low tank calcium

nos68 · 04-25-2004, 10:36 AM

Hi, my name's Chris and I have a Calcium problem.

I'm guessing it's from the recent addition of SPS corals thanks to Wasabi (thanks again - hope the fish are doing well). When I test the effluent out of the second stage of the calc reactor, it's over 450 (high as my test kit reads). However when I test from the tank, it's 370. I'm guessing the corals are just using it up faster than it's available.

What can I do, if anything, to fix this glitch as far as tuning the reactor?

I was thinking of increasing the effluent rate (now at about 9 drops/10 seconds), but wouldn't that actually lower the calcium level out of the reactor?

thanks!

Chris

Schwaggs · 04-25-2004, 07:32 PM

Chris,

You may need to increase your flow rate, increase your CO2 rate or both.

What's the pH pf the effluent from your calcium reactor?

If it's close to the minimum reccomended by your media supplier, you can try just increasing your flow. You may need to increase CO2 as well if your effluent pH raises too much in response to the increased flow.

If it's higher than the minimum reccomended by your media supplier, you may only need to increase your CO2 rate until your effluent pH is close to the min...

nos68 · 04-25-2004, 08:57 PM

Thanks. I'll give it a try. The pH was 6.95 I believe. I'll try to increase the drip rate and see what happens with the pH, then increase the bubble count if needed.

Thanks - I'll post the results.

-Chris

sammy33 · 04-25-2004, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nos68
Hi, my name's Chris and I have a Calcium problem.

Way too funny!

Sounds like an introduction you would hear at the twelve step meeting!

Wasabi also put me over the top with keeping my Calcium up to par. I was doing just fine until I got that one peice of Montipora from Wasabi that grows like a weed.

I am now adding B-Ionic to my tank daily to keep the levels in range. This was the best solution for my 15g nano which is too small to justify a calcium reactor. I had just added the Auto Top-off and thought I was done with the daily maintenance. Now I am also going to hook up an automated B-Ionic doser.