A bit of help setting my CR controller, please

[geno]

I set up my CR today. It's a CR-6 dual chamber with spray bar. It is being controlled by an American Marine pinpoint controller. I've read the instructions for set up -- but would really appreciate input from experienced users.

I have set the HI side at 6.60 and the LO side at 6.30 -- does these settings seem reasonable? Since I've just set up the unit the pH reading is slowly dropping in the CR and is now down to about 7.02 -- it started at 8.02 and it's been about 2 hours elapsed time. The pH probe is set in a T device that measures the pH of the water within the two chambers.

Thanks for your feedback and advice. This whole process has terrified me from the start having read how easy it is to crash a tank.

-gene

 

[lilrobb]

I would go with 6.8 HI and 6.6 LO, but that might be just me...

 

[lilrobb]

geno;509347 wrote: It's a CR-6 dual chamber with spray bar.

That's a heck of a reactor for a 125.... (just BTW)

 

[acroholic]

LilRobb;509348 wrote: I would go with 6.8 HI and 6.6 LO, but that might be just me...

Rob's recommendation is good to start with. 6.3 is too low, especially if you are using crushed coral type size media (not the coarse stuff). I wouldn't go below 6.4 with the finer sized media, as it turn to mush in too low a pH. Coarse media can be taken a bit lower.

Also, it seems you are taking a long time to get the pH drop in your reactor. What is your bubble cont set at?

A good starting point is about 1 bubble/sec CO2 and an effluent output of 50-60 ml/min. Test your KH daily and adjust as needed. You can basically adjust three parameters with a calcium reactor: Bubble count, effluent rate, and pH controller settings. For me, I find it easier to keep the effluent rate at 55-60 ml/min, the bubble count at abot 1 per second, and adjust the controller setting up or down as KH dictates. If your KH is high, turn the setpoint of the controller up a bit. If KH is too low, turn the controller setpoint down a bit.

I find it easier to dial in a calcium reactor if I keep 2 of the 3 adjustable parameters of the reactor constant.
Dave

 

[haninja]

Anything below 6.5 will turn the media into mush... also, 7.2 in two hour doesn't make scene. Your water flow through the reactor is either too fast or the Co2 bubble count is too slow.

 

[lilrobb]

Dave has good points,

I like to control my effluent volume and keep the others stable - but that's personal preference...

 

[geno]

My new settings are 6.60 on the HI side and 6.4 on the LO side. I just spoke to the folks at American Marine and he felt this should work for now. Obviously, I will keep a close eye on my KH, and pH.

Currently the drip rate of the effulent is approximately 1/second. Bubbles are at slightly less than 1/second.

I will be gone for a few hours tonight - I will check the pH reading when I get home.

I'm assuming the CO2 will stop when the pH in the CR gets to about 6.5 -- I will test the output of the effulent tomorrow.

Thanks for all the comments!

-gene