Media Questions - Time to fire up my new CaRx

[jrgilles]

Hey guys,

Now that I'm back from T-day, its time to fire up my new Calcium Reactor.

It came with some ARM media. Probably enough to start it up. I was wondering what media you guys use/recommend and why...

What I have to set up is a Geo 612

Here is what I currently have:
CaribSea A.R.M. Aragonite Reactor Media

I was also wanting to dose Mg with the reactor. I heard that I should add in ~25% dolomite to do this (maybe start with less, like 20% and see where it goes from there?)

I'm using IO salt and have been dosing mag to keep it up.

Was thinking of doing a trip to barrier after work to get some dolomite. Can you just buy dolomite from lowes or something like that since it is used in fertilizer? I'm guessing it wouldn't be pure enough, and maybe the granules would be too small...

Anyway, if there is any difference between media or stuff that works better than others, please let me know

Thanks guys
rob

 

[mojoreef]

Well I guess their are some things that differ from type to type. Some of the things to bear in mind are at what PH level does the media melt. If one is at 6.5 then you would use less co2 then say one that is at 5. Also that determines the co2 going into your tank and the effluent PH level you have to battle in your system.

Also a good thing is to know what exactly is in the media. From memory I believe A.R.M has alot of shells in it, and since shell bearing critters use alot of PHosphate to bind the calcium to their shells, you will be dosing P and the same time you dose the Ca and Alk.

Personally I found a place that had media that was granular and thus my reactor can keep it in a suspended state. This makes the media easier to melt. That and I could get it for 19 cents a pound

Keep and eye on the mg dosing also, it is not an element that gets used quickly, but it is an element that can have a large effect on ca and alk


Mojo

 

[jrgilles]

Great. Thanks for the reply. I'll start with a low mix on the dolomite.

When I bought the reactor, beau said he was running it around pH 6.7 with a high effluent flow and it was working great. I'll play around with it though and see what works.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[NWDiver]

Hey Rob, how is the reactor doing?

 

[jrgilles]

Its great. Have it set to 50 ml/min effluent. Been tweaking the pH range with my apex.

Started around 6.5-6.6 and the KH went from 9 to 12 in two days. 13 the next day then 13.5 2 days later.

Holding even at 13.5 now with a pH range of 6.7 to 6.8. Reactor is a bit oversized for the system, so it seems I need the pH a bit higher than standard settings.

Just did a water change, so hopefully that will bring the KH down to the 10-12 range that I would feel safer in.

Haven't really messed with the effluent rate since I have such fine control over the pH with my apex, and the ability to graph pH vs. solinoid state. Been adjusting the bubble rate on the reactor to minimize the solinoid switching. Briefly kicks off for about 3 minutes every hour.

Great piece of equipment. Well built and easy to use. Highly recommend.