When to change CA reactor media?

tashier · 10-31-2006, 05:51 PM

Like the title says, when do you know? My media has sank down around 4" from where it started. I'm just wondering at what point is it done for and need to be changed?

tdwyatt · 10-31-2006, 06:05 PM

I don't change the media, I just put more in once the level gets down to around 2 inches from the bottom of the first column. I just refill the primary chamber, allow the reactor to sort out flow for a day, then measure the effluent for Ca and alk concentrations and measure flow rate and adjust accordingly. It is always a good time to test your pH controller probes with borax and to clean out the effluent control valve seat with vinegar. Recheck tank levels in 5 days, then again in 5 more days to see if there are any trends out of the usual.

Eventually your 2nd column will require recharging with aragonite media as well, I like to make sure the second column is at least 3/4ths full.

HTH

mg · 10-31-2006, 06:06 PM

It is never really done, it will continue to disolve. Every 4-6 months I top off my reactor. I have only had it running about 1 year and have gone through about 10lbs of media. I started out with 2 8lb boxes of media and there's probably about 6 lbs left in the reactor at this point.

tashier · 10-31-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I don't change the media, I just put more in once the level gets down to around 2 inches from the bottom of the first column. I just refill the primary chamber, allow the reactor to sort out flow for a day, then measure the effluent for Ca and alk concentrations and measure flow rate and adjust accordingly. It is always a good time to test your pH controller probes with borax and to clean out the effluent control valve seat with vinegar. Recheck tank levels in 5 days, then again in 5 more days to see if there are any trends out of the usual.

Eventually your 2nd column will require recharging with aragonite media as well, I like to make sure the second column is at least 3/4ths full.

HTH

Primary/Secondary chambers?? I have a PM reactor, it's only got one chamber.

tdwyatt · 10-31-2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tashier

Primary/Secondary chambers?? I have a PM reactor, it's only got one chamber.

Then once it gets down to the one-quarter full point, I'd add more media when using a single chamber reactor.

mg · 10-31-2006, 07:10 PM

With my reverse flow reactor I need to keep the main chamber about 1/3 to 1/2 full to avaiod the pump blowing the media all over the place. Not sure if this would be an issue if you have PM reverse flow reactor.

Many people use a secondary or effluent chamber. Some reactors come with one chamber some come with 2.

The first chamber has the CO2 pumped into it and has a recirculation pump. This is where the pH drops and the media is disolved. The second chamber is just connected through tubing to the first chamber and the sole purpose is to raise the pH of the water back up a bit before going back into the tank. It will healp to utilize any remaining CO2 and minimize the one negative effect of calcium reactors in that they can bring down your pH over time.

You can buy a second chamber at any time. The effluent line of your reactor woulf go into its input and it would have a new effluent line.

tashier · 11-01-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg

With my reverse flow reactor I need to keep the main chamber about 1/3 to 1/2 full to avaiod the pump blowing the media all over the place. Not sure if this would be an issue if you have PM reverse flow reactor.

Many people use a secondary or effluent chamber. Some reactors come with one chamber some come with 2.

The first chamber has the CO2 pumped into it and has a recirculation pump. This is where the pH drops and the media is disolved. The second chamber is just connected through tubing to the first chamber and the sole purpose is to raise the pH of the water back up a bit before going back into the tank. It will healp to utilize any remaining CO2 and minimize the one negative effect of calcium reactors in that they can bring down your pH over time.

You can buy a second chamber at any time. The effluent line of your reactor woulf go into its input and it would have a new effluent line.

All new information to me. Does PM sell 'second' chambers to add on?

tashier · 11-01-2006, 04:02 PM

I see it on their website. Interesting, I may have to look into that. I suppose it should work fine for either a normal or reverse flow reactor?