can't maintain alkalinity

[Jason McK]

I'm taging a long as I run the same problems as Darryl

[SuperFudge]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

I'm taging a long as I run the same problems as Darryl

What are your effluent values and reactor rates Jason ?

[fishface]

here's some numbers for you Marc,

-What is the Ph Coming out of the reactor ? 6.3
-what is the Ca coming out of the reactor ? off the chart
-what is the alk coming out of the reactor ? waaaay off the chart
-what is your current effluent rate ? 30 drp
-what is your current bubble count ? 34 bpm
-is the recirc pump on the reactor running ? and yes

just outta curiosity, what's general parameters we might expect from a properly adjusted reactor? i understand there's a lot of variables but are there any general guidelines here?


-heavy stocking ? i wish
-small or inconsistant water changes ? 12g every 2 weeks, consistantly
-low alk salt, wich already has been determined as part of the problem. true this...
-overfeeding? not out of the realm of possibility...

i'm starting to get the picture here...but i'm just not sure of the fix on my own.


thanks again for your help you guys, it's very much appreciated!

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by SuperFudge

What are your effluent values and reactor rates Jason ?

Not sure. have to get home and test

J

[Reefer Rob]

Jason, you mentioned adding Boraxo, I've never heard of that. Is that for boron? Won't that throw you KH readings off?

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Jason, you mentioned adding Boraxo, I've never heard of that. Is that for boron? Won't that throw you KH readings off?

Borate, and sort of. But the addition of Borate will help in maintaining the PH stability. Straight Baking Soda tends to allow the carbonates to become exhausted leaving a carbonate starved water causing a drop in PH and then and increased in carbonate demand. The addition of Boraxo will increase the stability and make the effects longer lasting

BTW the actual mix is A&H 4 Boraxo 1

J

[SuperFudge]

Daryl,


The numbers look fine.

I would tweak it a bit, and gave a couple suggestions at the bottom of the post to do this...but before doing it...there seems to be something else that is the problem.

Looking at the numbers youve posted, the rates should have been adequate for a well stocked tank im sure.
What you are being left with is telling me there is waay to high of alk consumption...while CA is only having a moderate to low demand.

I noticed in another thread you are currently using the blu coral method..
Correct me if im wrong, but this requires that you feed quite heavily.
If the skimmer is not keeping up to the additional bioload, the alk will drop considerably as a result...while the Ca remains normal.
Has a low alk only been a problem since the new feeding method ?

I bet between the salt and heavy feedings, this is whats giving you the skewed parameters.

Can you wet skim with your current skimmer ?

If you are set on using the current salt, and want to try and get a bit more out of the reactor, I would increase effluent until ph has raised to 6.6-6.7 in the reactor.....probably closer to an effluent rate of a drop per second.
If ph is still climing beyond within the reactor (after a day or two) then add only co2 until this comes back down to 6.6-6.7.
When this stabilizes..48 hrs after last tweaking ,test.
Adjust again the same way if more is needed...monitor calcium to make sure this isnt increasing too much.

Marc.

[fishface]

Originally Posted by SuperFudge

I noticed in another thread you are currently using the blu coral method..
Correct me if im wrong, but this requires that you feed quite heavily.
If the skimmer is not keeping up to the additional bioload, the alk will drop considerably as a result...while the Ca remains normal.
Has a low alk only been a problem since the new feeding method ?

I bet between the salt and heavy feedings, this is whats giving you the skewed parameters.

Can you wet skim with your current skimmer ?

If you are set on using the current salt, and want to try and get a bit more out of the reactor, I would increase effluent until ph has raised to 6.6-6.7 in the reactor.....probably closer to an effluent rate of a drop per second.
If ph is still climing beyond within the reactor (after a day or two) then add only co2 until this comes back down to 6.6-6.7.
When this stabilizes..48 hrs after last tweaking ,test.
Adjust again the same way if more is needed...monitor calcium to make sure this isnt increasing too much.

Marc.

hey Marc,

interesting questions here, unfortunately i started doing the blu coral thing pretty much when i started using the salt and when i got the reactor!! all new ideas and toys on the new tank.

this being said, i am running an RS-250 and skimming very wet...this on a total volume of around 145g's would be sufficient i would guess. should be safe with that. no? also, not that i test often but my nitrates and phosphates have be negligible when tested even after dosing the blu coral way. i'll check first thing in the am and post.

i did shut down the co2 around noon today to see if my numbers would fall a touch before restarting and then i'll try your tweaks to see if i can get it worked out.

thanks again!

[fishface]

well, after a week of testing on a daily basis and having some good concrete targets to shoot for, i've finally ironed out my issues with ca and alk imbalance.

i've been meticulous with testing and recording results: this is what i ended up with that works for my tank:
drip rate 185 dpm
bubble count 55 bpm
effluent ph 6.5

resulting ca, stable at 430
resulting alk, stable at 8.2 dKH

hopefully i'll be able to maintain these numbers and they don't go outta wack by tomorrow!

thanks agian for your help Marc and Marie!! patience is the key.
how's your battle there J? making any headway?

[michika]

Were you able to maintain everything?