Adjusting effluent on reactor

[Mikef1]

I hooked up my reactor last night and adjusted the effluent rate to about 65ml per min. When I woke up in the morning it had slowed down to half that rate. I adjusred it again and when I got home it had done the same thing. How can I fix this?

 

[Anonymous]

How are you adjusting the flow?

 

[Mikef1]

Righty, I am adjusting the effluent flow with the needle valve provided on top of the reactor. I set it how I want it again. I will check it in the morning.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you feeding the reactor with a small pump, or did you tee off your main return pump?

Louey

 

[Mikef1]

I am using a maxi jet 1200 to feed the reactor.

 

[Anonymous]

Two things come to mind - the mj gets clogged, or the line right behind the needle valve gets clogged.

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if using a smaller pump would work out better? I am not sure. I use a mini-jet pump to feed my reactor. It stalls out once in a while.

Louey

 

[Mikef1]

Thanks for the replys everyone!! I have kept an eye on it and it is staying pretty constant now. I think maybe it just had to work some air through the reactor.

 

[Cynabar]

It's most likely the needle valve that's giving you the problem. I had the same problem with my Korralin reactor. I solved the problem by tossing the needle valve and replacing it with one of those thumbwheel restrictors that are used on IV tubing.

 

[Anonymous]

Those plug too, I solved it by feeding it off the skimmer or sump return pump

just make sure to have a one way valve on it, so it cant backsiphon co2 into the tank.

And make sure the skimmer can handle the extra presure a large pump will produce.