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#32
01-31-2002, 12:56 AM
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Reactors and Additives
Big Opps....
I looked in my log book tonight and I notice that I haven't add buffer since late November. Okay... I take that statement back that I add buffer. I used to add a lot of buffer in my old 20.... According to my log, the only thing I add is Selcon -- in the form of Selcon soaked food. Sorry for the confustion. I can't think straight today...I had the CTO (Chief Technical Officer), two directors and three managers breathing down my neck today. Not a fun day. Yah...I'll try to tone down on the equations next time... Thanks. - Victor. 
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#33
01-31-2002, 04:48 AM
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Reactors and Additives
Darren,
I should clarify this some more. I think the difference between your tank and my tank is that you probably have two to three times the calcium consumption as mine (if not more). Since the reactor produces both calcium and alk (at a balance rate), then you will be adding more alk and calcium in to the system than me. Let's suppose that our algae is the same and it burns off the same amount of alk. What may seem to be a big drop in alk for me, you might see it as a small change. This is because your system is consuming a lot more alk than mine and you are adding back a lot more alk than mine. Also, my tank has three times the volume as yours but maybe 50% more water surface area. So, it will take longer for my tank to blow off CO2 (hence more alk consumption...if the CO2 does not get blown off). Is Bryosis calcium based ? If it is, then it will consume Ca and alk too (hence the large calcium + alk demand). It probably isn't but... Also, you use an kalk reactor (and I don't). The kalk reactor will consume a lot of the acidity of the CO2. Hence, alk is maintain (never increased). I haven't add Calcium to my system for a very long time. So I am either not consuming calcium (at all) or my reactor is working. So far, my SPS are growing and my coraline is spreading. So...it must be the reactor is working [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] The alkilinity, as I understand it, is design to prevent the pH from dropping too much when an Acid (like CO2...with is carbonic acid) is added. To prevent the pH from dropping too much, the alk ions actually absorbed the acid to create a salt (neither acidic nor basic). Now, it is possible to have high alk and low pH...it just means not all of the alk ions are bumping in to the acid particles. If given't enough time, the alk ion bonds with the acid. This is the primary function of a buffer and it's job is top absorb acids. Be it carbonic acid, acids from nitrogen cycle...eventually it will depress. I am not sure if I got my biology correct, but Corals do exactly the reverse of what a reactor does. It takes two bicarbonates, a carbonate and a calcium ion...then it uses those to form its skeleton. Ideal, if the alk is consumed by other means, then the reactor should be able to match exactly the draw from the coral. Suppose the Ca ppm was very high...then precipitation occurs more often (CaCO3, thus the Ca drops and alk stays the same. If there is a lot of CO2, then alk is consumed and Ca stays the same. So, there are many things that can happen. If things aren't perfect, either Ca or alk will be consumed faster than the other. In my case, alk is falling a little bit faster (1 dKH over a month). Does that make sense ? - Victor. [ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: reefburnaby ]</p>
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Linear Mode
