How do you prefer to feed your calcium reactor?

[Anonymous]

Mine is T'd off a submerged pump that drives the skimmer, but I'm thinking about t-ing both off the main pump as I have extra juice available there.

 

[dcamp]

I use the Aqua Medic dosing pump.

I assume the SP3000? Isn't that a fixed dose rate? From AquaMedic's website it looks like you'd be fixed at 50 ml/min. Do you just dial-in the reactor based on pH since you have no effluent adjustment? I didn't think that would work...

If it's running to high for your system put the pump on a timer and adjust the run time to fit your system. This is assuming you are using a ph controller.

 

[ChrisRD]

So with a pH controller, effluent pH will stay stable even while stopping/starting the feed pump like that? What do you do on a larger system if you need more than 50ml/min of effluent to maintain Ca/Alk levels?

 

[GSchiemer]

So with a pH controller, effluent pH will stay stable even while stopping/starting the feed pump like that? What do you do on a larger system if you need more than 50ml/min of effluent to maintain Ca/Alk levels?

Chris,

In a calcium reactor setup, the pH controller is used to control the CO2 flow, not the feed pump. The solenoid valve, which is part of the regulator, plugs into the pH controller. It starts and stops the flow of CO2 depending upon the pH level measured inside the reactor.

Greg

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi Greg,

My confusion wasn't about how the pH controller works, I understand that part (I have a solenoid on my setup, although I don't use a pH controller as of yet).

I was just wondering how well the controller could actually keep pH levels stable within the reactor if you're interrupting the feed pump with a timer (seems to be what dcamp is saying).

I was also wondering what dcamp does in the event that more effluent than the fixed 50 ml/min rate that pump has is needed.

Hope that clarifies...

Chris

 

[liquid]

You guys might consider adding some of these tips to the Calcium Reactor Tips for the December issue of AAOLM: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=58933

Shane

 

[GSchiemer]

Hi Greg,

My confusion wasn't about how the pH controller works, I understand that part (I have a solenoid on my setup, although I don't use a pH controller as of yet).

I was just wondering how well the controller could actually keep pH levels stable within the reactor if you're interrupting the feed pump with a timer (seems to be what dcamp is saying).

I was also wondering what dcamp does in the event that more effluent than the fixed 50 ml/min rate that pump has is needed.

Hope that clarifies...

Chris

I don't see any circumstance where it makes sense to control the feed pump. It should run 24/7. If the concern is dropping the system pH too low at night, then simply put the solenoid on a timer.

Greg

 

[hillbilly]

I have a tee from the sump return controlled by a gate valve. No problems to date.

 

[dcamp]

So with a pH controller, effluent pH will stay stable even while stopping/starting the feed pump like that? What do you do on a larger system if you need more than 50ml/min of effluent to maintain Ca/Alk levels?

ChrisRD a good contoller will keep the ph in the reactor within 0.1 of where it is set. I usually run a extra "cool down" chamber after the reactor to burn of any extra CO2 if the meter happens to drop a point or two. Also return the effluent either into your skimmer or close to the skimmer outlet to help oxygenate and burn of any excess CO2.
Sometimes you can adjust the ph up alittle instead of stopping the feed pump. On larger systems you can runn as low a 6.0 to keep up if you run a extra can of media after the reactor. If I can't control it that way then I tee off the main pump and use a ice maker filter with replaceable cartridges between the tee and control valve. Remove the cartridge and replace with DLS or filter floss. This helps filter out particles that can cause restrictions at the contol valve and slow the water flow.

 

[ChrisRD]

OK, thanks for the explanation d. Your posts have got me thinking of another question, but I'll start another thread for that...

I'm going to stick to my original plan and tap the return pump plumbing. I'll see how that goes before trying anything else.

Thanks to everyone for your votes and responses.