Calcium Reactor Problem

[Der ABT]

yeh that is my understanding of what Tom and others have done....line goes into tank and feed the peristalic pump and then goes into the reactor and forces water out.

[STEVE]

[Der ABT]

ok i have NEVER seen that type of needle valve.

 

try unscrewing the screw all the way and see if you can see anything inside.

Does the pressure change if you leave it wide open (aka can you dose for a day and let it run with no CO2 so you dont nuke the tank) measure the output in 1 min today and then same thing tomorrow...that would tell you if its teh ball valve at least.

 

if not you can always get a 90deg adapter and go for an inline micro ball valve for 1/4in RO tubing (Avast sells and carries them and im sure on something that small shipping would be minute)....not sure if this would solve your problem but?? i use this on mine and until i started getting algea in my tubing it worked great.....i dont see it on the website but email justin and ill bet he has plenty since they still use it on the CARx's

 

wish it was an easy fix for you.

[Origami]

I use a lab grade masterflex pump that I acquired on a group buy (from an ebay supplier) that I ran a few years ago. We got a bunch of $2,000 pumps for something like $100 each as I recall. I have it set to dose 30 ml per minute and run it on a 1/3 duty cycle, that is 20 minutes every hour. I'm still rebuilding after last year's crash so consumption is fairly limited right now. As consumption goes up, I'll increase the duty cycle and, later, the effluent rate. I run my reactor pH at 6.7.

[Origami]

Nope. Not seen that valve before. It looks like it's a gate valve of sorts. Pretty good construction. As I mentioned on the phone a few minutes ago, Steve, it may just be inconsistent pressure from the maxijet if it's not something obstructing flow and increasing head pressure. Try turning off the CO2 and running it wide open, measuring the average effluent per minute. Take several measurements over a day or two, to see if it stays stable. If it does, try using the reactor pH to control how much calcium and alkalinity you're delivering to the system. Higher pH for less; lower pH for more.

[ridetheducati]

Steve,

 

I thought you were running with that needle valve, posted above wide open and controlling the effluent with the ball valve at the end of the line? Thus by-passing the MRC needle valve.

[Der ABT]

quick googling shows many others with mrc-2 issues similar to this, seems they dual chamber causes alot of issues with pressure, so you may have to upgrade pumps again/go peristalic/t off the return if it gives you enough pressure etc.hope this helps.

[ridetheducati]

Nope. Not seen that valve before. It looks like it's a gate valve of sorts. Pretty good construction. As I mentioned on the phone a few minutes ago, Steve, it may just be inconsistent pressure from the maxijet if it's not something obstructing flow and increasing head pressure. Try turning off the CO2 and running it wide open, measuring the average effluent per minute. Take several measurements over a day or two, to see if it stays stable. If it does, try using the reactor pH to control how much calcium and alkalinity you're delivering to the system. Higher pH for less; lower pH for more.

 

+1

[STEVE]

I tried it, and it did the same thing Tony....

[Der ABT]

im gonna go with not enough pressure forcing the water thru the reactor's.....hate to say it but try a bigger pump or tapping off your return (if your return is throttled back at all tap in prior to the ball or gate valve that throttles it back in order to get as much pressure as possible.....or look into a stronger pump...mag 3 or something that can handle head pressure better and then you can make a manifold to t it off to other reactors or something..

 

just sounds liek the flow between the 2 chambers on this reactor can be very restricted...but i could be wrong.....maybe its just mad at you.

[STEVE]

Evan, I dont have a clue.......Tony has been helping me for the past 2 months with this, and we can't seem to get it steady at all! Bigger pump, .....people are using a parastolic pump....so pressure is going to be lower. I think I am going to go back to what Tony suggested, run it at approx 80 ml per min and just adjust the ph higher.

[Der ABT]

thats the easy way as long as it stays at 80 then why not...you use a little more C02 but i dont think it would that much of a difference. just takes testing a little more till its dialed in.

 

and as justin said try to take water from a "clean" part of the sump...

 

im just thinking its pressure based on the google search showing many others having the same issue regarless of how clean/new the Rx was.

 

ther peristalic forces water mechanically so head pressure wouldnt/shouldnt be a problem even if it does have build up on the tip, which is why they are nice...but finding one that can dose enough can be a price issue....the 50ml BRS one probably wont cut it for me as id have to lower the PH to a point where it would be mush but i could be wrong....just wish i ordered that one instead of the 1.1ml pump....

[rocko918]

oh your talking about a check valve on the co2 line, not the effluent line. i have one on the co2 line as well.

Edited December 11, 2012 by rocko918

[ridetheducati]

Have you tried running the reactor without the second chamber?

[STEVE]

I have not tried running just the main chamber....I was told not to do that from both MRC and George (GEO). I am just going to do it the way you and others have suggested...run it at 60-80ml per min and just adjust the ph in the reactor. IDK !!!

[basser9]

I am a little surprised that everybody dosent use a pinch valve on there tubing

as its a really standard issue with any type of needlevalve on calcium reactors output..

I find running 2 back to back works better then 1 if there is high back pressure.

A toms aqualifter really works good as long as you stick the input into a foam prefilter much

better then a mj in my experience.

Also try using the really large stuff like REBORN in your dual reactors it really helps.

.