Ca Reactor Ph Output

[Charles99]

Effluent dripping into a cup (in the sump).

No alk test kit.
No Ca test kit.
Just the Ph probe on my RK2.

Should the output effluent be in the 8.0- 8.3 range?
If so, I can then use the controller to monitor Ph fluctuations.

Thanks for your help.

[hawaiianwargod]

It should be 6.4-6.6 range for the effluent. You could use Ph controller to control your main display's ph.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't set it based on the pH alone, but as mentioned it will likely be a lot lower. How low depends on the design and other issues. You need to monitor tank alkalinity especially.

These resources should help:


A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

Calcium Reactor setup calculator (CaCO3/CO2 reactors)
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/reactor.

[ken6217]

The instructions with my Ca reactor says 6.00 to 6.50 after set up for a couple of days.
Ken

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't let the pH get down into the lower 6 's. Many folks find the media turns to mud at that pH.

[hawaiianwargod]

Randy,

If using those Schuran or Gen X medias, the recommended ph would be 6.4 to 6.3 or else it would not dissolve. I used the schuran media and set my ph to 6.4 with no problem. I just recently changed to Gen X media ( which a little bit bigger than Schuran's) and noticed that it does not dissolve on ph 6.4.
Is it safe to lower it down to 6.1 or 6.2?
TIA,
HW

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would not lower the reactor pH to 6.2 or lower without being very careful (i.e., very close monitoring).

That media presumably is calcite if it takes lower ph to dissolve it and you might do better with aragonite if low pH is an issue in the tank.

[hawaiianwargod]

Thanks Randy!!!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck. :)