Calcium reactor

[tpgy2k]

I have just installed a calcium reactor and I can't get my ph up. It stays at 7.8 lets go over my set up first. I have it a liitle more then half full with crushed coral the pump makes a sucking sound at times and I wonder if it has too much in the cylinder? I have been following the advice from a LFS who has always been good but I feel he is not as familar with reactors. I have run it at 28 bubles per minute and as low as 16 per minute. It was designed to be gravity fed but it was easier to use a small pump with a control valve and the company that built it said the pump was ok.. I had it from a slow drip to a flow I felt would be the same as gravity fed.

I have a 100gal tank. my calcium is 350. no phoshatetes no nitrate and my alkalinity is excellent(test strip) :( :(

[Irisservice]

IS ph reading correct?
What is the ph coming out of the unit?
What is the drip rate of water coming out of the reactor?
What kind of reactor is it?
What is your alkalinty at?

You usually want to fill the cylinder 90% up with media.
I recommend using Caribsea ARM Reactor media, It has a low melt point versus crushed coral.

Calcium reactors don't increase calcium they maintain it so you have to get calcium up first with products like Kent Turbo Calcium.

[tpgy2k]

I use Kordon aquatru ph test reagents. The ph from the unit is 7.8 but that is the bottom of its range

My flow rate is inconsistent at low levels (drip). The valve doesn't give me much range. Can it operate at a slow flow( I can measure)

I use Seachem Reef Calcium and it is at 350.

The unit was built for me by Mangroves-N-More and he said he had it operating for 1 week and that he would guarantee it. It was supose to be gravity fed but he said a small pump would be ok.

For now I would like to use the cruhed coral to save face with my LFS guy because I am handicap and he really takes care of me.

What about the bubble count is the 16 ok?

[Irisservice]

First off the ph coming out of a single chamber reactor should be around 6.5-6.7 maybe lower with Crushed coral

The drip rate should be the lowest possible to start off around 60-80 Drops per minute. Start off with a bubble rate of around 15-25 Bubbles per minute and check it after 5-10 minutes to see what the ph coming out of the reactor is.
I drive my reactors PH down to 6.7.
Which leaves my tank PH at 8.0 and then I drip kalk to bring PH up and replace evaporated water.

[tpgy2k]

Thanks a lot! :) You gave me requirements that I think I can reach. I'll keep you posted about my progress. Sincerely Tom Grayson