Ca reactor questions

[TampaSnooker]

Two questions - one generic, one Korallin specific.

Generic: If the reactor is located a ways from the tank (6' in this case, lg Deltec unit) what is the best way to deliver the effluent without risk of the line clogging? I took over a service account that had the effluent run into a line that returned water to the sump from a Deltec Ecocooler (evaporative chiller). The water from the ecocooler is highly aerated (it trickles through media as fans blow air through the chamber) and it was always clogging 1 1/2" pipe. We removed rocks from that pipe! I took 3/8 tubing and ran that directly into the sump for the effluent but that clogged after a month. Is the precipitation/deposition of the solids due to air exposure within the tube? Would I be safer to use 1/4" tubing to return the effluent so that there is no air in the line to react with?

Specific for Korallin reactors: I run a few Korallin reactors but they keep airlocking. The pump doesn't seem to chop up the CO2 bubbles very well as you can see large bubbles coming up through the media. The unit's design doesn't let it exit via the effluent line. Within a few days, there is too much gas at the top for the pump to pull water since the intake is about 3/4" beneath the lid. There is a purge line that is at the top of the chamber and I have debated using that as the effluent line instead of the one located above the pump's impellar because it allows the gas to escape better from where it accumulates. I suspect that would greatly increase the amount of CO2 that is required to dissolve the media since the gas isn't dissolving. You'd think that you should use the highest point (as designed) for the effluent line but the air pocket accumulates at the top of the chamber and the pump is mounted on top of that. The other consideration is to see if there is a needle wheel impellar for that pump to assist the CO2 in dissolving by chopping it up. Anyone else having this problem?
Here's the top of the unit for those who don't know it: http://www.danireef.com/images/2009_...n/DSC_2593.jpg

[rsuplido]

What kind of media are you using? I suggest you use extra corse media. Note the time when you change the media and when it starts clogging. When the time it clogs, that means you have to change the media maybe a month before the anticipated clogging.

As for the Koralin reactor, or any reactor for that matter, if you have excess air, that means you are pumping CO2 too fast. Halve the CO2 rate and increase the effluent rate until there is no CO2 build up in the reactor. Once you get the correct mix, if you want a higher dkh effluent, increase both CO2 bubble rate and effluent rate.

You dont need a needle wheel to chop the CO2. You just need to make sure your reactor is level so the CO2 keeps getting sucked by the pump as it goes to the top. Your CO2 rate should be correct as well so there is no/minimal build up at the top.

I used to use the same reactor before. When I upgraded to a bigger tank, I bought a second hand Geo calcium reactor. It was so much easier to setup . It almost never clogs. A pH controller and a good second hand MasterFlex perastaltic pump from eBay will really help with the adjustments and consistency.

Some articles I have bookmarked:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-0...ture/index.php
http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html
http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/s...-ph-controller

[TampaSnooker]

In the lg Deltec, we use ARM mixed with the RowaLith. Deltecs are fluidized reactors so coarse won't work as well. Are you suggesting that the media changes composition as it is dissolved and what is dissolved towards the end is more likely to be deposited in the effluent line?

With the Korallins, I've tried dropping the bubble count but find that the it doesn't get the pH low enough to dissolve the media. Of course, we drop the water flow rate at the same time but find it is difficult to keep consistent flow rates through the reactor when you go from a trickle to a drip. The pump's intake is a tube that is about 3/4" below the lid which allows for a large air pocket to form above the intake. Once it forms, there is no outlet for it, except through the bleed line. That's what makes me think I should use that for the effluent instead of the line plumbed to the pump. We typically use coarse media in these but are switching to regular ARM to see if the increased surface area of the media helps dissolve the gas or at least gets it longer contact time.

Thanks for the links - I'll read through after work today.