Calcium Reactor recipe with pumps

[thom_smith]

I'm just scoping out calcium reactor recipe and associated pump configurations as I'm beginning to exceed my Triton dosing capabilities. Currently the recipe only configures the co2 output. Are there plans to add the feed pump and circulation pump outputs to the recipe and manage all calcium reactor functions from a single recipe? Plan on using Kamoer FX-STP feed and VarioS 2 circulation pump. Any chance of allowing Wave Engine drive ports or existing flow pumps to be selected from the circulation pump output device drop down?-

 

[Carlos]

The HYDROS follows the method to turn the CO2 ON/OFF to activate and deactivate the reactor. If you turn off the CO2, the pH inside the reactor will go up, and the media will stop melting. Conversely, turning on the CO2 will cause the media to start melting, therefore, activating the reactor.

The HYDROS also has this feature where the hydros will adjust the pH of the reactor based on your Alkalinity reading. It follows the simple fact that the media start to melt as pH falls. The more the pH goes down, the more the media melts. If your Alk is just a tad low, the HYDROS will run the reactor at a pH level that is just low enough to melt a little media and not spike your alkalinity. If the Alk is very low, the HYDROS will drop the reactor's pH to dissolve more media. It is essentially like adding a knob faucet on your melting media and opening and closing it according to your Alkalinity reading. This process can only be achieved if your reactor's effluent and bubble count are always the same.

 

[thom_smith]

I understand the Calcium Reactor recipe controls the CO2 which ultimately governs pH in the reactor and rate at which the media melts. Don't mean to downplay the importance of controlling the regulator. I've been somewhat intimidated at the prospects of running a calcium reactor in the past and only now consider it with the help of Hydros. If not for the Hydros, I'd of probably just continued to increase my Triton dosing. But... In addition to controlling the CO2, there's also the matter of flow within the reactor and flow through the reactor. It would seem as though adding recirculation and flow outputs to manage all calcium reactor activities within the recipe isn't that big of an effort.

 

[Carlos]

A calcium reactor is mainly about balancing pressures. It would help if you made sure that the pressure from the CO2 regulator matches the pressure inside the reactor chamber. When they do, the bubble rate is very steady and predictable. On the other hand, you either have a very slow or swift sporadic bubble count when the pressures are off.

The easiest way to achieve a balance is to maintain as many variables constant. For example, changing the recirculating pump or the flow will adjust the pressure inside the reactor and throw off the bubble rate. For that reason, we always recommend keeping the recirculating pump and the flow (in and out) the same and only turning the CO2 ON/OFF according to the Alkalinity level in your tank and the pH level inside the reactor.

If you want to reduce the effluent concentration, you raise the pH level inside the reactor. If you're going to increase the concentration, you lower the pH of the reactor. However, both bubble rate and effluent (outflow) remain constant.

The more variables you adjust, the harder it is to keep a reactor going, and unfortunately, that has been the trend for many years. Folks want full control of every part of the reactor when in reality, the best way to keep the reactor stable is by keeping the number of adjustments to a minimum.

It is easy to hit a target when stationary, and only the target is moving. However, it is much harder to shoot it if the target moves while moving up and down and running on an uneven trail.

 

[thom_smith]

Maybe I didn't state my request clearly because so far I have two lengthy calcium reactor tutorials that I think further validate the simplicity of my request. I understand what you're describing about constants and the need to maintain stability but a the same time I don't if that makes any sense. Not because you've been unclear. Only because I don't know what I don't know not having tried it yet. I could relatively easily add two generic or pump outputs referencing my rope leak senor. And maybe make those outputs active in all modes except low power and water change. Reasonable actions for reactor flow and recirculation pumps? Again would seem as though these two outputs could relatively easily be included in the calcium reactor recipe. My particular Wave Engine use case may be clouding the situation.. I don't intend to vary flow. Constant flow schedule active in defined modes. I just have unused 24v WE outputs which mate up nicely with my 24v pump.