Quote:
Originally Posted by dmccoy
...I have read a lot about the various CA reactors and I understand the chemisty and the process. My question is mainly concerning the Schuran and the setup process. From what i have read the Schuran CA reactors operate a little different than most units. Based on the reading I am guessing that I should use something like an aqualifter pump to feed the unit.
Anyway, thanks in advance for anyone's assistance!
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The only real difference between these reactors and your run-of-the-mill reactor is that there is a separate device with the kit in the recirculation loop that re-reacts/dissolves any bubbles of gas that occur in the loop so that they are used inside the reactor rather that expelled out with the effluent. Although this sounds good, the only time this would occur would be when the reactor is set to deliver way too much CO2. This might become an issue with such a small reactor, but keeping the regulator set at a low enough pressure (< 20 PSI, maybe less for such a small reactor) will prevent bubbles in the recirc loop from being an issue to start with. You will need a maxiJet 1000 or 1200 for the throughput pump, and a small gate valve to control the throughput rate (the drip rate) if you do not already have them. Max throughput for this reactor is rated at circa 60 ml/min, and these pumps can provide the push rate to do this. Using the Milwaukee controller to regulate the solenoid for the reactor will make adjusting it fairly easy. You will need to build a housing to hold the probe for the controller so that it can measure the effluent for the reactor to "know" what effect the CO2 release rate it is calling for has on the reactor effluent. Setting the range for the pH for the controller is how you regulate how much CO2 is released into the reactor. For this reason, you need to make sure that:
- the probe is correctly calibrated and clean.
- the controller probe for the controller is located in the effluent or recirc fluid path for the reactor.
- the fluid you're measuring is not allowed to degas prior to measuring its pH.
- the probe can be easily removed from the holder and not leak water all over the place while you periodically check its calibration (this means add cut-off valves to both sides of the probe holder).
- you set a schedule for cleaning and recalibration of the controller's probe as well as the gate valve that controls the effluent rate.
- you keep some Borax on hand to make a test solution to evaluate the controller's functionality, as well as calibration buffers to recalibrate the probe when it is off calibration.
- you evaluate tank pH by placing a probe well-upstream from the point you are adding the reactor's effluent to tell if there is a problem related to excess CO2 in the system's water column (your system's pH will become chronically low).
- Reliable titration test kits like Salifert for alkalinity and calcium (might as well get Mg++ also).
You may think this is overkill, but you must remember that failure to do these things will potentially drive your systemic pH so low that it will stop calcification, or worse, kill corals and fishes due to CO2 toxicity.
My personal preference is to use a PinPoint controller, due to its tendency to hold calibration for long periods of time, but we can work with what you have.
Do you have access to a Home Despot or similar big box home improvement store nearby? Does your regulator have a solenoid in it?
