Calcium Reactor Questions
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=67446
Printed Date: July 10 2026 at 10:18am
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Topic: Calcium Reactor Questions
Posted By: P.Kapp
Subject: Calcium Reactor Questions
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 10:02am
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Last night I was setting up my Cal reactor, and was having issues with the bubbles coming from the C02 tank. My regulator has a bubble counter attached to it, and from there it goes to the reactor which also has a bubble counter attached to it. The issue Im having is that the number of bubbles going through the regulators bubble counter is much more than whats going down the line into the bubble counter on the reactor... I bought some bubble counter liquid from Marine depot and used it on the regulators bubble counter, but didnt have enough for the reactors bubble counter, so it has RO water in it. Could this be part of the problem? The line from the regulator to the reactor is roughly 3 ft long on does a kind of 'S' line down to the reactor. Maybe thats another reason? Also, what ratio of C02 bubbles does everyone run compared to how much effluent is released into the tank? Just looking for a good starting point, and then adjust it according to my tanks demand. Thanks for your help!! ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Replies:
Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 10:32am
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You need the same solution I'm each bubble counter. The viscosity of marine depot solution is a lot thicker than ro water. Check for leaks using a hand soup solution and check the connections. I use to run 1 bubble a second, heavy sps on a 70 gal cube. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 11:23am
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Unless there are unseen bad connections, I don't see a need for two bubble counters. The one located on the CO2 bottle should be enough, right? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 11:39am
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Unfortunately (for my confusions sake), both bubble counters are parts of other necessary parts. The first one is attached to the regulators needle valve, and the second is a part of the lid on the reactor. Maybe ill get some more of that solution for the 2nd bubble counter and see what happens. My tank is a 210 with a fair amount of sps and lps. Do you think ill be good doing a bubble a second at first? How much effluent do you guys let out? My c02 bottle is only a 5 lb and I want to make it last as long as I can ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 12:45pm
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The bubble count and effluent rate will be very dependent on your tank's needs. I'd start with 1 bubble per second with the effluent opened all the way. Slowly close the effluent off over the course of a few hours or days to adjust the ph in the reactor (ph of effluent) and maintain it. If you have a ph controller and solenoid this is a lot easier because it will control when to add co2 and your bubble count can be slightly higher than necessary. Once the ph in the reactor is stable, test your tank every day for alkalinity and calcium. Dose to bring the levels to what you want them at and open the effluent slightly if they are dropping or close it if they rise. If you adjust the effluent you may need to adjust the bubble count to maintain a stable ph inside the reactor. Open or close the effluent (and adjust bubble count when necessary) until the alkalinity stays constant throughout a few days. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 12:47pm
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This is a good article that covers most of the basics on how to get it running and adjusted properly: http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 1:05pm
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I'd just ignore the counter with RO water and when the water evaporates, leave it fluid-less. Each reactor produces at a different rate and each tank needs a different amount of Alk and Ca. At this point it would be hard to predict how long a 5 lb bottle of CO2 will last. Best procedure I know of is to start by 1) setting the effluent flow to where the drops are connected like a slow stream and 2) setting the CO2 rate at 1 bubble/second. Then monitor effluent pH to get a baseline. As I recall, effluent pH should be 6.5-6.8 or something like that. I assume you have a controller to monitor pH and control the CO2, though I have used many Ca Reactors without controllers. I would test Alk and Ca before starting the reactor and then the next day or two to see whether the reactor produced more or whether it produced less than the tank used. Adjust bubble rate acordingly, faster bubbles to dissolve media faster and deliver more carbonate or slower bubbles to deliver less. It might take up to a week to see how it's doing. Alk and Ca should be checked weekly for a while, at least until I felt comfortable with the setup and flow rate and then I would test alk and Ca at least every 4 weeks. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 1:12pm
Gosh I'm slow. 
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: November 05 2013 at 7:11pm
Hahaha. Thanks Mark & Ann! Ill start with those suggestions! Since my last post I also decided to purchase a new regulator. I got the one from aquariumplants.com . It seems to have very good reviews, and I like the adjustability of the bubble counter. So now Ill be eliminating one bubble counter, and ill probably put the gel like fluid in the counter on the reactor so I dont have to worry about evaporation. Thanks for all the help! ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 5:20pm
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So, I have all the equipment for this system now, but it seems like the media wont dissolve in the reactor and its causing the ph in my tank to drop. I bought the 'reborn' media from drs f&s and the ph in the reactor is getting down to 6.5, but Im just watching the ph in the tank drop more and more. I let it run for about a day or so hoping that it would eventually kick in, but I had to stop the co2 once the ph got way too low. I have adjusted the drip rate of the effluent line hoping that more contact time would help, but it doesnt seem to be working. The reactor im using is a mini cal dual chamber with an eheim pump. I calibrated the probes twice in the process, so they should be good. Any help or advice would be great. ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 5:23pm
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Where are the probes located? You may try reducing the amount of CO2 going to the reactor. The media dissolves very slowly and you won't be able to watch it dissolve (unless you do what I did and stick 4 large tridacnids in a small tank with a ton of stony corals). Have you tested alkalinity? Calcium? ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 5:50pm
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the probe for the reactor is in the reactor lid, and the one for the tank is in the sump in-between the baffles going to the return section. I havent really tried to watch the media dissolve, I just figure it isnt since the effluent coming out of it is basically the same as what the probe is reading in the reactor. I havent tested for alk and cal for a little while, since I stopped using the reactor about 3 weeks ago. Ill do some tests tonight ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 5:57pm
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The effluent should be the same ph as in the reactor. Test alkalinity and calcium of both the tank and the effluent. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 6:28pm
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Really? Everything Ive read says that when the media starts dissolving in the chamber it produces a high ph effluent that also delivers alk and cal... When I let it run like that for a day, my tank was down to somewhere around a ph of 7.0, give or take... my corals didnt look very good, and then I stopped running it ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 11:04pm
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No, the effluent water still has a low pH due to the CO2 concentration. CO2 dissolved in water is what a pH reading is all about. Low pH is why the effluent tube must be placed in a remote position of good flow where it can mix with normal pH tank water before reaching any coral. I believe the purpose of the controller is to turn off the CO2 if tank water pH dips below ~8. I believe that the effluent waters low pH is what originally dissolved the Calcium Carbonate media (CaCO3) and is what keeps the concentrated Calcium and Alkalinity separated in the effluent solution. When the effluent mixes with the passing tank water those molecules are then actively available for use by a body (coral, snail, coralline algae, fish, etc.). If tank water pH is falling to 7.9 or below, I believe it means there is too much CO2, too fast of a bubble rate. You mentioned slowing the effluent water, but without slowing the CO2 rate, a slower effluent still delivered the same amount of CO2 to the tank, just at a higher concentration in less effluent water. I would suggest trying it again, only this time cut the CO2 bubble rate by 2/3. In other words, if you started at 1 bubble per second, dial it down to 1 bubble every 3 seconds. Also set the effluent flow back to original. I agree with Ann. What are the Alk and Ca levels before start-up and then after running the Reactor? Aloha, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 9:06am
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Mark that's a good way of explaining it. I use my ph controller to control the ph of the reactor. I have it set to turn the CO2 off when the ph in the reactor reaches 7.0 because my media is supposed to dissolve at higher ph levels and I don't like my tank ph to be lowered any more than it has to be. Unfortunately I don't have another probe in my sump so I have to test ph of the display with an actual test kit. On a side note, if you continue having problems with low ph I would look into ventilating the area that the tank is in better. If that isn't an option and you can't run tubing for your skimmer intake out to a window or vent then you may look into CO2 absorption media. I've been dealing with low ph since day 1 and the last month or so it's been low enough that I'm half expecting my corals to start dissolving (7.4-7.6), so I ordered the BRS air filter with their CO2 absorption media. Of course this isn't necessary if you don't have ph problems when everything is stable and running good. Anyways, here's what I would do... Test Alkalinity & Calcium If needed, Dose 2 Part (or whatever additives you use to maintain them) to bring the levels back up Turn the calcium reactor back on Set the effluent to be a slow trickle (NOT a drip) Set the CO2 bubble rate to around 1 drop every 2 or 3 seconds WAIT - check the ph of the reactor and of the tank 8-12 hours after starting the reactor back up When I started up my reactor I let it run for a few days before turning on the CO2 to make sure there wasn't any residual dust or air bubbles (even after rinsing everything) in the reactor chamber. When I started the CO2 I started it at 1 bubble every 3 seconds but had it up to 1 bubble every second by the end of the week because I needed a faster effluent to maintain my alkalinity. I ended up testing the tank ph, calcium, and alkalinity every day for two weeks. I also tested the effluent calcium and alkalinity and checked the ph controller reading for the reactor daily. It took about a week for the tank to stabilize and about three weeks for it to require even more adjusting because everything started growing even faster with the increased stability. It's a balancing act and the best advice I can give is to be patient and make sure you fully understand how calcium reactors work. Just don't give up! ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 9:44am
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When I ran my calcium reactor, I also dripped kalkwasser to help off-set the low pH.
Good luck. This reminds me of when I was setting up my reactor. It took some time to dial it in, but it will be well worth it!
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Posted By: P.Kapp
Date Posted: December 17 2013 at 10:08am
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Ok, Ill do some testing and try what you guys have suggested. Thanks! ------------- Preston Kapp 210 Gal Reef |