Calcium Reactor Media.

Well, I have searched for an answer to this question and can't find one. I am using coarse A.R.M media in my reactor and was just wondering what ph is recommended to dissolve it. Reason I ask is b/c I have read on a few places on the web that it dissolves at a higher ph than other media's. I am running the ph in the reactor at 6.5 right now but if I could run it higher why not. So doesn anyone know what the ideal ph for this media is?

 

i had that type in my reactor, to be honest i didn't mess with or monitor the ph in the reactor directly, only modified the CO2 bubble per sec(in bubble counter) to fit my calc needs. the ph/disolve rate should just be what you need keep you calc stable

 

Like sostoudt said, whatever keeps your tank stable. The lower the ph the more media that dissolves and adds to your tanks ca and alk, the higher the ph in the reactor the less media dissolves. 6.5 is a good start for you, monitor your tank for a week, see if the calcium/alk lowers or raises. Then modify the bubble count higher or lower, more bubbles will lower your ph while less will raise the effluent ph.

Another part of the tuning is your effluent rate. Raise the effluent rate it will raise the ph in the reactor, lower the effluent rate and it will lower the ph in the reactor.

This is a big balancing act and is actually not that easy to setup at first could take weeks or months. You may find your calcium demand is very high and you must both raise your effluent rate and your bubble count, which if done at the correct ratio will keep the ph the same in the reactor but will add more calcium and alk to your tank. After the initial setup is complete, the reactor doesn't require any work except periodically checking the effluent rate and the bubble count and making sure it was the same as you set it up to be (smart to write down somewhere your effluent rate and bubble count you are finally happy with)

 

6.5 to 6.7 is a good range. I know some people that run 6.2

 

Thanks for the reply's. That's what I needed to know. I will also be running a milwaukee ph controller on it as well so dialing it in should be a little easier. I will soon be swapping that out with a ac jr.

 

You will like the AC Jr.

 

I love my aqua jr. You will want to try to get your bubble count as perfect as possible without the use of the controller opening and closing a lot throughout the day. If the solenoid is opening and closing a lot it will wear out faster.