Calcium Reactor (Steroid doser for corals)

Chris Lakies · 10-31-2002, 12:10 PM

2 days running and I can already see a differance. My SPS's have their pollups extended further than ever before. I didn't think the set-up was that difficult (maybe because I read alot before hand and help from you's)

Chris Lakies · 11-01-2002, 12:55 PM

Well today marks the 4th day running and I have not had any problems with my Reactor. I tested the effluent and the calcium is at 500 ish PPM. Haven't tested the ALK. yet - I will tonight. I currently have my PH of the effluent running from 6.68 to 6.78. I have the effluent at 2 drips per second and the CO2 at 15-20 drips per minute.

When I didn't have the Calc. Reactor I could not get my Calcium past 370, now it is 400 with the Alk. at aprox. 2.5 meq/l (I may have messed that Alk. test up because I was tired). I'm going to re-test everything tonight.

The low PH of the effluent is not depressing the tank water PH. Last night I took the PH probe out of the water and in the sump and it read 8.2 (lights off).

Everything seems good so I will let it go the way its set up and see what the readings are for the next week or so.

Calcium Reactors Rule!

Chris Lakies · 11-01-2002, 11:14 PM

Do I have to worry about too much Calcium building up? When will the Calcium start to precipitate?

*Papa Doug* · 11-02-2002, 01:05 PM

You can just back of the effluent rate, if to much calcium. Your reactor must be awful efficient to be producing at a high rate already. Usually takes awile to get some media dissolving.

At a 120 drops/min. I would have to run almost 60bbm co2 to get a good reading.

Chris Lakies · 11-05-2002, 12:09 PM

Well my Calcium Reactor has been set up for aprox a week and it looks like the Calcium level in the tank and system water is stable at about 420 ppm. The Alk looks to be about 2.5 meq/l, although I'm going to buy a new Alk test to make sure. I have not had to make any adjustments sense I set it up. My PH of the effluent is running from 6.58 - 6.7. All of the adjustments are exactly like I stated in the earlier post. Corals are growing much better. I just bought 4 new SPS frags so I may have to up my effluent drip rate a little.

Chris Lakies · 11-06-2002, 12:45 PM

I checked Calcium last night and it was still 420 PPM. I cranked my effluent drip up a little bit, so of course I had to up the CO2 rate as well. I'm going to see if it will raise the Calcium to about 440 ppm. I found that adjustments are easy if you do small adjustments and your patient.

Chris Lakies · 11-14-2002, 08:11 AM

Checked my levels again last night and looks like they are getting better. My ALK is 3.2 and Calc level is 440 PPM. Everything is looking good.

Mangrove · 11-14-2002, 10:13 AM

Where did you get yours? OR what plans did you use? Post a link if they are on-line. I am gonna make me one..

Chris Lakies · 11-14-2002, 10:48 AM

I bought most of the system from Champion Lighting Supply. My calcium reactor is the Marine Life Aquatics 150 with Blueline CO2 system, and I'm using Caribsea ARM media. The 2.5lb aluminum tank was ordered from LifeReef.

Mangrove · 11-14-2002, 11:19 AM

Anyone familiar with Paintball? I have a 12oz and a 20oz paintball CO2 tanks wonder if the threads are right?

They run about $15-$20 and cost $3-$5 to refill.

10-31-2002, 12:10 PM	#1
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Calcium Reactor (Steroid doser for corals) 2 days running and I can already see a differance. My SPS's have their pollups extended further than ever before. I didn't think the set-up was that difficult (maybe because I read alot before hand and help from you's)

11-01-2002, 12:55 PM	#2
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Keeping a log, of sorts Well today marks the 4th day running and I have not had any problems with my Reactor. I tested the effluent and the calcium is at 500 ish PPM. Haven't tested the ALK. yet - I will tonight. I currently have my PH of the effluent running from 6.68 to 6.78. I have the effluent at 2 drips per second and the CO2 at 15-20 drips per minute. When I didn't have the Calc. Reactor I could not get my Calcium past 370, now it is 400 with the Alk. at aprox. 2.5 meq/l (I may have messed that Alk. test up because I was tired). I'm going to re-test everything tonight. The low PH of the effluent is not depressing the tank water PH. Last night I took the PH probe out of the water and in the sump and it read 8.2 (lights off). Everything seems good so I will let it go the way its set up and see what the readings are for the next week or so. Calcium Reactors Rule!

11-01-2002, 11:14 PM	#3
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Too much Calcium Do I have to worry about too much Calcium building up? When will the Calcium start to precipitate?

11-02-2002, 01:05 PM	#4
Papa Doug Gallery Team Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 791	You can just back of the effluent rate, if to much calcium. Your reactor must be awful efficient to be producing at a high rate already. Usually takes awile to get some media dissolving. At a 120 drops/min. I would have to run almost 60bbm co2 to get a good reading. __________________ Doug Missing my friend Kia

11-05-2002, 12:09 PM	#5
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Update Well my Calcium Reactor has been set up for aprox a week and it looks like the Calcium level in the tank and system water is stable at about 420 ppm. The Alk looks to be about 2.5 meq/l, although I'm going to buy a new Alk test to make sure. I have not had to make any adjustments sense I set it up. My PH of the effluent is running from 6.58 - 6.7. All of the adjustments are exactly like I stated in the earlier post. Corals are growing much better. I just bought 4 new SPS frags so I may have to up my effluent drip rate a little.

11-06-2002, 12:45 PM	#6
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Update I checked Calcium last night and it was still 420 PPM. I cranked my effluent drip up a little bit, so of course I had to up the CO2 rate as well. I'm going to see if it will raise the Calcium to about 440 ppm. I found that adjustments are easy if you do small adjustments and your patient.

11-14-2002, 08:11 AM	#7
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Update Checked my levels again last night and looks like they are getting better. My ALK is 3.2 and Calc level is 440 PPM. Everything is looking good.

11-14-2002, 10:13 AM	#8
Mangrove Tenant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Western Ky Posts: 73	Where did you get yours? OR what plans did you use? Post a link if they are on-line. I am gonna make me one..

11-14-2002, 10:48 AM	#9
Chris Lakies Council Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Utica Mi. Posts: 270	Marine Life Aquatics I bought most of the system from Champion Lighting Supply. My calcium reactor is the Marine Life Aquatics 150 with Blueline CO2 system, and I'm using Caribsea ARM media. The 2.5lb aluminum tank was ordered from LifeReef.

11-14-2002, 11:19 AM	#10
Mangrove Tenant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Western Ky Posts: 73	Anyone familiar with Paintball? I have a 12oz and a 20oz paintball CO2 tanks wonder if the threads are right? They run about $15-$20 and cost $3-$5 to refill.

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