Need help setting up a calcium reactor
- Thread starter biswas121
- Start date
do you plan to push water through using a feed pump or pull water through using a peristaltic pump?
Unless you are looking for a hands off setup and maintenance from someone, I suggest doing some google research on how to set one up. Cause the first month or so will require you to get it dialed in.
you need to determine how you want to run it regarding how you plan to feed it water from your tank, push or pull method. I pull water in using a Kamoer Fx-STP. Also, you need to want to determine if you want to control it using a ph controller or measuring the effluent to determine how you plan to tune it. I use the latter as more of a failsafe method, less hardware reliability. On the top of the reactor, there is a PH port, so determining if you want to control it with a PH meter will help determine what you do with that opening.
do some research and if you have questions, send me a PM.
One last thing, it seems confusing at first until you understand how a calcium reactor works, then its super easy.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.htm. this article helped me. Are you using an Apex to control it?
Also i just run a1/4 line of my return going to the aquarium for the supply.
Pic 1 is process water from my supply manifold to the reactor. Pic2 is where the water goes into the reactor. Pic 3 is the CO2 tank and solenoid (controlled from Apex) Pic 4 is where the the CO2 tires into the reactor pic5 is the PH probe that makes PH of process water in the reactor and Pic 5 is of the EB832 which turns on and off the solenoid based on the PH.
Pic 1 is process water from my supply manifold to the reactor. Pic2 is where the water goes into the reactor. Pic 3 is the CO2 tank and solenoid (controlled from Apex) Pic 4 is where the the CO2 tires into the reactor pic5 is the PH probe that makes PH of process water in the reactor and Pic 5 is of the EB832 which turns on and off the solenoid based on the PH.
Attachments
This is my settings for the solenoid turning on and off.
Fallback OFF
If pH_Cal > 6.80 Then ON
If pH_Cal < 6.50 Then OFF
If Alkx13 > 10.00 Then OFF
Fallback OFF
If pH_Cal > 6.80 Then ON
If pH_Cal < 6.50 Then OFF
If Alkx13 > 10.00 Then OFF
CoralVue has a 4 part series on setting up a Cal Rx that helped me, they also have a video about the Kamoer with Cal Rx. These helped me out a lot when I set up mine as a newb to these sophisticated science experiments. Jk, like @civics14 said once you understand how they work they are rather easy.
I would suggest using the quick connect shut off valves on the supply line. If you turn it off for any reason for maintenance it’ll keep water from siphoning in or out.
10000% recommend going with a Kamoer pera pump, this will make life a lot easier for you!
