Tank sucking the Alk and Ca like Crazy

MK Reefer · #1 09/07/2005, 02:55 PM

Eeekkksss...

I need some help.. My SPS Clam (180) is just sucking back the Alk and Ca like there was no tommorow.. I can't keep up.

My reactor is running full blast, I dose all my top-off with Kalk and I still have to supplement 2-3 times a week.. I am thinking of adding another fan or two to increase evaporation but are there any other options?

Two Ca reactors? How would that affect pH?

BTW. The tank is extrememely heavilly stocked with clams and SPS

Mike

Coral Polyp · #2 09/07/2005, 03:01 PM

Try adding a second chamber to your calcium reactor.

Weatherman · #3 09/07/2005, 03:03 PM

Do you have a sand bed in your tank?

dymaxiun · #4 09/07/2005, 03:04 PM

that was quick... BB fight begins...

Weatherman · #5 09/07/2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dymaxiun
that was quick... BB fight begins...

Not at all. Just providing an option, if appropriate.

dymaxiun · #6 09/07/2005, 03:07 PM

Sorry... it wasn't a personal attck.. no worries...

SunnyX · #7 09/07/2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Weatherman
Not at all. Just providing an option, if appropriate.

How would BB benifit a tank that is unable to keep up with CA and Alk demands?

Weatherman · #8 09/07/2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SunnyX
How would BB benifit a tank that is unable to keep up with CA and Alk demands?

There is some evidence to suggest that all the animals residing in a healthy, functioning sand bed consume a huge amount of alkalinity.

There are a number of people (including myself) who have removed sand beds from their tanks and seen a drop in alkalinity demand by almost 80%. It's not guaranteed that everyone will see a big drop in alkalinity demand by just removing their sand beds, but it is an option, which can be tried, if nothing else works.

smoknreefrs · #9 09/07/2005, 04:00 PM

any pics of this heavily stocked sps and clam tank

MK Reefer · #10 09/07/2005, 05:10 PM

Its running a Sand Bed (2" or so).. It is a double chamber reactor...

Mike

Coral Polyp · #11 09/07/2005, 06:40 PM

What numbers are you trying to achieve?

MK Reefer · #12 09/07/2005, 08:40 PM

4-420 on the Calcium Side and 9ish on the dKH side... If I don't supplement I go down to about 360 and 6 dKH

Mike

Coral Polyp · #13 09/07/2005, 09:24 PM

Hrm. What is your reactor pH effluent from the first stage? What media are you using? Maybe it needs replacing or top-up.

MK Reefer · #14 09/07/2005, 09:45 PM

Efluent out is about 6.7 to 6.8, with a dKH of about 25ish or so.. The reactor is huge and takes 2 containers of ARM. Its new media, running for a few months only. I think my tank is just eating it like crazy. I have added a fan to increase evaporation and we will see if that helps..

I think the only other option is a second Ca reactor..

Mike

fkadir · #15 09/07/2005, 09:51 PM

6.7 to 6.8 is not really pushing the CR hard. You would want to drop the effluent ph to about 6.5-6.6. That will push the dkh higher and would satisfy the tank needs more. Is dat a possibility for you to do?

gtrestoration · #16 09/07/2005, 10:08 PM

I've seen the same thing happen in tanks in my the past. But at the time I was really pushing the limits and much of it was ending up coating the pump impellers. I'd need to clean them at least once a month or they'd locl up.

SteveU

MK Reefer · #17 09/07/2005, 10:37 PM

I think I can push the efluent lower.. I will increase the bubble rate and see what happens.

Mike

kruxy · #18 09/07/2005, 11:04 PM

you could also try a more effecient reactor... fluidized calcium reactors have no problem pushing 50-70 dkh when you get them flowing. precision marine and deltec are two models i have seen in action, something to consider at any rate.

MK Reefer · #19 09/08/2005, 08:29 PM

Here are some pics of the tank..

Dizzyswimmer · #20 09/08/2005, 08:40 PM

Looks VERY Good !

fkadir · #21 09/08/2005, 08:42 PM

Very very nice and jam-packed with SPS. No wonder your KH/CA demand is very high. How did it go with lowering the effluent ph?

MK Reefer · #22 09/08/2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fkadir
Very very nice and jam-packed with SPS. No wonder your KH/CA demand is very high. How did it go with lowering the effluent ph?

Upped the bubble rate, but haven't tested the efluent yet.. will do that soon

I like to give it 24 hours before testing as changes in a reactor take a while to take effect..

Mike

kozmo02 · #23 09/08/2005, 10:17 PM

i have a dual stage reeftek ca reactor and with 6.7 pH out of the second chamber i've got a 450ppm CA reading and 36 dkh from my effluent.

i am using geo marine for media.

MK Reefer · #24 09/08/2005, 10:48 PM

So what is the concensus of effluent dKH? I am running ARM media.

Mike

KevinFJB · #25 09/09/2005, 09:03 AM

what happened to the recirculating design Ca reactor (DJ88's) that you built?