[Reefland]

I got the controller (although have not set up our reactor yet) because it was a good deal. I was planning on getting a controller anyway just for the ease of mind. I worry a lot about setting up this reactor because I have never used one and have read horror stories.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by ereefic

I made a drip cup out of an empty kent's superbuffer container. Rigged upa little holder for it to hang on the edge of the sump. Effluent lines drip into it and the probe sits in there as well, monitoring the effluent. It's very simple to make and very cheap as well.

That is eaxellent idea, Eric.

I'll probably do something like this and get a controller as well.I'd probably go as far as let that overflow into another container with airline bubling in it to raise the PH of the effluent going into the sump. I don't think the Alkalinity or Calcium values will be effected. Got to check with Dr.Holmes-Farley on that...

Samper, I'd say go for it. Redandancy is something that will let you sleep better at night.

[ereefic]

Here's a pic of the drip cup that I made. I used a maxi-jet hanger and attached it via a nylon bolt, works nice.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Reefland

I got the controller (although have not set up our reactor yet) because it was a good deal. I was planning on getting a controller anyway just for the ease of mind. I worry a lot about setting up this reactor because I have never used one and have read horror stories.

Scott,

There is nothing horrific in setting it up, really. I think in my case I got the most growth from my corals when I set one up. It was a breeze to dial it in. You just have to make sure that your effluent line is not blocked by anything(happened to me ) becouse this will alter the PH in the chamber and turn your media into mush, and avoid trying to correct the drip rate very quickly. After each adjusment you should let it run for an hour or two, maybe more and than make new adjusments.

Eric,

That is one nifty gadget you made, thanks for posting the pic. I have exact same jar from the calcium chloride laying around doing nothing so I'll put it to good use now.

[Samper]

Originally Posted by zhenya

Samper, I'd say go for it. Redandancy is something that will let you sleep better at night.

could you elaborate on that Gene?

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Samper

could you elaborate on that Gene?

Well, it is simple, really. The more things you can automate and make fail proof the less sleeples nights you'll have while you are away.
Having something like the PH controller control amount of CO2 is important becouse if by chance your effluent line gets clogged( for example) and reduce drip rate the Ph in the chamber will drop and turn your media into mush. This can result in entire media floating up and blocking the chamber output line( not completely), throwing lots of crap into your recirculating pump and perhaps render it useless after it is run that way for a while. Happened to me so I just relay my experience. Plus, the Alkalinity can jump real high as well( happened to me too ).

[Poseidon]

If you have the cash get the controller! It is the same thing as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Or 1 in hand is.... blah blah blah...

I have been VERY happy with my coral growth just using Kalk and Cyclop Eeze, but after reading Sanjays site and RE-READING the benefits of a Calcium reactor to go WITH the Kalk, maybe the next tank will have BOTH and more automation!

[ereefic]

Originally Posted by zhenya

Eric,

That is one nifty gadget you made, thanks for posting the pic. I have exact same jar from the calcium chloride laying around doing nothing so I'll put it to good use now.

As a little add on to help raise the pH of the effluent from the reactor, I took a small funnel and put a small piece of screen in the bottom of it, put a little media in there and then dripped the effluent from the cup through the funnel with media. My effluent went from 6.6 to 6.8

It's a cheap and easy second chamber.

I took it off as the lower pH wasn't impacting my tank pH with the low demand of the reactor right now. When I crank up the reactor, i'll make something a little more pretty.