"Dialed In" ?

[NaCl_H2O]

Ok, for the past four weeks I have been carefully testing and adjusting my Ca Reactor and Kalk suppliment and I think I have it about as good as I am going to get it. All testing was done in the evening at about 7:00pm, except PH which I also checked every morning. Please critique and offer any suggestions:

Kalk: Dosing about 1.5-2 cups about twice a week. It gets mixed into my RO/DI resovoir overnight and all top-off water is Kalk Water. Basically I add Kalk powder when the top-off water PH drops below 11.5, and this takes it back up to 12.5

Ca Reactor: Korallin C3002. CO2 bubble rate is about 60 bubbles/min, effluent drip rate is faster than I can count .. 3-5 drop/sec

Ca Reactor effluent: PH = 6.65-6.70, dKH = 35-40

Tank Ca = 450-475
Tank PH = 8.0 - 8.3
Tank dKH = 8.5 - 9.5

The only parameter I'm not happy with is "Tank dKH", which I would like to see in the 10-12 range, but I hesitate to push the Ca Reactor any further. Should I suppliment (something?) to get the Alk up?

Thanks for your input & and suggestions - Steve

... So, of course I'm gonna setup a clam tank and start all over ;)

[Tim Marvin]

You could dose a buffer. I use Kent buffer, but I have a feeling if you just let it run for a while it will smooth out.

[Shark_Bait]

I'm curious on watching this thread. Just got a CA Reactor and not really sure how to set it up... Yours is a different brand but CO2 bubbles are 60 bubbles a second?? You can count that fast :wacko ? I'm guessing thats 60 a minute..

[NaCl_H2O]

CO2 bubbles are 60 bubbles a second?

Oops, must have been counting bubbles in my skimmer :unsure

Edited the above post, that was 60/min!!! Thanks!

[Tim Marvin]

I used a MRC dual calcium reactor in the past, and it was just too much work for me. Seemed like I was constantly adjusting it. I'm not so sure it was worth it for me. I use Kalk and Oceanic salt now and seem to keep the levels fine with water changes. Might I add I have 7 clams in the 80 and one of them is a 12-14 inch Gigas, all are growing like crazy. The have a 1/2 inch white rim on most of them.

[RobertG]

I dont ever test so I really dont know what my DKH is last I checked it was at 11-12. I am running a PM Ca Reactor. Let it run its course after 4 weeks it is nowhere near broke in. Mine took months to really get going.

Tim says they are a pain in the rear, however I have no issues with mine. It seems to have really helped me in reef keeping. I also topoff with Kalk water. My Ph is in the 8.05 to 8.2 range. Nothing seems to be affected in a negative way & I have great growth rate. I admit I am the laziest reef keeper out here. I never do anything to the tank except keep my hands out of it. Oh I also feed the fish.

Let it run it will workout .

[NaCl_H2O]

Actually, the reactor has been running for several months, just at a very low rate. It is just in the last 4 weeks I decided to really try to get it adjusted ... a little laziness on my part too!

[RobertG]

I am running mine with a tunze PH controller, it takes all the dialing out for me. It cost me enough, so I say it was worth it. The effluent ph is 6.7 with no issues. Calcium is in the 420-450 range.

One of these days I'll start testing again. >_<

Oh the tank is mostly SPS & 3 Nice large clams.

[NaCl_H2O]

Tim, I think the real test will be as my SPS population increases and I get a clam tank going. If the Ca Reactor becomes a constant source of needing adjustment, I will get fed up with it very quickly!

[Tim Marvin]

Well, Robert uses controllers also, I did not. That helps out. With Kalk and Oceanic salt, I am haveing no problem keeping up with calcium demand, and I don't have a light calcium demand. Lots of SPS and clams.

[RobertG]

Rock solid is right, I give the credit to the controller. It is so automated I cant believe. My tank is only growing, I top off with kalk. Other than that I dont do a darn thing. I always know when the Co2 needs to be replaced, the ph will start to shoot up on the controller. It will also never run it to much. It will shut down if the target ph is not reached in a timely manner.

I thought I needed something else for a while but now I think all is good. I have roughly 350G's.

[GaryP]

Steve,

I wouldn't worry about your alkalinity. As long as it stay consistently at that level you should be OK.

[matt]

Ca Reactor: Korallin C3002. CO2 bubble rate is about 60 bubbles/min, effluent drip rate is faster than I can count .. 3-5 drop/sec

Ca Reactor effluent: PH = 6.65-6.70, dKH = 35-40

Tank Ca = 450-475
Tank PH = 8.0 - 8.3
Tank dKH = 8.5 - 9.5

The only parameter I'm not happy with is "Tank dKH", which I would like to see in the 10-12 range, but I hesitate to push the Ca Reactor any further. Should I suppliment (something?) to get the Alk up?



I'm not sure how big or new your tank is, but I suspect that there is a lot of bio-activity that's contributing to your carbonate consumption through neutralizing acids. Another unknown is your media; I guess it's possible that different reactor media produce a different balance of calcium and carbonate ions, although I have no experiences or knowledge of this. But, let's assume you're using ARM; it sounds a little low on the dkh end, although Gary is correct, 8.5-9.5 is not a problem as long as it's stable. You might try testing water you're going to use for a water change before you do so; just mix up some water to the SG you use, and test for carbonate hardness. Might be interesting.

Also, I KNOW I read somewhere a very interesting post about the chemistry end of the interaction between calcium reactor effluent and KW. It was more complicated than one would think, and the guy basically was describing some conflicting reactions that would result in carbonate hardness dropping. I never found that post again (reefcentral about a year ago) and I never bothered to ask Randy Holmes-Farley about this idea. I suppose it's worth looking into, if you're loaded with extra time...

You might also just try the easy way out, which would be to SLOWLY add some buffer over a week or so, get your dkh up, and see what happens. Don't be surprised if your Ca drops as a result of this, but it's fine.

Wish I could be more help!

Matt

[NaCl_H2O]

Matt, thanks for the comments. I'm using Oceanic salt, and you are correct - I need to test it for carbonate hardness!

The tank/system is about 700g capacity and has been up & running since about October. I "seeded" it with LR and some sand from my 125g, but still a very immature system.

I'll check the salt mix, then think about a little buffer. A slightly higher dKH and Ca around 400-450 is where I would like to see it!

[GaryP]

I think you will find that the alkalinity of Oceanic water is pretty low. It seems like they give up alkalinity in order to jack up the calcium. Its one of the things I don't like about it. Also, I know you make up fairly large batches of water several days in advance. Alkalinity is not stable like calcium is. It can fall from just sitting there. I make up for it by adding buffer after a water change. I have to add buffer almost daily anyway. As soon as I can find another doser jug I plan to go to a constant drip system for buffer.

Also, I have heard that Oceanic is not adding some trace elements to its mixture because they feel that most people are adding them as a supplement anyway. I stopped adding trace elements because I felt that they weren't needed as long as you did regular water changes. It's a Catch-22 IMO. For these reason I'll probably switch to another salt as soon as what I am using is gone. If anyone has seen an analysis of Oceanic online I would appreciate the link. Unfortunately I recently bought a bucket.

[NaCl_H2O]

If anyone has seen an analysis of Oceanic online I would appreciate the link.

Here ya go ... enjoy :wacko
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2004/feature.htm