All,
Okay, I finally got my needle valve hooked up and it is working well. I
currently have the reactor running at 1 bubble every 5 seconds and an output
rate of about .75 gallons per hour. The weird thing is that for the last 4-5
days, I had not been running any CO2 into the reactor because I did not have
the control on the bubbles that I needed, so I shut it down and just let the
pumps run without the CO2 injection. During that time, the output rate was
about a half gallon per hour. So, after about 5 days I got the needle valve,
and installed it (last night).
Before injecting with any more CO2 and just out of curiosity, I tested the
pH. Suprisingly, it tested at 7.5. The pH of the tank was 8.3. I didnt think
it would be this low since I had not injected with CO2 in almost a week.
Whats up with that?? Not enough flow out of (and into) the reactor or what?
I mean, I know CO2 is going to remain in the reactor for a period of time
after you quit injecting, but for a week? I had also hooked up a second
chamber, so the output is going through about another 3 pounds of media
before being output into the tank.
I know it is breaking down the media, because some of the media in my
reactor has gone from a large grade aragonite to very small sand like
particulate size, and the tubing I used is now all white and covered with
calcium. Thus, it must be doing the job on the media.
Now, after I hooked up the CO2 last night, I upped the output from the
reactor from about a half gallon per hour to three quarters gallon per hour
(3 quarts) and began to dose the reactor at one bubble every 5 seconds.
Within an hour, my pH had dropped from 8.3 to 7.72. I then disconnected the
CO2 and just let the reactor run without it again and the pH came back up to
8.06 by this morning. Not only does it run through the second chamber, but
the output also is on the top of my sump, where the output of my tank
splashes down. I cant seem to drive the CO2 out of the water at a high
enough rate, which means that there must be too much CO2 in the output water
right?
I have not tested for caclium or alk. coming out of the reactor, because
without using the CO2, I went back to dosing with additives to maintain
levels. I planned on letting it run without any additves this weekend, and
monitoring the rise or fall of calcium and alk. to get an idea of what it is
doing.
So, to summarize, at a injection rate of one bubble every 5 seconds and an
output rate of .75 GPH, my pH dropped significantly. I know it is working
though, due to the calcium collecting on the tubing of the reactor, although
we dont have any specific data because any tests done would have been scewed
due to the Calcium and Alk. additives used, so no tests were done. I also
did not measure the pH of the output from the first chamber, so that may be
lower.
I am already thinking that this reactor is too small. Other wise at a drip
rate of one bubble every 5 seconds, the pH of my tank should not be affected
that much that quickly, right? I guess it will all depend on what amount of
calcium and alk. comes from the reactor so I think that is my next step,
along with measuring the pH of the effluent from the 1st chamber.
Any thoughts anyone??
Thanks, sorry for the book....
Shane C.
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