Calcium Reactor Question

[reef keeper]

I am getting a bit frustrated. I have a lifereef calcium reactor LCR-2. It's a great reactor, and my issue is not with it.

I also have a aquarium plants regulator, which is also awesome

Here's where my head explodes.

I have a 220 gallon sps dominated reef, with a large and small clam. Most of my corals aren't that large, but there are a few nice colonies, as well as a couple (3) montipora. I am getting excellent growth.

I ran into an issue with dropping mag, so I have added zeomag to the reactor, which is holding it around 1280.

I'm trying to keep my alk at around 8. I test every other day now as I make adjustments on the reactor. I've kept my effluent flow at 60ml/min. I have the psi on my regular at just under 6 on the dial. My bubble count is now down to a bubble every 10 seconds, which is as slow as it goes. In the bubble counter, that translates to about 60 small bubbles per minute. All I have left for an adjustment is to drop the psi being delivered to the regulator.

I also do a 50 gallon wc every 2 weeks.

Nitrate around 10 and po4 around .03.

What is going on here?

 

[Pistol]

What is the pH inside the reactor?

 

[AdInfinitum]

Sorry, I'm missing the problem alk is rising I assume? What salt are you using and how does it test out? Most reef mixes are super high in alk (too high IMO) so that alone may be enough to keep it creeping up. If that is the problem...dial back on the water changes a bit. Same frequency lower volume would be best.

Also what is the ph of the reactor effluent? Lower the bubble count too far without throttling back the effluent rate and you will just be pumping water through at a ph to high to actually do anything...

 

[reef keeper]

Reactor oh goes between 6.8 & 6.9.

I haven't done a wc in 2 weeks.

I'm using kalkwasser in my ATO, but when the reactor was off my alk went down.

You saying cut the effluent amount

I cut the effluent to 50 ml/min. It was actually around 80

 

[Nighthawk26]

What happened to you pulling the reactor, getting back to a few basics, getting things stable, then going form there?

 

[EricTMah]

What happened to you pulling the reactor, getting back to a few basics, getting things stable, then going form there?

I was thinking the same thing.

Seems like you're changing too many things at once and can't narrow down one thing at a time.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reef keeper]

I did have it stable. That's why I put the tractor back on. I haven't changed anything else

 

[AdInfinitum]

Reactor oh goes between 6.8 & 6.9.

I haven't done a wc in 2 weeks.

I'm using kalkwasser in my ATO, but when the reactor was off my alk went down.

You saying cut the effluent amount

I cut the effluent to 50 ml/min. It was actually around 80

Most media won't dissolve much above 6.5. 6.9 is the point that I have the controller turn CO2 back on. Don't use the regulator to adjust gas flow, leave it at around 15 and use the fine valve to adjust bubble rate or else flow will be inconsistent.

 

[Kman]

Personally I think you should wait till your corals are bigger and kalk dosing is not keeping up with your needs and then put the reactor online. Right now your needs are nowhere near justifying a reactor. Calcium reactor are not designed for light loads and were designed for heavy calcium needs and are used when other methods are not keeping up with current needs. Right now all you are going to do is cause problems with your water chemistry because your ALK and calcium are not being used up fast enough to justify a reactor. To be honest anytime I have seen people crash their tank from a reactor related mishap it is in situations like this that did it. This is a disaster waiting to happen based on my experience. The reactor will need constant daily tweaking throughout the day if you intend to use it. I think you should take it offline and keep it simple to get your tank under control. You are doing to many changes trying to get it back to equilibrium and causing more problems then not doing so.

 

[BIGSHOW]

A stable tank is a tank that has stable parameters for months, not a week or weeks. Kman and Rob have given you some great advice.

 

[Neopimp]

dont listen to big show he is a saquath after all...

 

[reef keeper]

When the reactor was OFFLINE, my alk dropped daily. It dropped say, from 44 to 48. I was and still am using kalk in my ATO.

So what would you recommend to keep parameters stable? Kalk isn't enough. Dosing pumps?

 

[BIGSHOW]

dont listen to big show he is a saquath after all...

...that is samsquantch to you! ...LOL

 

[BIGSHOW]

When the reactor was OFFLINE, my alk dropped daily. It dropped say, from 44 to 48. I was and still am using kalk in my ATO.

So what would you recommend to keep parameters stable? Kalk isn't enough. Dosing pumps?

Yup, I would use dosing pumps and also forget the Kalk all together. Basically take everything you think you know about the tank and start over.

Test your tank at the same time everyday and do the daily (24h) consumption calculations based on your volume and then set your dosing per consumption. I like to go a bit lower then what my math tells me as volume of tank water is always an estimate with the rock/sand displacement. After you set up your dosing pump rates test again, everyday at the same time and adjust accordingly.

 

[BIGSHOW]

Also, I have a stand alone profilux dosing pump with three heads if you are looking for something reliable and cheaper (it is the older model but works just great). Send me a PM if your interested

 

[AdInfinitum]

Yup, I would use dosing pumps and also forget the Kalk all together. Basically take everything you think you know about the tank and start over.

Test your tank at the same time everyday and do the daily (24h) consumption calculations based on your volume and then set your dosing per consumption. I like to go a bit lower then what my math tells me as volume of tank water is always an estimate with the rock/sand displacement. After you set up your dosing pump rates test again, everyday at the same time and adjust accordingly.

Honestly I find a calcium reactor is about a patient, feel, find an equilibrium type of approach. Dosing two part probably is a better fit for the control freak/instant precise gratification type of person that I'm guessing from your posts is your tendency...

 

[reef keeper]

I wouldnt necessarily say I'm a contr......

Never mind.

 

[unibob]

You need to be balling man. Tropic Marin balling


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[Nonuser]

 

[reef keeper]

I have it dialed in it seems!