calcium reactor and full sps tank

MikeEe · #1 04/20/2007, 06:20 PM

Do you guys find yourself having the effluent line run in a contant stream rather then drops?

How many bubbles per minute?

murphreef · #2 04/20/2007, 06:37 PM

on my 180 its a constant stream and its doing close to 100 bubbles per minute... i run the effluent into a big 40 oz ampm cup with some air stones to help blow off the excess CO2 even though i have a dual chambered reactor it still keeps my tanks PH suppressed... 7.78 at night to 8.16 evening

and my tanks not even that full of sps but its my darn huge fast growing squamosa clam in the center

MikeEe · #3 04/20/2007, 06:49 PM

Looks like I have to increase the bubble count. I have a 150 with a bunch of sps, and having it almost streaming and 60 bpm. Alk has been around 7.
I have the korallin 4002 on a 150 gallon

Anybody else?

murphreef · #4 04/20/2007, 06:51 PM

i have the MRC-CR2 with a 10lb CO2 bottle and this things goin pretty fast and keepin my alk right at 8dkh with ca around 400-410

Chaotic Reefer4u · #5 04/20/2007, 07:40 PM

so does this mean to make the effluent drip fast and steady as in a stream? say like 100 drips a minute or just a steady stream? thanx!

murphreef · #6 04/20/2007, 07:42 PM

mines at a steady stream ... ok well in terms of streams its a slow stream its not fully open and a fast rushing stream is coming out of the tube.... but its fast enough now that there are no seperate drips as it falls to the water below

AuroraDave · #7 04/20/2007, 07:48 PM

I also have an MRC CR on my 180 (about 400gal total).
My effluent drips, versus a stream. The last I measured, it was about 30ml/min.
I havent actually counted the bubbles, but they are steady. Maybe 50-60/min.
pH is 5.7 to 5.8 after the 1st chamber, keeps my tank 7.9-8.0. I drip the effluent into a bucket in my sump where all my returns drain. this helps decrease the CO2

checkinhawk · #8 04/20/2007, 07:51 PM

my bubble rate is 70 bpm and i have 200ml/minute coming out of the effluent line.Cal is at 400ppm Alk is 4.2meq/L

gasman059 · #9 04/20/2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by murphreef
on my 180 its a constant stream and its doing close to 100 bubbles per minute... i run the effluent into a big 40 oz ampm cup with some air stones to help blow off the excess CO2 even though i have a dual chambered reactor it still keeps my tanks PH suppressed... 7.78 at night to 8.16 evening

and my tanks not even that full of sps but its my darn huge fast growing squamosa clam in the center

clam

cashman95 · #10 04/20/2007, 08:39 PM

I am not trying to steal this thread, but since most everyone responding is running a calcium reactor, can someone tell me how to tell if my bottle was filled with CO2. I got it filled at a local flower shop, who claims that they fill CO2 bottles for kegerators, is that really CO2 that they use or something else and how can I tell?

Thanks

murphreef · #11 04/20/2007, 08:43 PM

i guess ud have to go on there word.... alot of people who run planted aquariums use CO2 so maybe they keep it at the store for those people

if u have a 10lb tank when u put the guage on it should read around 60-70lbs of pressure

jun_celis · #12 04/20/2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeEe
Looks like I have to increase the bubble count. I have a 150 with a bunch of sps, and having it almost streaming and 60 bpm. Alk has been around 7.
I have the korallin 4002 on a 150 gallon

Anybody else?

I don't have a korallin but from what I understand, jacking up the bpm will increase your alk. When you increase alk, you reduce PH in the effluent. I keep mine at about 40ml/m and buble counter at 60bpm. I keep my calcium at 420. I want more CA though

oldreefer76 · #13 04/20/2007, 09:33 PM

cashman CO2 under pressure is actually a liquid that can be weighed and the cylinder should have a tare empty weight stamped on it

jackal68 · #14 04/21/2007, 05:17 AM

Is it ok to add in Magnesium Pro into the calcium reactor?

Bosphorus · #15 04/21/2007, 09:40 AM

Please,what is the effluent kh ?

RockyMtnReef · #16 04/21/2007, 11:53 AM

Sorry to hijack but this is a question I was going to post and it seems to fit perfectly within the conversation. I have a Geo and have had a bit of a hard time dialing mine in. I seem to always have my alk in the 10 dkh range which is a bit higher than I would like and a ca of about 350 which is lower than I would like. I have increased the flow rate and decreased the bpm but the ph meter inside the reactor quickly gets above 7.0. Is it even doing anything at that point?

corndogg · #17 04/21/2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RockyMtnReef
Sorry to hijack but this is a question I was going to post and it seems to fit perfectly within the conversation. I have a Geo and have had a bit of a hard time dialing mine in. I seem to always have my alk in the 10 dkh range which is a bit higher than I would like and a ca of about 350 which is lower than I would like. I have increased the flow rate and decreased the bpm but the ph meter inside the reactor quickly gets above 7.0. Is it even doing anything at that point?

I recommend that you adjust your tanks alk and ca demand by using some form of a two part additive and then use the reactor just to maintain it. You shouldn't try to raise it by using the reactor. What you do is bring the parameters where you want them and then test pretty frequently to ensure that the calcium reactor is keeping up. If you test and notice your levels are starting to drop, add a little ca or alk whichever you need and then crank up your reactor one notch. Keep doing this until you no longer need to dose to keep up with you tanks calcium and akalinity demands.

nashorn · #18 04/21/2007, 12:26 PM

I have my KR2 at a steady stream.If I don't it seem clog up after a month or so.I run my output to my refu since the cheeto will use all of the extra Co2.ran this way for over a year with no problems

atzak · #19 04/21/2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cashman95
I am not trying to steal this thread, but since most everyone responding is running a calcium reactor, can someone tell me how to tell if my bottle was filled with CO2. I got it filled at a local flower shop, who claims that they fill CO2 bottles for kegerators, is that really CO2 that they use or something else and how can I tell?

Thanks

I use co2 for my kegerator, same stuff

JB NY · #20 04/21/2007, 03:56 PM

If you have a few sps I can see you dripping your effluent, but once you get a full stock going, no way dripping going to cut it. I used to run my reactor around 80ml/min with effluent pH at 6.75. I used a ph monitor to control the pH, messing with the bpm will drive you insane.

CAreefer · #21 04/21/2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JB NY
If you have a few sps I can see you dripping your effluent, but once you get a full stock going, no way dripping going to cut it. I used to run my reactor around 80ml/min with effluent pH at 6.75. I used a ph monitor to control the pH, messing with the bpm will drive you insane.

Absolutely!

My 340 gallon system full of SPS and a 12" T. deresa clam, MRC CR-6 dual with spray bar, running at steady stream, bpm too fast to count and an effluent ph of 6.75 will not maintain tank alk and Ca at NSW (7, 410, 1320) levels. Even with 5% weekly water changes with water adjusted to levels above NSW (8.5, 450, 1400) I still have to add 1 tbs SeaChem Reefbuilder, Reefcalcium, Reefmag per week just to keep stable parameters. I've tried just about every CR media I can get my fingers on 18lbs at a refill, I run 15% ZEOmag to help maintain Mg levels.

CAReefer