calcium reactors and controlloing PH

[Drifty]

For those who have a calcium reactor, how do you maintain your PH in your tank. A lot of reading I have come across has a lot of people with low ph and having to dose to increase it back to 8.2. Is this the case or is the Ph more or less stable in your tanks.

[chimera]

Yeah, a common problem when first adding a calcium reactor but not understanding how they work pH out of a calcium reactor should be around 6.5 - 6.7 which is required to breakdown the calcium carbonate media but of course you want to aim to keep your tank around 8.2. Dont forget though that the calcium reactor is adding alkalinity which helps stablise pH (and the fact that the drip rate is so slow - but of course over time pH can still drop). You can also set it up so the drip feed back from the reactor to the tank is near good air/water circulation. I drip mine back into the sump right on top of where the pipe from the refugium enters the sump. This helps "degas" any excess CO2 out. Another method that will help is adding kalkwasser to your top up water. Essentially kalkwasser (limewater) has a higher pH which compensates against the calcium reactor effluents low pH.

[jetskisteve]

who checks ph???

[chimera]

i do, but only coz i got a electronic pinpoint meter so its quick and easy I only check it every 3 months or when calcium levels drop

[wasp]

Drifty you should NOT dose additional buffer. Because the calcium reactor adds both in balanced amounts, if you add some more of one, it will screw up your levels. ( However over time your levels may get out of balance, you would then dose one just to balance them back up again ).

As previously stated the low PH can be dealt with by somehow dispersing the Co2 gas. Another way to do this than already mentioned is to drip the effluent by the skimmer intake. All that gas exchange happening in the skimmer is an excellent Co2 remover if you pass the effluent through the skimmer.

[cookie extreme]

many beginners also use a selenoid to shut off the CR at night to get a stable ph, but as steve said many don't seem to worry to much about ph (i am one of them my Cr runs 24/7 and i stopped messuring my ph a long time ago) if its 7.8 in the mornig so what as long as everything is happy. will save you lots of sleepless nights worrying about your ph! i counter act the dropping during the night by adding kalkwasser. (which may or may not be a good thing, lots of conflicting arguements)

[Drifty]

thanks for the replies guys, I have read so many conflicting opinions as to whether the ph is a problem or not. I appreciate all of your input.

Next question is where is the best place to get one ( need 2 actually, my bro is setting up a new tank also) around the 1200l mark

[Pies]

who checks ph???

I do!

Pie

[wasp]

Reef and Jetski import them don't know if they can advise but may be worth asking.

[puttputt]

I just set a reactor up, and my ph did drop from 8.4 down to 8.0-8.2, and seems to have stabilised at 8.1. I have a solenoid valve, that is timed to stop co2 at night (as does jetski - not just beginners eh!) not so much for ph but at the moment I really don't need more calcium or kh that goes into the tank over 12hrs. Calcium on the tests i did yesterday was 480, and kh 11.8.

[reef]

480, and kh 11.8.

Those readings are on the high side, could get problems with rtn.

Also with levels that high you could get the calcium falling out of the solution thus you could get problems like calcium levels dropping and unable to maintain them.

[chimera]

I just set a reactor up, and my ph did drop from 8.4 down to 8.0-8.2, and seems to have stabilised at 8.1

good, its working then 8.4 is too high. 8.1 is ok.

[Ira]

I'd imagine if you run the line from the calcium reactor into your skimmer that would outgas all the CO2.