Ca reactor and pinpoint controller concerne

[rocketeer]

I'm so happy! No more mixing additives for me! I just got a calcium reactor!

Correct me if I'm doing this wrong. I set up the Korallin calcium reactor up with 20 bubbles/min. and 1 drip/sec. The ph probe is where I can monitor the ph of the tank water. When ph gets high enough the CO2 starts bubbling until the ph gets to a lower set point. Currently it's set to turn on at 8.0 and off at 7.8. My ph doesn't get much higher than 8.0 right now.

Here's my concerne. It appears that the pinpoint controller has no way of moving the on and off set points closer together! I've read that ph changes more than .01 per day (!) can cause stress to some corals. My pinpoint controller will force a daily swing of .2. Right now my tank swings only about .05 (reverse photoperiods).

Am I going to kill something? Should I just put it on a timer?

Jack

[akm]

I've read that ph changes more than .01 per day (!) can cause stress to some corals.

I don't know where you got that information but it's not right. Even in the ocean pH can vary by .2 from day to night. In most tanks pH can swing that much and often even more.

[hobogato]

brian - what range do you have for your effluent pH

[hobogato]

the one i made is a dual chamber, so that is exactly the way i will set mine up - thanks

sorry for the hijack - jack.

[GaryP]

Jack,

Remember one thing. The term calcium reactor is a bit inaccurate. Its actually more of an alkalinity reactor. It produces more alkalinity then calcium and to keep them in balance you may still need to dose some calcium supplement. On the other side of the equation, alkalinity is depleted faster then calcium and therefore you may not need to add as much calcium. It is going to require some testing until you get it figured out.

[hobogato]

ok - thanks brian.