Dialing in new Geo Calcium Reactor

[wwarriner]

I just got a Geo reactor package from premium aquatics and had a few questions for the experts out there. These are the questions I have:

1. What do you keep the ph at in your reactor?
2. What should the effluent alk and calcium levels be?
3. Is it normal to have a ph drop within 24 hours after initial setup?

Any advise would be appreciated. Hopefully Derek chimes in on this since I know he used to have a Geo reactor.

[dannyv]

I just got a Geo reactor package from premium aquatics and had a few questions for the experts out there. These are the questions I have:

1. What do you keep the ph at in your reactor?
2. What should the effluent alk and calcium levels be?
3. Is it normal to have a ph drop within 24 hours after initial setup?

Any advise would be appreciated. Hopefully Derek chimes in on this since I know he used to have a Geo reactor.

Everyone's bioload is different but i would start out kind of high on your ph, I started out with mine at turning on at 6.85 and shutting off at 6.73. You can adjust from there but your drip rate should be steady going into your sump. Now the reason for the PH drop is the excess CO2 being released into your tank.

You can defeat this buy using a air pump wiith an airstone where the drip comes in if that make any sense. The bubble rate on your calcium reactor should be around a bubble a second to start out.

And make sure you have a lot of KH and Calcium test kits because you'll be testing it often. Hope this helps you out but personally you have one of the best reactors..

Danny

[DrMark]

I think the Geo reactors are the best and easiest to run. I have a 612 on my 115gal and will be installing (today or tomm) a 618 on my 214gal. Good luck. You are off to a good start.
Premium Aquatics is the only place Geo sells the 612 reactor to, if you have that one. The other sizes are avail at other places. I also use about 10-15% of ZeoMag in the media with 80-85% being another Ca media of your choice.
mark

[aquasport24]

I dont know if you've seen this..
http://www.geosreef.com/forms/ca_reactor_instructions.pdf

[wwarriner]

Thanks for the info. I currently have my reactor set at 60 BPM, effluent drip rate at 50 ml per minute, and the ph controller set at 7.5. Should I lower the BPM or lower the ph controller to 6.5? Also, how often do yalls reactor turn on and off,

[DrMark]

you need the pH at 6.5.
Many people put solenoid on a controller and/or a timer to not run it 24hours a day.

[aquasport24]

I ussually run mine PH around 6.5-6.8, if you running it higher then the reactor won't be effective( can't break media into calcium). And if too low then the media just become mushy. Just bring down the PH for now and let it run for a couple days.I only turn my off (at night) if the ALK. is too high. Btw did you already measure your Alk. and calcium before you hook up the reactor. You want to have a ideal level before you activate the reactor. The reactor will help to maintains the alk and calcium level.

[fishn]

I have been running mine at 6.50. It turns CO2 on at 6.52, and off at 6.50. Hope this helps.