I have a runaway monster! I need suggestions or advise regarding my 500 gal stony coral tank. The problems that I am having are too much calcium and alkalinity consumption. I would like to keep my levels at 400+ calcium and 8-10 DKH alkalinity but it just keeps creeping downward. I have a very large calcium reactor with a second chamber that is basically trickling into the sump. I also have a very large kalkwasser reactor that consistently drips RODI top-off water at a pH of 11+ into the sump. My pH stays at about 8.2 during the day and about 8.0-8.1 at night. I perform frequent large water changes with IO salt. My tank has about 3000 watts of lighting with a large fan blowing across the surface of the water so I don't think I can get any more evaporation. Thanks! Russ
500 gal SPS tank questions
- Thread starter Russ1
- Start date
The kalkreactor is limited by the evaporation rate. May want to spike it with organic acid like vinegar, but that is easier done with kalk dripping than kalk reactor... unless you can acidify the RO/DI automatically with dosing pump/controller.
Len's suggestion of jacking up the CO2 is a good alternative since CO2 is relatively cheap compare to a new reactor. If it still does not do the job, you should consider a larger calcium reactor.
Two part additive is too expensive for you, unless you want to go thru the hassel of mixing it yourself from reagent :yuk:
Len's suggestion of jacking up the CO2 is a good alternative since CO2 is relatively cheap compare to a new reactor. If it still does not do the job, you should consider a larger calcium reactor.
Two part additive is too expensive for you, unless you want to go thru the hassel of mixing it yourself from reagent :yuk:
You can run the dog snot out of most calcium reactors. I'm running mine with an effluent rate of 500 ml per minute at a ph of 6.7 after the second chamber. Just crank up the effluent rate and crank up the co2. I use up a 20# bottle of co2 in about 4 months and melt about 50# of crushed coral each year. Run your effluent into a cup and then let it drip down into a turbulent area of your sump and you shouldn't have to much problems with the ph of your tank.
Part of your problem might be the frequent large water changes with IO salt. It doesn't mix up to a very high ca and alk IME. So doing large changes is actually hurting your ca and alk supplementation requirements.
FWIW, Nathan
Part of your problem might be the frequent large water changes with IO salt. It doesn't mix up to a very high ca and alk IME. So doing large changes is actually hurting your ca and alk supplementation requirements.
FWIW, Nathan
Thanks for the replies. I have both a large calcium reactor and a large kalkreactor. The calcium reactor is two 8 inch by 18 inch high chambers. The kalkreactor is 6 inch by 36 inch. I have not run the calcium reactor as high as I can for fear of low pH. I have plenty of CO2. Three 15lb bottles. I drip the effluent about 10 inches above the sump. I'm going to turn the calcium reacto way up and see what happens! Keep the advise coming! Thanks, Russ
Measure the rate of effluent and also keep track of the ph of the effluent. I do this by having the effluent first go into a cup in the sump then spill over into the sump. I keep a ph probe in the cup and try to keep the effluent ph at 6.7.
Make sure you know what your rate is before you start messing with it so you can measure the change and know how much it is affecting the tank's levels.
FWIW, Nathan
Make sure you know what your rate is before you start messing with it so you can measure the change and know how much it is affecting the tank's levels.
FWIW, Nathan
Nathan, My sump is too big for a cup! I could run the effluent into a bucket that sits in the sump but don't think I could accurately measure the pH. One problem I may be having is the frequency of changing my reactor media. What are your suggestions and what are you using for media? My biggest concern is that my pH is going to plummet when I increase the flow rate that excessively. I'll keep you posted. Also, I am going to try and get some pictures tonight. Russ
Do you have a pH meter?
As for the calcium media, most are the same, but some have some leaves and garbage in them that I don't like. FWIW, I use crushed coral and other generic brand. Some may turn muddy quicker, but that usually does not affect the amount of Ca output if you change it regularly (like every 3-6 months). If you need to change the media more often, you rxtor is too small.
As for the calcium media, most are the same, but some have some leaves and garbage in them that I don't like. FWIW, I use crushed coral and other generic brand. Some may turn muddy quicker, but that usually does not affect the amount of Ca output if you change it regularly (like every 3-6 months). If you need to change the media more often, you rxtor is too small.
Update: Last night I turned the calcium reactor way up! I haven't measured how much, but it is a stream and not a drip. I turned up the CO2 and now the effluent is pH of 6.7. I was surprised that the pH of the tank did not drop and actually went up. This morning the DKH is 10 and the calcium is 400 up from 7 and 390 last night! Thanks! Russ
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