium reactor without one.

The cost is high, we are not talking cheap hobby pumps. These are lab grade pumps. You won't ever have effluent problems again if you go this way.

bnumair · 07/06/2012, 12:05 PM

like advised above either get a pump or keep a high flow rate with higher co2 rate to compensate.

sirreal63 · 07/06/2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

like advised above either get a pump or keep a high flow rate with higher co2 rate to compensate.

That would be a lower CO2 bubble rate to keep the total output the same, a higher co2 rate and a higher effluent rate would be increasing the output, not keeping it the same. :-)

Editour2 · 07/25/2012, 02:04 PM

I am having the same problem with my Knof Calc Reactor....the needle valve needs to be checked daily....I was told that there were high grade needle valves available....I tried doing a search and happened upon this thread.

07/06/2012, 10:46 AM	#1
PotRoast Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 218	Need help: Calcium Reactor not keeping consistent drip rate. Hi there. My CARx has been ****ing me off big time. I can't keep a steady effluent drip rate. If it is turned down to a few drops per second it will not keep that drip rate....it usually stops dripping altogether after a couple days. So to compensate I have been running a very fast effluent with a lot of drops of CO2. I assume my problems is rooted in the needle valve....it used to keep a consistent drip rate but not anymore. But I have been reading that the problem could be my pump. I have a MRC duel reactor with an ehiem pump. Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to fix this? Anyone know where I can get a better needle valve? Could it be the pump?

07/06/2012, 11:25 AM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Soak the effluent valve in vinegar, they tend to get clogged. If you increase the effluent drip rate, you have to offset that with a higher reactor ph to keep the output the same. Long term solution is a continuous duty peristaltic pump or a higher effluent flow. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/06/2012, 12:05 PM	#4
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	like advised above either get a pump or keep a high flow rate with higher co2 rate to compensate. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/25/2012, 02:04 PM	#6
Editour2 Frank Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,907	I am having the same problem with my Knof Calc Reactor....the needle valve needs to be checked daily....I was told that there were high grade needle valves available....I tried doing a search and happened upon this thread.