CR cannot keep up KH levels in SPS dominated tank

[weileong]

Excessive CO2? dunt think so in my case. The effluent has been fed directly into my beckette skimmer water inlet and there is plenty of movement on the water surface both in the sump as well as the main tank...

ah How do you feed the effluent into your skimmer?

[AlfaRomeo]

Just put the airline tubing which carries the effluent into the inlet pipe of the md55

[danano]

Just put the airline tubing which carries the effluent into the inlet pipe of the md55

Alfa, I'm not sure but are there disadvantages of doing so? Conversely, what are pros?

Is that how the Deltec works... a continuous effluent flow, i.e. no need to regulate the drip rate?

[AlfaRomeo]

According to my thinking, the low Ph effluent will be directly sucked into the skimmer and 'degassed' to get rid of the extra CO2?

Flawed logic at work here? hehehe

[danano]

I can buy the part on CO2 de-gassing but you may get some of the effluent precipitating as well with the skimmer action... while not a guru at this, that seems to make some sense.

Any gurus here care to comment?

[AlfaRomeo]

Danano, I am definately not a guru..still carrying L plate.. but the range from AquaC has a built-in speedfit port which is meant for CR effluent to be directly injected intoit the skimmer for degassing. I kinda borrowed from that concept and applied it here.

Awaiting Gurus to shed some light into this concept

[danano]

This thread has been moved from General Reefkeeping to the SPS forum...

[danano]

Alfa, that's true. Even the new range of Barr skimmers come with it. I still question the net benefit though...

[lightningstrike]

why not try hooking up a Y connector to ur CR so that excess co2 will be fully utilised? no harm trying.

[madmac]

According to my thinking, the low Ph effluent will be directly sucked into the skimmer and 'degassed' to get rid of the extra CO2?

Flawed logic at work here? hehehe

It sounds very flawed indeed!! And I think that could be the reason why your dKH keeps dropping. CO2 is soluble, before your skimmer can 'degassed' it, it is already absorbed into the water or worst.... your skimmer maybe contributing to the absorption of any access CO2. Unless you have done test to see if they get degassed more than they are absorb... it may not be worth the risk.

Have you considered with putting the effluent tubing into your KR instead? Excess CO2 would make your KR fluids more acidic, just like vinegar would... that would neutralize your the CR effluent and aid in the freeing of the ca and carbonate ions from the Kalk solution?

* just applying some fundamental reasoning here, dont' hv any CR or KR... would luv to see if anyone else have done otherwise and produced better results.

[weisoon]

Have you considered with putting the effluent tubing into your KR instead? Excess CO2 would make your KR fluids more acidic, just like vinegar would... that would neutralize your the CR effluent and aid in the freeing of the ca and carbonate ions from the Kalk solution?

CO2 from the atmosphere or from CR will have negative effects on Kalkwasser!

Read the summary of this:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm

[ZeRoC00l]

According to my thinking, the low Ph effluent will be directly sucked into the skimmer and 'degassed' to get rid of the extra CO2?

Flawed logic at work here? hehehe

Think i read somewhere tt ppl drip the effulent into a container with a air stone to degas the excess CO2

anyone got read before?

[AGM]

Hi Alfa,

Increase co2 n decrease effuent drip.It may help u.

[AlfaRomeo]

No gurus can shed light on if its better to let the skimmer degas the low Ph effluent?

[AlfaRomeo]

Anyway, seriously considering either the Deltec AP600s or the AP1000 to replace the Aquamedic CR 1000.

[weisoon]

Alfa

If you get the Deltecs, no need to de-gas through the skimmer. Very low chance for CO2 to return to tank from the Deltecs.

[weileong]

Better make sure the new CR is large enough when you add in more SPS later

[AlfaRomeo]

Weileong:

AP600s:

For Aquariums up to:

Heavy Stocking and High Illumination

1900 Ltrs (425gals) *

Normal Stocking and Normal Illumination

2500 Ltrs (555 gals)*

AP1000:

For Aquariums up to:

Heavy Stocking and High Illumination

5000 Ltrs (1111 gals) *

My System is at 1000 Ltrs (230 gals) max...

[surfedelic]

2 bps - I think you could try increasing your CO2 but with caution by measuring the effluent.

Curently my Cal reactor is about 1.5 bps and it is maintianing the KH at 11 and Cal at 465 ppm (measured) this morning. Some more my tank size is only 2 x 2 ft x 15". But my device is a dual chamber which collect the excess CO2 at the top whereas the efluent is taken from the bottom so no issue for me, the most just released the excess CO2 from the top. For yours, i am not sure if effluent taken from the top - got to be careful by monitoring the PH.

My 2 cents worth.

[AlfaRomeo]

I have dropped the Ph in the chamber to 6.7 and will be monitoring it to see if it can keep the Kh at 10 or still cannot..

[reef2]

i have the same problem to keep up with my kh and ca. now eagerly awaiting for my PF600S to arrive. mine is a 3x2x2 tank only tried several other makes but did not work too.

[weisoon]

i have the same problem to keep up with my kh and ca. now eagerly awaiting for my PF600S to arrive. mine is a 3x2x2 tank only tried several other makes but did not work too.

Good choice

[Eric]

i have the same problem to keep up with my kh and ca. now eagerly awaiting for my PF600S to arrive. mine is a 3x2x2 tank only tried several other makes but did not work too.

how much is a PF-600S?

Eric

[AlfaRomeo]

Weisoon, do you think i should get the 600s or the 1000? Difference of about $200 sing dollars i think

[weisoon]

Bite the bullet! Go for PF1000

But then again, not sure if the PF1000 has a electric solenoid valve? Think the suffix of S is comes with solenoid valve. Think better to have the solenoid valve with the 'just in case' situation. Can use the IKS to control timed dosing somemore if the Ca reaches too high.

Eric,

PF600S cost in the region of $900-$1200. Depends where you buy them Better not discuss too much on pricing here. Do some research on the net to get a idea on the pricing.