Raising Alk - Calcium Reactor

Gools · #1 04-10-2005, 12:30 AM

I want to raise my Alk. How do I do that? I tested my water and it was at 8.6, and I want it at 10. I'm running my calcium reactor at 52 bubbles a minute, with an effluent of 6.7- 6.8. do I just raise my bubble count up, and by about how many bubles a minute?

bear27 · #2 04-10-2005, 01:36 AM

Calcium reactors are designed to maintain a constant level of calcium. if you want to raise it use a additive to raise it and the reactor should keep it there

Gools · #3 04-10-2005, 01:40 AM

Yup, but not to worried about my calcium, just want to get my Alk up.

christyf5 · #4 04-10-2005, 02:22 AM

I'd increase your bubble count to maybe 65 per minute and see how that goes. It seems to work with my tank

BTW, I am by no means a Ca reactor expert ( and many can tell you

) so hopefully someone will chime in here and let us all know

Christy

bear27 · #5 04-10-2005, 08:09 AM

Calcium and alkilinity are linked inside the reactor, by disolveing the media you maintain the levels of both so if you want to raise your calcium add a calcium suplement and if you want to raise you alk and a suplement for that. Then once you reach the levels you want as long as your consumption rate stay the same so will your levels

Doug · #6 04-10-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gools

I want to raise my Alk. How do I do that? I tested my water and it was at 8.6, and I want it at 10. I'm running my calcium reactor at 52 bubbles a minute, with an effluent of 6.7- 6.8. do I just raise my bubble count up, and by about how many bubles a minute?

I found when running my reactor, raising the bbm and leaving the effluent flow the same, increased my calcium levels more so than the alk. levels. I use to have to high of alk. output and lower calcium, by running more effluent at the same bbm, thus a bit higher ph in the effluent.

However this can lead to an unbalance. I would say your reactor is performing good, esp. if your calcium is where you wish it. That alk. level is pretty good. Not sure why you wish to go up to 10dkh. The trend over the last year was to bring it back to 8 or 9dkh from the usual 12 to 13dkh levels we were running before.

If you wish a bit more alk. I would go with the other post for now and add a bit of baking soda or theSeachem alk. product, to bump it up a bit if you wish. But carefully.

Doug · #7 04-11-2005, 01:34 PM

I see the answer on the other board agreed with Christy and opposite of what mine use to do. Oh well, guess mine ran backwards or something.