Reactors and Additives
Hi,
This is why kalk is dripped (and not dumped). There has to be enough CO2 to combine with the OH-.
Kalk is composed of Ca and OH-. So
kalk = Ca++ + 2 (OH2-)
CO2 when mixed in water becomes :
CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3-
where H2CO3 is a carbonic acid and HCO3- is a bicarbonate. Okay...so, when the two mix...you get :
Ca++ + 2(OH-) + 2H+ + 2HCO3- <=> H2O + 2HCO3- + Ca-. So, the alk stays the same...but no more CO2 and one more Ca++.
AH....i see the light. Okay...CO2 doesn't get absorbed. Okay...you are right...it is a weak acid. However, acids from fishes and decaying matter (say...did you notice my decaying macro algae ?) will absorb some of the alk.
I will check my reactor (again). I am sure it is okay. Either that...or I am confusing myself between the time I didn't have the reactor on my 90 and after. I did have problems with my reactor intially (kept plugging up at the valves and the flow was fine one day ... and nothing two days later). I fixed that...so maybe that's why I add some buffer. Okay...I'll check it tonight and see what it is.
Thanks.
- Victor.
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