Calcium Reactor Questions

[siavashv]

Ok. So I have had my calcium reactor running for a week or so now. I thought that I had my levels set before I got the thing online but my levels are fluctuating. I read the Calcium Reactor Primer Sticky post and have made some adjustments. Here are some of my levels as I checked just a minute ago and the adjustments I made. Please let me know what you guys think...

System:
Red SeaMax 250L (66 gallon)

Specific Gravity 1.027 (I usually top off with Kalkawasser drip every other night, so tonight I will drip about 1.5-2 gallons of the mix) Let me know if this is still a good idea given that I have a calcium reactor running now.

Calcium 390
Alkalinity 8.0
Magnesium 1350

I had the Milwaukee controller at 6.7-6.8 (I don't know why they don't have the exact amounts on the stupid controller, it only shows 6.5 and 7.5.. stupid.

Now I have changed it to 6.6 per the sticky thread.

I had the bubble count on the regulator at 27 bubbles per minute. Changed that to about 60-70 bubbles per minute.

I had the drip rate at 30-40 drops per minute which equaled approximately 30mL per minute. Changed that to 55 mL per minute... Too many drops to count per minute.

My tank is fairly heavy LPS and a good amount of SPS given the size of the tank.

Let me know what you think. My main issue is the following:

1. Should I still drip Kalk?
2. Should I depend on the Reactor to raise my levels at this initial level or should I add supplements to raise the Ca, Alk, or Mag? And if so, should the reactor be up while I do this?
3. How are my bubble and drip rate given my tank size?

Thanks for your input.

Sia

 

[thanh386]

My reactor handles my sps heavy tank and holds it at 450-480. I have mine at 5.9-6.0 tho.

 

[schwaggs]

Yes, you should still run Kalk, it helps to offset the pH drop from the CA reactor.

With CA at 390, why do you want to add more CA? Those alk and CA levels are just fine...

 

[hnguyen]

You should add some calcium supplement to get you up to around 450. Your calcium reactor is meant to maintain your levels they way they are and to replenish what your system uses up, not to increase your levels. So right now, just keep your reactor running the way it is and add some calcium supplement to it until you reach around 450 then stop. Test everyday to see if your parameters are changing and log it. Once you notice a change, make the corrections as needed. If your calcium and alk or dropping, then lower your ph setting by .1 and dose accordingly to reach your desired parameters again and repeat testing for the next couple of days. Keep doing this until you have determined that your reactor is replenishing what your system is taking and that your parameters are stable.

It takes some time playing with the reactor when you first set it up, even worse when it's your first time with a reactor. But once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. I set my Geo reactor up in less then 30 min. and it only took me 3 days to verify that it's keeping my system stable, never had to touch it ever since.

 

[dme330i]

Schwaggs;699073 wrote: Yes, you should still run Kalk, it helps to offset the pH drop from the CA reactor.

With CA at 390, why do you want to add more CA? Those alk and CA levels are just fine...

Totally agree with Schwaggs. Minimum of 380 and you're good. Also, I keep my dkh at 8. Any higher and it just increases the precipitation of calcium on pump, heaters, etc.

Remember, natural sea water Ca and Alk parameters, in general:

- 420 ppm Ca
- 7 dkh Alk

One final point, once you settle on numbers that you're comfortable with, lock it in and keep it stable. Will take some initial tweaking; however, once dialed in, the Ca reactor will do a great job of keeping things stable with just minor adjustments as the tank grows out.

 

[siavashv]

I appreciate all of your input. I think my SPS has already started to react positively. I actually have seen improvement since I set my controller down to about 6.6 - 6.7... The only thing that I have seen that concerns me is that one of my chalices has gotten a bit less pulpy. It was doing really really well before and had started to produce like 7-8 new eyes simultaneously, but now seems like it's tissue has gotten a little dried out. Still looks ok, but maybe a bit negatively affected. I will still do the Kalk drip, but I was hoping that I didn't need to. But happy to do it. I was thinking that I wanted my Ca more around 450 like Hoang mentioned. But I'm not distraught with 390 either. I will dose a bit and see what happens. Thanks again guys and keep it coming.

 

[grouper therapy]

Any way you could slow the drip on the Kalk so that it last for two days instead every other night? That would help stabilize a little.

 

[schwaggs]

siavashv;699315 wrote: I was thinking that I wanted my Ca more around 450 like Hoang mentioned. But I'm not distraught with 390 either.

I think you are on the right track. Shoot to keep your CA and Alk in a range, not at a specific point. These adjustments take a while to come into equilibrium and if you are adjusting them every day to get to a specific number, you will end up driving yourself nuts.

For example, it you measured 390 today, I would't touch a thing. If you measure 390 for 3 days in a row, I would consider dropping the CA reactor pH a hair.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Schwaggs;699347 wrote: I think you are on the right track. Shoot to keep your CA and Alk in a range, not at a specific point. These adjustments take a while to come into equilibrium and if you are adjusting them every day to get to a specific number, you will end up driving yourself nuts.

For example, it you measured 390 today, I would't touch a thing. If you measure 390 for 3 days in a row, I would consider dropping the CA reactor pH a hair.

+1. Good advice.

 

[skriz]

Schwaggs;699347 wrote: I think you are on the right track. Shoot to keep your CA and Alk in a range, not at a specific point. These adjustments take a while to come into equilibrium and if you are adjusting them every day to get to a specific number, you will end up driving yourself nuts.

For example, it you measured 390 today, I would't touch a thing. If you measure 390 for 3 days in a row, I would consider dropping the CA reactor pH a hair.

Yep. I usually only make one adjustment per week until it's set. Small adjustments are key and don't worry about trying to get too high a Ca reading; it won't help the corals as they can only take in a certain amount.

 

[siavashv]

Ok. So I wanted to give an update as to how things are going with my calcium reactor... ITS AWESOME!!!!!!!!! my corals couldn't be happier and all of my SPS is thriving BIG TIME! So I have to say that I'm extremely happy with my addition of my reactor. Thanks to the folks at SEA and Pure Reef for all the amazing products and consultation. Here are my latest readings on water parameters: calcium 450, alk 10, magnesium 1300... Can it get better? I think not... I love this hobby again!