Do you run a calcium reactor, what are your thoughts on it?
- Thread starter straightjiggy10
- Start date
- Location
- Eastern Long Island
My pleasure Jiggy, when I have the free time I could talk tanks for hours.and enjoy every minute of the yacking. Happy to help. Really what Id recommend is dialing it in slowly by starting with a slow drip rate of effluent. Then test the effluent everyday until the ph reads 6.5 or lower. Open up the CO2 valve a lil bit more each day until the effluent PH lowers to that magic number where the media gets dissolved.
Then you can monitor how your tank uses it. After a few days youll notice your KH will either drop below 9 or rise above 12. Take note of the drip to bubble ratio and either raise them together or lower them together. Then youll be dialed in
- Location
- Manhattan NY 10023
My pleasure Jiggy, when I have the free time I could talk tanks for hours.and enjoy every minute of the yacking. Happy to help. Really what Id recommend is dialing it in slowly by starting with a slow drip rate of effluent. Then test the effluent everyday until the ph reads 6.5 or lower. Open up the CO2 valve a lil bit more each day until the effluent PH lowers to that magic number where the media gets dissolved.
Then you can monitor how your tank uses it. After a few days youll notice your KH will either drop below 9 or rise above 12. Take note of the drip to bubble ratio and either raise them together or lower them together. Then youll be dialed in
Im sorry this is one subject i just cant grasp as fast as i grasped everything else in this hobby,
effluent=?
what should i start the reactor at?
- Location
- Staten Island
You don't need to run a Kalk reactor,,lol.. Mix some of the good cal rx media in there. Bigger pieces add a little dolomite,,,,
rangehat
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effluent is the liquid coming out of the reactor. The co2 dissolves the media and gives you the effluent. Like tobin stated the course/larger media is easier to work with and can. you can also add a bit of dolomite or course magnesium if you'd like also.
- Location
- Eastern Long Island
Dont worry dude, I was more clueless than you 3 months ago. Its a very simple device if you let it be. Just start with a low amount of water coming out of the reactor, to you tank water (effluent). Then very gradually add CO2 til the PH within the chamber reaches 6.5. At that point your effluent will be rich in the elements you want. Then its just a matter of testing the KH of the tank to see if it needs more or less effluent. Also throw in PH tests (if you dont have a PH monitor) on the tank water to make sure the effluent isnt draggin your PH down.
Youll get a feel for it in no time.
-Jay
Youll get a feel for it in no time.
-Jay
- Location
- Manhattan NY 10023
wow i get it lol thanks for D.I.D (dumbing it down) for me, what media would you guys suggest?
- Location
- Manhattan NY 10023
tobin are these what u reccomend? and where can i get these?
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- Location
- Manhattan NY 10023
lmao
- Location
- Staten Island
tobin are these what u reccomend? and where can i get these?
Yes sir I mix caribsea with regular crushed coral.. I don't use the whole thing in my reactor..
Not true at all.
You don't need to oversize but undersize reactor will not provided enough to support the Ca needs of the tank, regardless how often you refill the media. You need the surface area to support a higher dissolving requirement.
- Location
- Franklin Square, NY
x2...also I found that dolomite disolves at a lower PH than the aragonite
- Location
- Long Island, New York
This is a beast....http://www.marinetechnical.com/page12.html Pro-Cal Love this reactor. I use the large arm in the first stage along with magnesium chips and a small arm in the last chamber. Just food for thought..... With regards to the electronic regulator....I have three freinds using them and out of them 2 have been sent back twice..Mtc has a hopped up version of a milwaukee regulator. I have been using this for over 2 years without one problem. Good luck...
Thane
Pro-Cal Love this reactor. I use the large arm in the first stage along with magnesium chips and a small arm in the last chamber. Just food for thought..... With regards to the electronic regulator....I have three freinds using them and out of them 2 have been sent back twice..Mtc has a hopped up version of a milwaukee regulator. I have been using this for over 2 years without one problem. Good luck...Thane
- Location
- Staten Island
- Location
- chicago
just asking why do you run a kalk reactor with a cal reactor i do 2 part and looking for a cal reactor now i was thinking that it took care of this should i be dooing a drip of kalk with the 2 part
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Tobin,
True that looks beastly but its not only the size of your reactor but how you use it....:biglaugh:...lol
Thane
True that looks beastly but its not only the size of your reactor but how you use it....:biglaugh:...lol
Thane
- Location
- Manhattan NY 10023
:bump:
Was refrencing this thread tonight and thought it might help someone out...
Was refrencing this thread tonight and thought it might help someone out...
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