 laynframe wrote:
Awesome build but I have a few issues with some things. If you don't control the ph in the reactor with a controller, you are going to have some problems. 1 is your going to go through a lot of media do to too much carbondioxcide inside the reactor which will brake down the media too fast and turn it to mush.
2. Your effluent will be ultra low causing low ph in the tank and spike your alk levels.
You should maintain 6.5 to 6.3 ph inside the reactor to brake down the media at a slower rate and maintain a constant discharge alk and ph level. This will allow you to adjust your drip and bubble rate to match the demand of the tank. With out the controller there is no way to determine the ph level In the reactor therefore causing possible high effluent alk levels and low ph levels. Calcium reactors can either be a blessing or a complete pain its all how you run them. I think this is a great build, but I would strongly recommend a controller to dial her in. I've ran a few calc reactors and can answer any questions you might have lmk. |
While I agree with this previous statement, I ran my reactor for almost 15 years without a PH monitor inside the chamber. When I first set it up, no one told me about the need for one. I did have a PH probe inside my sump and I would test the PH of the effluent from time to time. During this time, I had my media turn to mush twice. I realize the main reason for this was way too much carbon dioxide, I also believe the extremely fine/small media I was using also played a roll. It will require much more work getting things dialed in, but he should be able to maintain an effective effluent level depending on the needs of the tank, and correlating the Co2 with the outflow of the effluent.
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