Calcium reactor problems

[Yanir34]

Hello everyone , I have some difficulties with my new GEO 618 calcium reactor.

I also have secondary chamber, filled with zeo mag .

Details :

GEO 618 + secondary chamber.

Kamoer FX-STP is pulling water from the reactor, push connects fittings , running at 30 ML per minute.

GHL ph probe was calibrated with 4.0 and 7.0 reference solution, and installed properly.

GLA co2 regulator .

Media is large corals skeleton.

I used reborn , but it seems to get cloged



My first setup was 1.5 months ago , then I noticed that there is large air (or co2 gas , I really don't know) that gathering at the top of the reactor.

Main problem was that no matter how much CO2 I was injecting to the reactor , the reading at the ph probe didn't go down below 7.0



I thought it was normal , but then I have noticed that small air bubbles been attached to the ph probe...and that seems to me not good.

I took off the 90 degrees PVC pipe that connect to recirculating pump ,because it always succing air bubbles from the top of the reactor , but it's not helping .



I plugged off the reactor , ordered silicon grease (reef safe) , and greased all uni-seals .

Also , I hand tight as much as I can the top lid of the reactor .

The problem is continuing - the ph levels inside the reactor are 7.0 , no matter how much co2 I'm infecting to the reactor.

At this point I'm frustrated...what is going on here ?



Also ,I checked Alk of the rractir influence yesterday,and its only 11.5 dkh .

Something here is wrong ,and I can't find out what exactly.

Does anybody know solution for this ?

 

[Shirak]

You need to put the white elbow back in. The pump is supposed to pull the bubbles from the top down into the pump and chop them up and recirculate through the media. This is how the CO2 dissolves into the water and lowers the pH. 30ml/sec flow with the effluent is fine. Your low pressure side is high which could be causing too much CO2 going into the reactor and causing the pump to cavitate and stop circulating. It should be around 8 or 9psi. Your bubble count should be around 1 bubble every couple seconds or so. Set a timer for 30 seconds or so and X2 the result. Looking for around 20-30 bubbles through the bubble counter every minute.

I would put the elbow back in and turn off the CO2 for now and let the reactor and effluent pump run until there are no more bubbles at the top and the recirculation pump is working properly. Then turn on the CO2 after setting low side pressure and bubble count as mentioned above.

 

[Yanir34]

You need to put the white elbow back in. The pump is supposed to pull the bubbles from the top down into the pump and chop them up and recirculate through the media. This is how the CO2 dissolves into the water and lowers the pH. 30ml/sec flow with the effluent is fine. Your low pressure side is high which could be causing too much CO2 going into the reactor and causing the pump to cavitate and stop circulating. It should be around 8 or 9psi. Your bubble count should be around 1 bubble every couple seconds or so. Set a timer for 30 seconds or so and X2 the result. Looking for around 20-30 bubbles through the bubble counter every minute.

I would put the elbow back in and turn off the CO2 for now and let the reactor and effluent pump run until there are no more bubbles at the top and the recirculation pump is working properly. Then turn on the CO2 after setting low side pressure and bubble count as mentioned above.

Thanks for your reply !
The main issue that I have is the ph probe that simply don't read ph below 7.0

I will do your recommendation, and connect tomorrow milwaukee ph controller

 

[Shirak]

Thanks for your reply !
The main issue that I have is the ph probe that simply don't read ph below 7.0

I will do your recommendation, and connect tomorrow milwaukee ph controller

You won't get a reading lower than that until the CO2 is circulating and dissolving via the recirculation pump. Currently all the CO2 is sitting at the top near where the probe is.

Any time you open the reaction chamber there will be air/CO2 at the top. This needs to be cleared out via the effluent pump before the recirculation pump will operate properly. Once this is done you can open the CO2 valve and start slowly as I described above. Make sure you lower the pressure on stage two as well to no more than 10psi for now

 

[Yanir34]

You won't get a reading lower than that until the CO2 is circulating and dissolving via the recirculation pump. Currently all the CO2 is sitting at the top near where the probe is.

Any time you open the reaction chamber there will be air/CO2 at the top. This needs to be cleared out via the effluent pump before the recirculation pump will operate properly. Once this is done you can open the CO2 valve and start slowly as I described above. Make sure you lower the pressure on stage two as well to no more than 10psi for now

Thanks , it's great info !!
I will do it , and update

 

[Jamie814]

What's the DKH of your effluent? If you are getting Co2 buildup in the top reactor and the circulation pump is working properly you're at max saturation of Co2 and your pH probe is not reading correctly.

How are you feeding the reactor? If your effluent DKH is not 20+ and you are still getting gas buildup in the top of the reactor it could be air getting into the reactor, there may be micro bubbles being introduced through your feed pump if your drawing water near your skimmer or a turbulent area in your sump.

Just an FYI you do not need to use a pH probe. I have run a reactor for years and never used a pH probe on it. I track the DKH of the effluent and adjust Co2 based on that.

 

[Yanir34]

What's the DKH of your effluent? If you are getting Co2 buildup in the top reactor and the circulation pump is working properly you're at max saturation of Co2 and your pH probe is not reading correctly.

How are you feeding the reactor? If your effluent DKH is not 20+ and you are still getting gas buildup in the top of the reactor it could be air getting into the reactor, there may be micro bubbles being introduced through your feed pump if your drawing water near your skimmer or a turbulent area in your sump.

Just an FYI you do not need to use a pH probe. I have run a reactor for years and never used a pH probe on it. I track the DKH of the effluent and adjust Co2 based on that.

Dkh is currently at 12 . It's obviously not good.
I know it should be at 30 to 50 .
I'm using kamoer FX-STP pump ,at pull method .

 

[X-37B]

Yea put the 90 back in. Make sure its facing up.
Your media is huge! Much larger than my large reborn.

If it was my system I would use smaller media which equals more surface area for the co2 to disolve.
Check my media vs yours. This may be your issue since effluent is only 15. In other words not enough contact with the media as the co2 just flows through the media.

I can not comment on the ph controlled dosing. I do not use a ph probe and dont recommend one.
Get the system back to original specs and set your bubble count visualy. Then set the Kamoer.
Adjust until you get 30+ dkh.
Then tune for your desired alk setpoint.

 

[X-37B]

Another note:
Have you as a test turned on the reactor with no co2. Turn the Kamoer to 100mlm min. Let the Kamoer pull with no co2. If it looks like mine with no bubbles the turn on then co2.

 

[Yanir34]

Another note:
Have you as a test turned on the reactor with no co2. Turn the Kamoer to 100mlm min. Let the Kamoer pull with no co2. If it looks like mine with no bubbles the turn on then co2.

Thanks for your reply !
Maybe I will convert to push method , it will help ?
I will get home from work ,and take pics of the top of the reactor.
Co2 is off since yesterday.

 

[Shirak]

Thanks for your reply !
Maybe I will convert to push method , it will help ?
I will get home from work ,and take pics of the top of the reactor.
Co2 is off since yesterday.

Pull will work fine as long as there is nothing restricting the line going from the tank to the reactor. Also, as Jamie mentioned, make sure you are not getting any bubbles in through the water source line.

 

[X-37B]

Probably not an issue but you have two check valves on your system. One on the 618 and one on the top of the regulator. Running 2 check valves may cause you to run a higher psi to push through 2 valves. I have never seen anyone run 2.

I run 20psi on my C02 with no issues. Bubbles are large.

How many bubbles per minute are you running with co2, do you know? Check when you turn co2 back on even if you use the ph method for a reference.

I would stay with pulling. After no co2 for 24hrs there should be no air in the top. If there is you have a leak somewhere.
Zoom in to see the 20psi.

 

[Shirak]

Ditto on the let it run without CO2 for 24hrs and check to make sure all bubbles are gone to test for air leakage into the system.

I am not seeing a second check valve though? I see the grey one supplied by Geo but I do agree two would not be good.

 

[Yanir34]

I got back home....CO2 is off from yesterday.

Recuilyting pump on .

kamoer pump on

and there are bubbles at top of the reactor !
This is driving me crazy !!

Where is the possible leak?
Push connect fittings ?
Kamoer pull water from area with no bubbles at the sump .

 

[Shirak]

Turn up the Kamoer to 100ml/min and see if the gas at the top gets sucked through to your secondary reactor. You should be seeing bubbles coming up into your second reactor.

 

[Shirak]

Give the reactor a little shake too to get some of those bubbles to move from the edges to the center where the water out line is attached.

 

[FishTruck]

Some comments.

GEOs work better with the push method IME. Using a powerhead is safer (the max pressure won't crack your reactor like a peristaltic pump could) - just like the GEO instructions say.

You don't need the effluent or pH to be super precise - just the CO2 delivery rate per day. This is what determines how much "alk" gets delivered to your tank. Focus on this one thing... the bubble rate.

If you use a pH probe, this would only be to shut off the gas if the pH gets too low (so you don't ruin your media). Using pH and a computer to turn the gas on and off to try and maintain some certain pH can drive you crazy with inconsistent ALK delivery. Every time the calibration of your probe drifts, or the effluent rate, the CO2 delivery will react and go all over the place.

If you want precise effluent - just because, you can use the peristaltic pump as a "brake" at the outflow and a powerhead pushing from the other side, but, again this is not necessary.

If you are using the push method, and still accumulating air - I am guessing you have air coming in the circulation pump somehow.

 

[Yanir34]

By the way , I'm considering switching the kamoer pump ,to power head that simply4 will push water to the reactor . Do you guys have recommendations on type of this power head ?
Also ,what adapter should I buy in order yo connect this powerhead to the inlet of the reactor ?
The inlet of the reactor is 1/4 RO diameter

 

[FishTruck]

I used a maxi jet and, I think, 1/2 to 1/4 john guest with some teflon tape. You can use silicone tubing to adapt 1/4 inch RO tubing to whatever the GEO uses (super handy).

 

[Yanir34]

I used a maxi jet and, I think, 1/2 to 1/4 john guest with some teflon tape. You can use silicone tubing to adapt 1/4 inch RO tubing to whatever the GEO uses (super handy).

Thanks, i will definitely will tomorrow to run it in push method