[simonh]

Hi Randy,

I have another question on what seems to becoming a geeky interest in calcium reactors. In a calcium reactor we must lower the omega for aragonite to below 1 for the calcium carbonate to dissolve. Ignoring kinetics for now, but will dissoloution of the media stop when we get to omega = 1 (I presume stuff still dissolves but also precipitates at the same rate?).

For example at pH 6.8 I calculate that omega=1 when alkalinity=11mEq/L (30 dKH), would this be the theoretical saturation we could acheive or could alkalinity be driven higher within the reactor or second chamber? I know often it is talked of driving the pH to higher levels with a second chamber as while the pH is less than 7.6 there is still CO2 in solution. But, isn't the aragonite saturation more of a limit than the fact there is still CO2 in solution?