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ewaldsreef 
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 Topic: CA Reactor question
Posted: March 08 2006 at 3:44pm |
Ok so I have the Marine Aquatics style Ca reactor. I am very happy with it except for the fact that c02 builds up in the first chamber. I tapped a hole and installed a conector line and a ball valve so I could easily purge excess co2 when nessisary.
My question is I would like to take this mod a step further and conect the line back to the co2 feed. Then just crack the ball vale open slightly to allow excess c02 to feed back into the intake thus not wasing it.
Is this a good idea?
should I use one way valves to keep the co2 from feed back into the primary chamber?
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Shane H
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 3:57pm |
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Bruce,
I had this problem as well, but lately (say in the last 3-4 months) I havn't had to remove the built up CO2. I don't know why. The media is about 1/2 consumed, this may be a factor.
As per your question --> I'm not sure the amount of gas you would recover would be worth the extra mod? It may cause additional headaches that would not be worth it?
Let me know how it goes.
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jfinch
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Posted: March 08 2006 at 3:57pm |
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send it back to the circulating pump suction.
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Posted: March 11 2006 at 11:03am |
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The main reason for such a bulid up of C02 in the first chanber is cause there is to much c02 being put into it and not being used. Turn down the c02 on the input side, this reactor is ment to use use little c02 for maximum output, Also i dont think you could put it back into the main pump due to cavitation.
Edited by FIRE SHRIMP
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jfinch
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Posted: March 11 2006 at 12:53pm |
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Eric, I'm not sure how your reactor is designed, but isn't it pretty common to inject the CO2 from the bubble counter into the suction of the pump. The impeller helps the CO2 dissolve. This is how my reactor works and I never see bubbles come out of the pump or cavitation. I have a line that goes from the very top (highest point) of my reactor and feeds back into the suction side of my pump. If I ever overdue the CO2 and get a bubble at the top I just crack open that valve and let it circulated. After a few minutes all the CO2 is dissolved and I shut the valve off and turn down my CO2 addtion. Ultimately you're right, the problem is caused by adding too much CO2 to the reactor.
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ewaldsreef
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Posted: March 11 2006 at 1:37pm |
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Eric, What should the ph messure comming out of the reactor so I know I am adjusted correctly?
John, I think that is what I will do is t it in to the co2 line and just open it if I need to purge.
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Posted: March 17 2006 at 4:43pm |
Yes john that is how it is done, but if you have a unlimited supply of C02 (build up) then the pump will start to cavitate
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