Ca Reactor Help

[tripstank]

I have a MRC CR-2 Dual Calcium Reactor

I have a Reef Keeper 2 controlling the pH in the reactor. (6.45-6.50)

I am using A.R.M. Coarse reactor media

I am not using 2-Part

I am dosing Magnesium, Strontium, and Potassium

The CO2 tank is full and bubble counter is working great. I can hear the CO2 hitting the pump.

At the moment, it is a 120 gallon system collectively, all SPS

I cannot seem to get the ca level to get about 350.... Any ideas?

I did throw in a bit of Turbo Ca today to help out, but the other part of my question is, once the calcium is up to level using Turbo Ca, "should" the ca reactor be able to maintain it?

 

[House of Laughter]

Trips,. whats the bubble count?

House

 

[tripstank]

1 per a 1 one thousand count. So I guess 1 a sec or so.

I am wondering if I should turn the pH down even lower.....

 

[House of Laughter]

I would say a few things -

Sounds like you need a new monitor OR you need to calibrate.

I run about 75/minute and get a steady 440 on my ca. I am using a CR-6 which is the same set up as yours only it uses a 6" tube in the first chamber instead of a 4"

ARM media usually blows off/melts down at around 6.8 - so, dropping your ph would likely melt the media into mush - you may want to check that was well. I blow mine at 7.2 from the reactor as an FYI

House

 

[Sean]

"Unfortunately, calcium and alkalinity are linked4,5 in many ways in reef tanks, and these links can lead to serious problems if they are not fully understood. If, for example, you add too much of a calcium supplement, you will drive down alkalinity as you get precipitation of calcium carbonate in the tank. Likewise, adding too much of an alkalinity supplement can result in reduction of calcium. Consequently, trying to correct one problem can cause another. Moreover, if you try to correct a calcium or alkalinity “problem” with the wrong type of additive, you might accomplish nothing more than creating limestone in your tank."

from http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

check your alk, p.h.,

two part is expensive but ioniclly ballanced using a ca reactor doesn't replace the two part formula​

 

[pecan2phat]

You should also be listing your alkalinity levels since a Ca reactor in essence is really an Alkalinity reactor.

Rule of thumb (in summary) is to 1st bring your Ca & DKH to the levels you want it. Start your reactor at 30 bpm & your effluent drip rate to 30 dpm. Test everyday and only adjust one thing at a time. If your DKH is dropping and your effluent PH is above 7, then increase the bpm. Or if your DKH is dropping and your effluent PH is below 7 then increase the dpm and ever so slightly, increase the bpm a tad since you are using a PH monitor.

This piece of equipment needs to be fine tuned & adjusted on a daily basis until you reach your parameters.

I keep my 120g acro/clam tank at 10 DKH and 460 Ca. Am also an ARM user & I run my effluent PH @ 6.7.

 

[tripstank]

I think it is due to mechanical problem. I am going to take it apart tonight. I may just throw it away and build one of my own.

Thanks everyone for the help, all the settings are on according to your recommended settings, something just isn't working properly...

I haven't been to the prop system since wed, I will give you updated params, including alk tonight.

Thanks everyone for your help so far...

Jim, What pump are you using to feed your reactor?