calcium reactor set up help!

[heedicus]

hello all,
I have a knop hd reactor that i need help setting up. a couple questions, media... can i use crib sea argonite sand? does that work well? bad? should i use the knop media or does it really matter. I have a controller for the co2. i put the probe in the effluent cup (cup in sump i guess) right? it doesnt go in the reactor anywhere does it? i am planning on using a siphon to feed it is that ok? any other tips???
anything??
thanks
tren
and, i dont have a needle valve and wouldnt know where one went, there is a knob on the regulator that i can twist to turn gas would that work? i am assuming not so where do i put the needle valve. any sugguestions on brand, ect? any one have a cheap one they will sell me?=)
thanks again

 

[dattack]

I haven't used the caribsea sand but if it's too fine that I think you might have a problem in terms of recirculation of the water and also of get getting very mushy.

You can use any of the special grade crush coral such as geomarine.

I got my needle valve at marinedepot but I am sure you can find it pretty much anywhere. You will definitely need one and that knob on the regulator won't fine tune or control your bubbles as well. It just sets the pressure lower for you to adjust the bubbles.

Try this for tips.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/s ... /index.htm

 

[heedicus]

thanks,
yea i have read that over and over and over and over...
any other tips?
does the media really matter that much? should i just buy some of the real stuff?
thanks
tren

 

[Gatortailale1]

I found this article by Sanjay Joshi to be very helpful in setting up and operating my reactor (especially reactor operation section near bottom of article)

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm ... efault.asp

HTH

Craig 8)

 

[GeorgeWeber]

be sure to get a needle valve in place. You would need it in between the bubble counter and solenoid. Your controller will keep your solenoid open until the pH in the reaction chamber is lowered to the setting you choose for the effluent. You still need to bubble in the co2 slowly and your needle valve is what fine tunes the bubble count. without the needle valve in place co2 will pump in much faster than the pH will lower and it could damage your reactor, among other things 8O .