calcium reactors

[Texreefer]

ok , i have my reactor adjusted to where it is dripping so fast it is almost a steady pour,,, it's effluent is @ a ph of 6.5 , 420ppm and about 3.5-4meq/l and my tank calcium still drops...

question? should i crank it up to a steady stream and see what happens. i add calcium and if i add too much it precipitates out and too little and it does nothing. my calcium was up to 400 and over the past week.. even with reactor running and adding small doses of calcium and buffer the Ca has dopped to 290-300 .. i wonder how my tank would look with bullet holes in it :twisted:

[Tim Marvin]

You had better slow down the reactor before you wipe out everything. Try a Kalkwasser drip. Don't do anything drastic.

[VGB]

I have to agree with Tim....I have used a calcium reactor for several years now and in the beginning I expected it to be a "panacea" for all my ills...it wasnt...I believe you are caught in the "numbers" game or the `ole..."test...tweek...test...tweek" syndrome...this can be dangerous

Relax...tune in your reactor.... get you calcium/alk levels where you want them and THEN tweek the reactor to keep them there...this can take weeks....

IME a calcium reactor is a delicate machine and you must learn to balance drip and CO2 bubble count to MAINTAIN calcium, alkalinity and PH...not always that easy...
Patience is a virtue.....

[Texreefer]

ok , i have set my bubble count to 19-20/min and my drip rate at 2/sec.. the good news is there are no bullet holes in the tank yet,

[Tim Marvin]

That is a good starting point run that for at least a week.

[Texreefer]

i think things are starting to settle in a bit with my calcium its holding at 300 now to just slowly raise it ..i'm having trouble keeping a steady drip though... i need to find a good needle valve

[Hammer]

I use a peristaltic pump to run my reactor. Although it limits the flow, it is about the most precise way to drip that I know of.
If you look around you can find variable peristaltic pumps. Then you can easily and accurately adjust your effluent drip rate.

[Texreefer]

i have my feed line plumbed into my main return line so i have plenty of pressure feeding the reactor.. i just cant seem to get the driip rate to stay steady i have tried the plastic ball valve and also the brass needle valve... it seems that the ball valve works better but still will not stay steady.

[Hammer]

Try and find something that is more like a gate valve. They always offer better adjustability.