Reactors and Additives

[reefburnaby]

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.