Calcium reactor setup/operation questions

[DaveS]

Hi guys, I'm finally getting around to thinking about maybe someday setting up the calcium reactor I got. It's a used Precision Marine reactor and I got a few questions.

 

1) What's the best way to feed it? Use an Aqualifter pulling up water from the sump? How do I decide how much I should feed? I know that how much Ca ends up in the effluent is dependent on CO2 rate and feed rate, is the goal to match those so that it puts in as much Ca as my tank consumes? If so, it would seem to make sense to keep feed rate relatively low so that I can keep CO2 rate low too. Obviously CA saturation in the effluent would be a consideration.

 

2) Where should I dump the effluent out to in my sump? Do I need to be concerned that my kalk stirrer and Ca reactor will both be on at the same time and be dumping in the sump at the same time?

 

3) This reactor doesn't have a place to install a PH probe. Anyone have an idea how I can fix that?

 

Thanks everyone!

[jamesbuf]

1. I plan on feeding mine with an aqualifter pump as well. Its actually running right now, but I'm waiting for a pH port replacement before I hookup the CO2. So its really just pumping tank water through the reactor right now, but I'm definitely keeping with this pump since it working well.

 

2. I've always read to make sure that the effluent is dripping into an area with high turbidity. I know plenty of people who run kalk and Ca reactors, but I'm not sure about scheduling and such. I and many other run our top off though out Kalk reactors only at night to help keep pH high when the lights are off. Since Ca reactor effluent has a low pH, I'm not sure if it would be beneficial to run some kalk during the day also. Have to way for some Vets to give there two cents.

 

3. You can use a cup/container attached to the inside of the sump, but raised up so it won't mix with your tank water. Then put the effluent line and the probe in the cup. You should get a pretty accurate since the effluent will exit right next to the pH probe at the bottom of the cup. Dan uses something similar to measure his ORP on the effluent on his Sulfur Denitrator and he says it works well.

[DaveS]

Hmm, interesting idea with the cup and external probe. Sounds like I would need a fairly small container/cup so that the effluent in the cup is representative of the the effluent in my reactor. I would think that the effluent in the cup could off gas C02 and give a false PH reading if left there long enough. I guess it all depends on how fast my effluent output is. That kinda goes back to some of the other questions I had.

 

None of the other experts have any sage advice?

[scott711]

Dave,

 

I run my reactor with a small maxijet powerhead. It also runs 24/7. I too have a kalk reactor, but that is set to come on during the evening to help keep the PH stable. My effluent is a constant stream, but my bubble count is low (~20/minute). This has keep my alk up and calcium around 400-450. I don't check the effluent PH, but my PH in my tank is ~8.1

 

Keep in mind every tank is different and calcium/alk demand is different. If you set up the reactor you should test each day to determine the calcium usage. You can even measure your tanks calcium demand by stopping any calcium additions and see what the delta is per day.

[kngfisher]

why would you not want to get ride of some of the excess co2 before it enters the tank? I use the cup method...well its really a cut off soda bottle the effluent drips into suspended above the waterline of the sump with one of my ph probes stuck in it. simple and effective.

[DaveS]

why would you not want to get ride of some of the excess co2 before it enters the tank? I use the cup method...well its really a cut off soda bottle the effluent drips into suspended above the waterline of the sump with one of my ph probes stuck in it. simple and effective.

 

I would. I'm just wondering if using this technique is an accurate way to measure the PH inside the actual reactor. I think one thing I was wrong about is the flow rate of the effluent out of the reactor. Sounds like it's higher than I was originally picturing.

 

Scott, are you using your MJ to feed the reactor or to recirculate water within the reactor? Maybe I"m using the incorrect terms and causing confusion...

 

I can see using a MJ or some other powerhead to recirculate. The Aqualifter seems like the right volume pump to use for feeding tank water into the reactor and pushing effluent out. Anyone use something else?

 

Thanks guys.

[flowerseller]

I use an MJ something to feed my reactor tank water with a valve on the outflow from the reactor.

I use a DIY cup similar to knfisher to collect the effluent and measure the pH before it goes into my sump.

I have a Mag5 for recirculation inside the reactor.

 

For me, I have to use a stream of flow from the reactor due to demand.

This wil cause the use of additional CO2 but who cares? not me.

[scott711]

Scott, are you using your MJ to feed the reactor or to recirculate water within the reactor? Maybe I"m using the incorrect terms and causing confusion...

 

I can see using a MJ or some other powerhead to recirculate. The Aqualifter seems like the right volume pump to use for feeding tank water into the reactor and pushing effluent out. Anyone use something else?

 

Thanks guys.

 

I use a MJ for both recirculating and feeding. It is a dual chamber DIY I bought from Rik a while back and works like a charm. I also have a valve on the end to control the effluent. I found that if the drip rate was too slow it would stop so I did less CO2 and more flow....