Driving multiple reactors with one pump

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Leo,

The problem I am having is that the GEO seems to be overpowered for my system (at current calcification rates). I have the PH in the chamber at like 7.5 and my Ca runs 400-450. Alk 10+.

With the limited amount of flow coming out of the return from the reactor, it is really hard to dial it in. I need something very precise and I figured this would be a good item to automate, I want to be able to digitally control the amount of flow coming out and visually see the value to make sure everything is working properly.

Just a testament at how powerful GEO reactors are.

I dialed mine in 2 ways, one of which was using a needle valve on the output of the reactor so that I could get a countable drop rate that did not fluctuate.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va..._name=15615&product_id=15616&variant_id=22149

I later replaced that with a solenoid that was controlled by my ACIII

http://www.autotopoff.com/solenoid/

I then used the calcium reactor to dose effluent into the system in small increments based on my ALK reading.

 

[Josh]

How do you automatically test Alk?

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Oh yeah, and don't forget, if you just replace your GFO, it may be causing the high ALK readings.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

How do you automatically test Alk?

That was the hard part, it took some time and testing. It took me about a week, testing in the morning (lights out) and then again at night (lights on). Then took the mean and used it as my control.

 

[Josh]

Oh, I thought you meant you had a controller reading alk and controlling the solenoid on the reactor output. If they made such a thing it would be a lot easier.

 

[Josh]

So I see what you are saying about the needle valve, thats why I want a controller to do the same thing, so I can be sure that the rate is the same via the readout and not the drip rate.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

hmmmmmmm.....

Just to rule out a few things, when was the last time you cleaned and calibrated the pH probe?

I will talk to my buddy tomorrow, he will have a solution for this.

The only other thing I can think of is letting the effluent of the Ca reactor run into a reservoir (which will allow it to degas) and then use a dosing pump to dose the effluent. Of course, it will need to be agitated in order to keep all the elements in solution. This makes the ca reactor almost pointless.

I will have something better for you tomorrow. I am kind of mind blocked at the moment.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

There is also this rather cheap gizmo

http://www.omega.com/pptst/FLR1600.html

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

There is also this rather cheap gizmo

http://www.omega.com/pptst/FLR1600.html

:tongueani I like...but ouch...

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Josh, unfortunately without spending an extraneous amount of money, there really is no way to fully automate the Ca reactor (other than the Co2 injection side)

However, Tristan Wilson pointed out to me very accurate flow meter, it is $65.00 on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gilmont-Accucal...in_0?hash=item3a4c62aff2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

These usually go for $350.00+ new.

On the pressure side you can look into valves by http://plastomatic.com

However, like I said, it would be a fairly expensive upgrade.