Time to change reactor media???

tc3 · 05-28-2001, 10:31 AM

What are the normal signs that reactor media needs to be changed? I would assume that the calcium level would start to drop, as well as alkalinity level. Is this correct? I've never actually let things get to that point, but I was just curious???

------------------
Ted
"The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step"

**golfish** · 05-28-2001, 11:16 AM

Ted,
I'm new to using calcium reactors but it would seem to me that you don't change it but add to it.

Ironreef · 05-28-2001, 01:13 PM

yup the media dissolves. then you add more. You may want to clean it every year. Haven't had mine that long but i used up 3/4 of one chamber on my geo. the best way to keep alk and cal up ime.

36 · 05-28-2001, 03:11 PM

Inability to hold your alk level is the first sign of exhausted media.

RWD · 05-28-2001, 04:15 PM

Like Iron suggested clean out the reactor once in a while. Take it all apart and rinse the old media. I use to keep adding and didn't clean it out. The result is the reactor plugged up with fine silt and stopped working. Bob

------------------
Visit my reef site at www.bobsreef.com
Same site, different name.

Ironreef · 05-28-2001, 05:38 PM

the media dissolves =thats how it works. it doesn't get old.If your alk isn't keeping up turn up your co2

tc3 · 05-28-2001, 05:48 PM

Generally, what I have done is rotate media. After so many months, I will replace all the media in the canister and use the old media as substrate in the main tank. I spread it around pretty evenly and let the sand sifters, and my Clarkii mix it up with the finer sand on the top. This has worked pretty well.

Incidentally, what is everyone's media of choice??? I've been using the Koralith media, but I've heard some really good remarks about the ARM from Carib Sea.

Ironreef · 05-28-2001, 06:25 PM

Just wondering whats you alk and cal? My media all dissolves and doesn't last long. i use the cheap geo marine cc. koralith should dissolve faster. IMO cc is cc its all crushed corals. but i get good results with a 40lb bag for less than $30

tc3 · 05-31-2001, 07:16 PM

Generally, my alkalinity is at 11.6 dkh, and my calcium generally stays around 420-440. The only trouble I have with the reactor is microbubble/CO2?? buildup in the chamber of the Korallin. I've called Ed at M3 several times and tried everything he suggested, but nothing has worked. Actually thinking about switching to a MTC reactor.

------------------
Ted
"The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step"

Ironreef · 05-31-2001, 10:06 PM

try a geo duel its aknock off of mtc =nie reactor at 80% the price. A reactor is just a place to hold media and geo are nice

Great Reefer Man · 05-31-2001, 10:46 PM

I recently added more media to my reactor. When I opened it up, the media which was still in there, about half full, was the constistancy of jello! I kid you not. It was like paste! What would cause this? Too much co2?

Dennis

36 · 06-01-2001, 10:21 AM

Ted,

I have a Korallin and always had the same problem. A few months ago I bought a Geo 2nd chamber to lower my CO2 usage and hopefully raise the pH (not). I ran the effluent from the exhaust exit on the Korallin to the Geo. It pushes all the excess CO2 out. I lowered my bubble count to 12/minute and drip rate to 70/minute. Alk is always around 11dkh and calcium 420 on 127 gallons.

tc3 · 06-03-2001, 11:53 PM

36, Do you mean the second output (the one closer to the center of the lid)? Where can I order the Geo second chamber???

05-28-2001, 10:31 AM	#1
tc3 Tenant Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Robbinsville, NJ USA Posts: 85	Time to change reactor media??? What are the normal signs that reactor media needs to be changed? I would assume that the calcium level would start to drop, as well as alkalinity level. Is this correct? I've never actually let things get to that point, but I was just curious??? ------------------ Ted "The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step"

06-03-2001, 11:53 PM	#13
tc3 Tenant Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Robbinsville, NJ USA Posts: 85	36, Do you mean the second output (the one closer to the center of the lid)? Where can I order the Geo second chamber??? __________________ Ted "Can you take me higher, to a place where blind men see" Tramonti/Stapp

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05-28-2001, 11:16 AM	#2
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	Ted, I'm new to using calcium reactors but it would seem to me that you don't change it but add to it.

05-28-2001, 01:13 PM	#3
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	yup the media dissolves. then you add more. You may want to clean it every year. Haven't had mine that long but i used up 3/4 of one chamber on my geo. the best way to keep alk and cal up ime.

05-28-2001, 03:11 PM	#4
36 Citizen Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Mabank,TX Posts: 180	Inability to hold your alk level is the first sign of exhausted media.

05-28-2001, 04:15 PM	#5
RWD Council Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Chicago,Il USA Posts: 417	Like Iron suggested clean out the reactor once in a while. Take it all apart and rinse the old media. I use to keep adding and didn't clean it out. The result is the reactor plugged up with fine silt and stopped working. Bob ------------------ Visit my reef site at www.bobsreef.com Same site, different name.

05-28-2001, 05:38 PM	#6
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	the media dissolves =thats how it works. it doesn't get old.If your alk isn't keeping up turn up your co2

05-28-2001, 05:48 PM	#7
tc3 Tenant Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Robbinsville, NJ USA Posts: 85	Generally, what I have done is rotate media. After so many months, I will replace all the media in the canister and use the old media as substrate in the main tank. I spread it around pretty evenly and let the sand sifters, and my Clarkii mix it up with the finer sand on the top. This has worked pretty well. Incidentally, what is everyone's media of choice??? I've been using the Koralith media, but I've heard some really good remarks about the ARM from Carib Sea.

05-28-2001, 06:25 PM	#8
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	Just wondering whats you alk and cal? My media all dissolves and doesn't last long. i use the cheap geo marine cc. koralith should dissolve faster. IMO cc is cc its all crushed corals. but i get good results with a 40lb bag for less than $30

05-31-2001, 07:16 PM	#9
tc3 Tenant Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Robbinsville, NJ USA Posts: 85	Generally, my alkalinity is at 11.6 dkh, and my calcium generally stays around 420-440. The only trouble I have with the reactor is microbubble/CO2?? buildup in the chamber of the Korallin. I've called Ed at M3 several times and tried everything he suggested, but nothing has worked. Actually thinking about switching to a MTC reactor. ------------------ Ted "The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step"

05-31-2001, 10:06 PM	#10
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	try a geo duel its aknock off of mtc =nie reactor at 80% the price. A reactor is just a place to hold media and geo are nice

05-31-2001, 10:46 PM	#11
Great Reefer Man Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 192	I recently added more media to my reactor. When I opened it up, the media which was still in there, about half full, was the constistancy of jello! I kid you not. It was like paste! What would cause this? Too much co2? Dennis

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06-01-2001, 10:21 AM	#12
36 Citizen Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Mabank,TX Posts: 180	Ted, I have a Korallin and always had the same problem. A few months ago I bought a Geo 2nd chamber to lower my CO2 usage and hopefully raise the pH (not). I ran the effluent from the exhaust exit on the Korallin to the Geo. It pushes all the excess CO2 out. I lowered my bubble count to 12/minute and drip rate to 70/minute. Alk is always around 11dkh and calcium 420 on 127 gallons.