I think you will need a higher bpm and effluent rate. I would recommend starting at around 30-40 bpm and a 40ml/min effluent rate. You will probably have to raise your bpm from this rate but it should get you in the ballpark.

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Jeff

Visit my website:
JeffsReef

I agree with Jeff on the 30-40 BPM and 40ml per minute, you should shoot for a KH around 30 on the effleunt...

Moved to Tanks, Filtration & Basic Equipment forum.

Thanks for the advice, about how many drops equal 40/ml?

The reason I said you need to measure the KH of effluent is cause bubble size and effluent drop size vary from reactor to reactor. The bubble count Jeff gave you was just an estimate you still need to test KH and PH....

50ml = about 1/4 cup

I am looking for opinions on bubble rate and drip rate for
my tank, i have a new korallin reactor, tank is 125 gallons and loaded. What are your ideas for bubble rate and drip rate. Directions say start with 10/bubbles and 40/drops for a couple of weeks until reator is broken in.
What do you think?
Thanks Lee
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Lee,

I have a Korallin reactor and it too is servicing the same size tank as yours. Be warned, check your current KH values in the tank and don't raise it too quickly. I think 40bpm is too great at the outset.

FYI after 12 months I have 15-20bpm with about 100dpm effluent. KH of the effluent is 35 and the pH of the effluent is 6.35. pH of the tank is 7.96 in the morning and 8.26 at night, Alk is 5-6 meq/l and calcium is 400-420ppm.

Regards

Paul :-)>

p.s. Place a measuring bowl under you effluent and leave it for 5 minutes. Read the measure and divide by 5 or place it on digital kitchen scales and measure the weight, diving by 5. There's your value in millilitres ie. 1ml = 1 gram.

Paul,
Thanks, My current values at 16bpm and 100dpm: current KH is 11, effluent Kh is 35, effluent ph is 6.6. . my tank ph is comparable to yours, alk is 3.5, calcium is 450.
I was dosing B-Ionic daily and have tapered to a few times a week, when do you suggest stopping altogether?
Thanks again

Originally posted by lehrens:
Paul,
Thanks, My current values at 16bpm and 100dpm: current KH is 11, effluent Kh is 35, effluent ph is 6.6. . my tank ph is comparable to yours, alk is 3.5, calcium is 450.
I was dosing B-Ionic daily and have tapered to a few times a week, when do you suggest stopping altogether?
Thanks again

Hi, I use Salifer dKH Testkit , It can go only as high as 16 if I remember correctly, How can I test the eff dKH if its above that? can I just double the water sample from 4 to 8 and still use 2 drop agent then just double the result? thanks

Jason


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Lee,

Keep your basic dosing regimen for at least a month (I'd say two or three) and monitor it as you go ie. decrease a portion and check it after a week to see what the repercussions where on your system.

Also, your Alk although OK could be a bit higher. Remember Ca reactors usually maintain current levels not just increase them to ideal ones. Use some buffer to increase your Alk and the reactor should keep them there, otherwise all your other parameters are killer! Now, to worry about that skimmer [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

P. :-)>

p.s. adjust your BPM only so that the pHof the effluent is around 6.5-6.7 only, this is all CaCo3 needs to start dissolving, so if your effluent is at this level don't increase your BPM rate. Your Ph of your effluent also fluctuates with different CaCo3 media so you may need to increase quite a bit next time as opposed to your last.

Originally posted by ricochet:
Remember Ca reactors usually maintain current levels not just increase them to ideal ones.

I've heard alot of people say this but I haven't found it to be true in my experience. When I was dosing B-Ionic my alk would be around 9dkh and my calcium in the 450 range. Since using my reactor my alk stays around 12dkh and my calcium around 480. If your levels are really low it may take a while for the reactor to raise them.



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Jeff

Visit my website:
JeffsReef

Originally posted by jasonchi:

Hi, I use Salifer dKH Testkit , It can go only as high as 16 if I remember correctly, How can I test the eff dKH if its above that? can I just double the water sample from 4 to 8 and still use 2 drop agent then just double the result? thanks

Jason

take 2 mil efflient 2 mil. ro water test then x2 =effluient kh