Calcium Reactor Problem

[STEVE]

Has anyone else had a problem keeping the effluent output constant? I have the MRC CR2 reactor, using Carib Sea coarse media. I have "flushed" the needle valve, I have slowed down the input to the reactor (put a valve on the powerhead suppling it)....does not seem to matter, the flow will change after a day or two, and always slows down....(from 60ml a day to 35ml per day and so on...) Any thoughts?

[Der ABT]

im going thru the same issues, mine is due to the tubing getting dirty (feed pump is in the sump and i guess just gets too dirty) and every so often gets some algea build up in it.

 

what ive done is had a constant stream, as in a near spray so the valve is almost full open and then just adjusted the ph higher in the reactor since more fluid is being pumped out.

 

i just got a dosing pump form BRS to repalce the maxijet ive been using.....problem is i ordered the 1.1ml pump because im a moron.........so will have to reorder the top up pump and sell this one. then i can lower the ph and not have as much water going thru the reactor and you elimate the need for a ballvalve

 

the other thing im thinking of trying is to gravity feed the reactor (justins idea) ...never thought it would be enough pressure but sure enough i gave it a shot temporarily and it worked, need to work out a mounting system first though

 

least thats my plan for now.....

[Coral Hind]

I always needle valve the return side of the reactor not the pump or supply side. I don't think you are getting enough stable supply pressure. Is your CO2 bubble count staying the same during this time? What powerhead are you using to supply it?

[STEVE]

CH, The bubble count is fine, just the output changes...I just put the valve on the Maxijet 1200 feeding the reactor 4 days ago, before that I ran it wide open....just trying what Jeremy at MRC told me, but that doesnt work either.

 

Evan, so your going to feed the reactor with a dosing pump?...never heard of that....would you be running the dosing pump 24/7?

[Origami]

I've had this problem when I used the "drip" method of output from a reactor. The problem was rapid build up of deposits on the tip of the tubing that caused the effluent drip rate to decrease. There are a couple of possible solutions here: One is to go to the "stream" method where you get a good stream flowing from the reactor instead of a drop or two per second. In that case, you need to raise the pH in your reactor so your effluent is not as concentrated. Another possible method is to drip into a small cup cup or holder of some sort that overflows into the sump. This would keep the tip of the tubing soaked in effluent so that the deposits don't form there.

 

I use a peristaltic pump on my reactor now.

[Der ABT]

i would think it would be close to on 24/7 which im not too excited about, but if you drop your ph lower you may not have to have it on ALL the time.

 

maxijet worked fine for me for about 3 years and just lately not so great....maybe i just need to replace the tubing??

[ctenophore]

Yes, try replacing the tubing. It probably has calcium buildup inside and is causing detritus to snag inside. Also try to draw water from a "clean" area of your sump, where there is not as much detritus floating around, like the output of your skimmer or just after a filter sock.

[OldReefer]

I ran an MRC CR2 for years. I kept having the same problem. I dose BRS now. I feel your pain.

[STEVE]

Thanks Bill, I thought I was going crazy....MRC Going to try the stream method, dont know why you should have to resort to this, but whatever...does GEO have this same problems?

[Steve175]

I also use a peristaltic pump: more expensive but a very very good investment. Stable Alk is the key to SPS

[STEVE]

......Ok, I'm lost, how do you use a parastolic pump for a calcium reactor? Do you just turn it on and let it run 24/7? If so, which pump?

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Only reason I have seen my geo do that is when I was burning through media with that little 150 gph recirc pump. It would just get clogged, still does if I don't clean it out every 3 months or so, even with the 350gph pump.

[Origami]

Steve, there's a lot of talk about a pump problem. I'm assuming that it's a effluent valve problem. What sort of valve do you have on the effluent and is it at the end of the tubing or in the middle somewhere? Are you really only dripping 60 ml per day? At 20 drops per milliliter, that's about one drop every 66 seconds.

[STEVE]

I am using the needle valve that comes with the MRC cr2. 60ml is almost a steady stream coming out for me....if Im describing it correctly. The valve is located on top of the reactor.

[Origami]

Then it's not 60 ml per day. 60 ml per hour would be about a drop every second. Is it 60 ml per minute? In that case, it's not precipitation that's clogging it (as I'd thought) but may be debris of some sort.

[Der ABT]

i would guess debris or algea build up....do you have the line running near your fuge light??

if so this has been causing algea in my line and i will be replacing it tonight hopefully.......as long as i clean it out (aka take it off and hook it up to the faucet adapter and spray some HIGH pressure out of it every month or so) it does fine.

I also have my micro needle valve right near the end of the line where it dumps in the tank not anywhere close to teh reactor

 

of course my new issue is my regulator is dirty so the buble count got messed up..i usually clean it every year around this time so maybe i cleaned it early last year...man 3 years NOOOO issues and then this haha...i love this hobby.

Edited December 11, 2012 by Der ABT

[STEVE]

I'm sorry, 60ml per minute, not hour. I dont think the line is not the problem, there is no algae or debris in it, I have cleaned it out at least 3 times in the 3 months I have been using it, only to never find any debris or anything else in it.........

[Der ABT]

hmmm, if you take the needle valve off does the flow change???

id be checking all tubing

do you have any check valves?

 

 

other thing i would check is the maxijet itself...that o-ring isnt always the snuggest fit and if its shooting water out of the O-ring then your proabably loosing the pressure from there. ive used a maxijet 1200 for a long time and had no issues, but i know i have replaced the o-ring on a few of them (one is the recirc for my skimmer so i replace it when it leaks a little)....just a thought but ??

easy way to test would be to bring it near the surface of the water and see if you can see any water escaping around the motor/volute taht could be your head pressure issue.

[STEVE]

I just went and checked for leaks around the powerhead, nothing found there (only 2 months old) The only check valve I have is inline from the C02 so that no water backfeeds to the regulator.....If that cheap checkvalve goes bad and it restricks the flow of C02 would that difference of pressure in the reactor have a impact on the output of effulent????????

[Der ABT]

should not affect it at all...only know cause its happened to me

.hmmm. can you disconnect the hoses and see if you can blow thru them.

 

Wait this is a dual chamber correct? is there anything interfering with the feed between the two chambers...if a piece of media blocks that tube i would think this could affect the flow out??

 

otherwise im at a loss.

 

i know with my avast reactor, the flow changes just slightly after about 30 seconds but then it stays constant as long as the line is kept clear.

[rocko918]

do you even need a check valve on it? I have never used a check valve on a calcium reactor.

[STEVE]

Bob, I noticed that when the Co2 is not running, water trys to come back up the airline....MRC recommends one also. Have you ever noticed water going back up the airline on yours when the C02 is not running? What brand do you have Bob?

[Origami]

I keep a check valve on the CO2 line to keep water from potentially backing up into the regulator assembly. I think that's what your describing, Steve, right? Not a check valve on the effluent line.

 

I read a little bit on some of the MRC reactors. I don't have one, but it seems that they have a micro ball valve installed on the lid of the reactor for the effluent. Correct? I'm envisioning one of those small, black ball valves about the length of a quarter with a 1/4" knob on it. Personally, I've never had the greatest luck in getting those tiny ball valves dialed in exactly right, so I can't give you the benefit of any successful method here. In the end, I just added a peristaltic pump and let it meter the dosing.

[Der ABT]

Tom what dosing pump do you have and does it dose all day long or??

 

im thinking i would have mine running ALL the time... if i went to a peristalic

 

i use the same type of ball valve described by tom and only have issues with detritus not with build up in it...haveyou taken it off and shined a light thru it? may try that.

[STEVE]

So instead of using a powerhead (pressurize the reactor) you just use a parastolic pump to feed it?? Huh????....