How to setup Calcium Reactor

[discretekarma]

I got a Deltec 509 Calcium Reactor that I'm working on setting up. I read several pages on line regarding the basics of how they work and how to hook up but there are a few questions that I'd like answered if possible. The first is regarding the tubing. There are two small hookups for small tubing (ro/di size tubing) on the elbow where the recirc pump (aqua bee) is located. There is also a slightly large tube hookup on top of the reactor lid. I believe that one of the smaller ones is for the co2. One of the remaining must be for the effluent. What's the last one for? A feed pump? If so, what pump should I use? I have a maxi jet 1200. Would that work? May not be ideal but would it work since I already have it? Also, which of the small ones would be for co2 and which would be for the effluent? Should the effluent go in to the sump or in to a cup then into the sump or what? Lastly, where should the reactor be located? My sump is small and pretty full. Can the reactor sit next to the sump and drip the effluent in to the sump? If so, should it sit on the ground or on a stand? Does some part need to be higher in order for the effluent to drip properly?

 

Thanks

[Origami]

Do you have a cylinder, regulator, solenoid and bubble counter?

 

The two inputs on at the pump are to feed CO2 and tank water (input). I would probably use the input that's closer to the impeller for the CO2 if given the choice. The take off the top of the reactor is effluent. It also releases any CO2 gas that accumulates inside the reactor.

 

Jose Dieck recently published a nice little two-part series on setting up a calcium reactor. Here's the link to part 2 of that series:

 

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/pa...-between-part-2

 

In it, he shows how he adapted a Maxijet as a feed pump.

 

If you don't have an internal probe measuring the pH of the calcium reactor effluent, then dripping it into a cup and measuring there is one way of controlling your reactor automatically. Locate the cup so that the overflow drips into the sump. My reactor is located above the sump, but it could just as easily be next to the sump. You just need to make sure that it's not so high that the maxijet can't do the job of feeding the reactor.

 

Tuning a reactor manually can be a bit involved. I think that Chip had a tutorial on it somewhere. I use an internally mounted pH probe and a peristaltic pump, so it's a little more automated and controllable in my setup.

[reefhunter]

the two on the elbow are the feed pump and the co2 line. the one on top is the effluent. hook a feed pump to one of the ones on the elbow and put the line from the co2 on the other one on the elbow. make sure to get all the air out of it before you plug the pump in or it will start up with air in it and bad noises (my skimmer pump does the same thing).

[discretekarma]

Since I don't have an internal probe for the reactor, would it work to have the effluent drip in to one of those hang on the side specimen cups and then let it overflow in to the sump?

 

Also, my sump is small and split in to two sides, the skimmer and the return pump. It's divided by baffles. Would it be better to have the effluent overflow into the skimmer section or into the return pump section.

 

Feed pump selection - I have a maxijet 1200 (295 gph) that I spoke of earlier and an aquaclear 402 (270 gph). I currently use the maxijet for water changes and don't have the aerator adapter. I found that I also have a aquaclear 402 that has the adaptor built on. Since the reactor doesn't need the full 295 gph that the maxijet pumps, would the other powerhead work just as well?

Edited January 9, 2010 by discretekarma

[Origami]

Since I don't have an internal probe for the reactor, would it work to have the effluent drip in to one of those hang on the side specimen cups and then let it overflow in to the sump?

 

Yes. This is another "usual" way of doing this.

 

Also, my sump is small and split in to two sides, the skimmer and the return pump. It's divided by baffles. Would it be better to have the effluent overflow into the skimmer section or into the return pump section.

 

I'd let it run into the skimmer section. The gives the skimmer the opportunity to "blow off" the excess CO2 in the effluent.

 

Feed pump selection - I have a maxijet 1200 (295 gph) that I spoke of earlier and an aquaclear 402 (270 gph). I currently use the maxijet for water changes and don't have the aerator adapter. I found that I also have a aquaclear 402 that has the adaptor built on. Since the reactor doesn't need the full 295 gph that the maxijet pumps, would the other powerhead work just as well?

 

Whatever can get the water into the reactor and out of the reactor with reasonably consistent pressure should work. Read Jose's comment about making sure that the pump has some flow to keep it running cool. A pump that runs too warm will tend to get coated in calcium carbonate quicker and will need more frequent attention for maintenance. If you find that you can't maintain a consistent flow or drip rate out of the reactor with the pump that you've selected, you may wish to consider another pump.

[discretekarma]

Thanks. I think I'm all set. I just need one more tube from HD that'll fit on top where the effluent comes out. I have several sizes that I figured would work but none work so I'll have to head back to try something else. Otherwise I'm all set.