OP
OP
BPiers
Active Member
So...I don't test my water 
I've probably tested three times since January on this tank. I don't use special salt (truly--I use Instant Ocean...and do 25 gallon water changes when I get an itch to do something with the tank, honestly), I go by eye and how the tank looks....so let the shaming begin but the results speak for themselves.
Having said that, I own a few Red Sea test kits but have found them to be hit or miss and I get different readings every single time, so I stopped using it. Queue the monthly tank impulse buy: I picked up two Hanna Checkers for a decent price (Alk and Ca) which arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what the numbers really are.
I tuned the reactor by simply measuring pH inside the reactor with a second probe hooked into my Apex, and the pH in the tank not to fall below 7.9 before shutting the CO2 solenoid off. The Apex also shuts the CO2 off when the pH in the reactor is 6.4 or lower and it stays on till the reactor reaches 6.5. My drip rate works out to about one drop per second or two. All of my topoff water is Kalkwasser dosed in with my Tunze ATO. pH in the tank is steady 8.1. I usually visually check the drip rate every week or two just to make sure its all good- and it usually is. With a drip rate this low, sometimes air backs up into the line but it doesn't ever affect the drip rate.
If you have the room - this reactor is amazing. Set and forget - which seems to be my thing
I've probably tested three times since January on this tank. I don't use special salt (truly--I use Instant Ocean...and do 25 gallon water changes when I get an itch to do something with the tank, honestly), I go by eye and how the tank looks....so let the shaming begin but the results speak for themselves.Having said that, I own a few Red Sea test kits but have found them to be hit or miss and I get different readings every single time, so I stopped using it. Queue the monthly tank impulse buy: I picked up two Hanna Checkers for a decent price (Alk and Ca) which arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what the numbers really are.
I tuned the reactor by simply measuring pH inside the reactor with a second probe hooked into my Apex, and the pH in the tank not to fall below 7.9 before shutting the CO2 solenoid off. The Apex also shuts the CO2 off when the pH in the reactor is 6.4 or lower and it stays on till the reactor reaches 6.5. My drip rate works out to about one drop per second or two. All of my topoff water is Kalkwasser dosed in with my Tunze ATO. pH in the tank is steady 8.1. I usually visually check the drip rate every week or two just to make sure its all good- and it usually is. With a drip rate this low, sometimes air backs up into the line but it doesn't ever affect the drip rate.
If you have the room - this reactor is amazing. Set and forget - which seems to be my thing
