calcium reactor???

tigerkai · 07/15/2006, 10:13 AM

Hi guys,can we use top-up water for calcium reactor?cause fresh water ph is lower n it will help to bring down the ph faster.

jdieck · 07/15/2006, 10:44 AM

Nope. A calcium reactor has to operate continuously in a closed loop to operate effectively. If you want to use the top off to add Calcium and Alkalinity try a Kalk reactor.

BigReef · 07/15/2006, 10:54 AM

I wouldn't suggest using your top off water to feed your reactor. You open a whole new can of worms in regards to salinity. You basically would be adding freshwater non-stop. You would have to adjust that to match your evaporation needs. You could do that on a gravity fed float valve but the calcium would quickly clog it.

I have used calcium carbonte (sand) in my ro'di storage to help buffer the water. The acidic ph of the ro/di helps to disolve some of the sand and add calcium back to the water.

.02

Tim

jdieck · 07/15/2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigReef
The acidic ph of the ro/di ....
Tim

foggy54 · 07/15/2006, 08:13 PM

With a two chamber cal. reactor at what point do you do a refill, and do you just top it off or remove and replace remaining. first chamber at 1/3 and second at 2/3 to 3/4 full? thanks

jdieck · 07/15/2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by foggy54
With a two chamber cal. reactor at what point do you do a refill, and do you just top it off or remove and replace remaining. first chamber at 1/3 and second at 2/3 to 3/4 full? thanks

I basically refill when it is 1/4 down (3/4 full) once it is below 1/2 the addition drops significantly.
When I see that the media starts getting muddy then I take it out, rinse it and load it again.
This is for both chambers.

foggy54 · 07/16/2006, 12:44 PM

Thanks, I'll give her a refill.

07/15/2006, 10:13 AM	#1
tigerkai Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 17	calcium reactor??? Hi guys,can we use top-up water for calcium reactor?cause fresh water ph is lower n it will help to bring down the ph faster.

07/15/2006, 10:44 AM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Nope. A calcium reactor has to operate continuously in a closed loop to operate effectively. If you want to use the top off to add Calcium and Alkalinity try a Kalk reactor. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

07/15/2006, 08:13 PM	#5
foggy54 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cunningham/Clarksville Posts: 1,133	With a two chamber cal. reactor at what point do you do a refill, and do you just top it off or remove and replace remaining. first chamber at 1/3 and second at 2/3 to 3/4 full? thanks __________________ John Current Tank Info: 110 display sps tank m/h & vho lites, 180 softy tank, & 58 gal frag tank.

07/16/2006, 12:44 PM	#7
foggy54 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cunningham/Clarksville Posts: 1,133	Thanks, I'll give her a refill. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 110 display sps tank m/h & vho lites, 180 softy tank, & 58 gal frag tank.

07/15/2006, 10:54 AM	#3
BigReef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Rossville,Indiana,USA Posts: 349	I wouldn't suggest using your top off water to feed your reactor. You open a whole new can of worms in regards to salinity. You basically would be adding freshwater non-stop. You would have to adjust that to match your evaporation needs. You could do that on a gravity fed float valve but the calcium would quickly clog it. I have used calcium carbonte (sand) in my ro'di storage to help buffer the water. The acidic ph of the ro/di helps to disolve some of the sand and add calcium back to the water. .02 Tim