Calc reac.

[blureef2]

I have a question, how does a calc reactor help PH if the PH coming off the effluent is way low??

 

[BigJay]

It continually adds alkalinity, which stays in the tank while the CO2 gasses off.

 

[DaveJ]

@BigJay wrote:

In theory Many people end up dripping or using kalk reactors to keep their pH up due to the CO2 their high demand tanks use.

The answer to your question is it doesn't help the ph, its sole purpose is to keep ca/alk stable. Kalk reactors are used to stablize or bump pH.

 

[Guest]

@ddier2020 wrote:

You need low ph to create carbonic acid which breaks down the calcium carbonate (ca reactor media)

You can use a second chamber which does leave the effluent about a point higher in my experience.

As dave said Kalk is used if you have a ph problem

 

[bimmerzs]

Also keep in mind that you should carefully tune your Ca reactor so that it is using just enough CO2 to burn th media and give you the output needed to maintain your tank's alk level. If you tune it so the effluent out is 20-25Dkh then that will keep alk at 9-11 Dkh and help hold up your PH as well. Just because a media say's it burn' at a ph of 6.5 doesn't necessarily mean you put it at the level and keep it there, ya gotta tune it and it may take a while. Most important thing to remember is that you should get your Ca and alk where you want them first by dosing, then tune the reactor to <u>maintain</u> that level. Also buy the right sized reactor for your tank, that will keep you from having to crank up the C02 and drip rate trying to keep up later when your corals are going like gangbusters.

Cheers,

 

[kthomas]

I have a consistantly low pH in my tank. I don't dose Kalk, but my levels of alk, cal, and Mg are in sync to where I want them to be and the corals are doing well. So I don't pay much attention to the pH, but when I ususally see a change its usually due to the alk, cal, Mg being off. I have a dual chamber calcium reactor and I have my probe between the first chamber and the second.

 

[BigJay]

I've definitely been running kalk in the topoff to maintain PH.

I also drip the reactor effluent into a really turbulent area of the sump to help gas off excess CO2. A tank with dual overflows and a decent skimmer is going to naturally resist PH swings from CO2.