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Thread: Initial Calcium Reactor Setup

  1. #1
    Frequent Visitor KRoss's Avatar
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    Initial Calcium Reactor Setup

    I been using a DDR, and a DOS to dose two way solution for over a year, and finally decided to take the plunge for a calcium reactor. The tank is medium stock, with LPS, SPS, and Clam.

    I am using a LifeReef Calcium reactor.

    My Initial Setup since I just been placed online now is this:

    Fallback OFF
    Set OFF
    If Calc_P > 6.50 Then ON
    If Sump_p < 7.90 Then OFF
    If Tank_P < 8.00 Then OFF
    If Output 16_7_BlueC = OFF Then OFF

    I am using a Carbon Doser on it also, and I have it set to 2. Tanks Lower PSI is set to 6 right now.

    Is this a good initial setup, to get things started? Or should I go a bit lower on the settings.

    Oh, the media in the rector is two little fishies course media, with ZeoMag at a 90% to 10% ratio.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Frequent Contributor Alain B's Avatar
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    What kind of pump are you using for the calcium reactor effluent ?
    Alain

  3. #3
    Frequent Visitor KRoss's Avatar
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    Rio pump is feeding the system and a blueline HD 10 is the recirculation on the unit.

    Unit been on About 1.5 hours and at 7.32 ph and dropping slowly.

  4. #4
    Frequent Contributor Alain B's Avatar
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    I guess your carbon doser is an Aquarium Plants ? Is so , here are a few tips regarding this doser . The secondary pressure control the CO2 bubble size and the dial on the front face control the interval between bubble . The time the doser is actually " dosing " is fixed ( time of the doser valve being open ) .

    Make sure your reactor pH probe is properly calibrate using pH 7 solution .
    Set the effluent rate at 50 drop per minute and leave it as is for now
    Set the calcium reactor pH at 6.5 as you are using Zeomag and this media does not dissolve well at higher pH .

    Let the system reach it's set pH value before taking parameters of the tank water ( alkalinity , calcium and magnesium ) . Wait 24 Hres before taking other readings . From there you will be able to determine if the flow effluent flow is efficient to maintain the level . Dont chase number , calcium reactor are slow to react so give it time and change only one setting at the time .

    Mine is set at 12 psi secondary pressure and 4 second bubble interval , here is my doser programming :

    Doser_CO2.PNG

    After a while and when the system is stable , you can set alarm to notify you in case of low CO2 or insufficient effluent flow .
    Alain

  5. #5
    Frequent Visitor KRoss's Avatar
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    1- Set to 50 drops per minute
    2- Set to 6.50 already
    3- Should I adjust mine from 6 PSI secondly and 2 Seconds bubble interval to 12 PSI and 4 Bubbles?

    And thanks for all the help.



  6. #6
    Frequent Contributor Alain B's Avatar
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    I would set 12 psi and 6 second interval , leave it running until it reach 6.5 pH plus a few more hours after , post the reactor graph here after you have reach calcium reactor stability . You should get something similar to this : CAR_pH.PNG

    After , you can set alarm .
    Alain

  7. #7
    Frequent Visitor KRoss's Avatar
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    Ok increased to 12 psi and 6 seconds. Will post graph in a few days.

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