Neat observation about my new system and reactor

[Doug]

Mine is also one of Jaysons. Its the combo guages, counter and solonoid. I believe its made by Blueline.

I moved it a couple days ago, back down to the sump. I will take some new measures soon. Before it was running at a fast drip, but not yet a stream, {hmmm, sounds like a song, }, 60bbm, effluent alk @30dkh, effluent ph @6.7

I have been slowing the effluent rate slightly, to try decrease the alk output and increse the calcium output, until it catches up.

[Doug]

Just measured,

effluent=55 ml/min
co2=65bbm
effluent ph=6.75

As for alk. & calcium output, still have to measure.

[Canadian Man]

Doug,
That's about on par with my old reactor setting's. About the same bpm/co2 pm and similar ph.

You were talking about changing the output alk and calcium level with diffrent reactor setting's? Can you explaine furthur?

I am asking because I found that most of the time my calcium would stay the same but alk would drop slowly.

Thanks

[Doug]

Jon,
I found that a good effluent flow rate, with say a specific co2 rate, produces an effluent with an alk of around 30dkh and a calcium of mid to low 400ppm. Thats means it can just maintain normal levels, which is what most of us have noticed.

However, in a thread many moons ago, Stephane mentioned that he noticed by keeping the same bbm and reducing the effluent rate slightly, the calcium output increased and the alk decreased.

Thats what I am trying to achieve. Now if I would just quit moving my reactor, I could find out.

[Delphinus]

Could it have something to do with the alk/Ca see-saw relationship? Let me think this through ... By reducing the effluent but maintaining the CO2 we drop the pH in the reactor (presumably). This means more dissolving of media, meaning more concentrated product/effluent, but since the rate is slower there is less overall product (calcium and carbonate ions) being introduced into the tank. So presumably you already have reasonable levels in the tank, but the effect in the tank is that calcium gets depleted so long as there is enough alk to provide for that. Both Ca and Alk drop a little, but as soon as the Ca starts to go down that tends to push the Alk up higher. Does any of this sound right to you ... (pop! Ow I think I just busted a vein in my brain )

[Doug]

Tony, should you not be working instead.

I think you are on the right track. I think the lesser effluent @ the same bbm, produces less overall as you mentioned, but a higher level of calcium.

I need to measure to prove this though.

[Jack]

What if the pH of the reactor goes too low?

I was at 380 and 14dkh so I increased the effluent. Now I'm at 350 and 12 dkh.

Will test later tonight and post back quick. Maybe I should be reducing the effluent?

[Jack]

Just tested all my parameters.

Reactor:

90 bpm
95 ml/min. effluent
7.0 pH

Tank:

Alk 11 dkh
Ca 460 ppm
8.2 pH


So did increasing my effluent raise my calcium and lower my dkh? Wtf.

Edit: Testing's from the previous post were 1 week apart and a 7 gal water change 3 days ago.

[Doug]

Jack, those tank readings are pretty good. Hard to argue with your results. Did you increase the bbm at the same time as the effluent? What kind of reactor is that?
Man you guys crank some kind co2 rate.

I just measured everything again. Something must be working as the calcium is now up to almost 400ppm and the alk is holding at 13dkh.

[stephane]

new aragonite sand will always pricipitate a lot of calcium for severale month