sdreef
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I am transitioning from dosing calcium/ alkalinity solution to using a calcium reactor.
I appreciate any recommendations and I have two main questions:
1. How much I should continue dosing as the calcium reactor gets going. Does my math look correct?
2. Where should I direct the effluent in order to counteract lowering pH. Two options a) refugium with chaeto or b) skimmer intake
The system water volume is 1000L.
My current daily alkalinity consumption is 90 mL of alkalinity solution at a concentration of 1mL = 0.036 meq/L. 90 mL * 0.036 meq/L = 3.24 meq/L daily
The current alkalinity in the system is 7.8 dKH or approximately 2.8meq/L
The recommended starting flow for the reactor is 50 L / day
The effluent typically falls in the range of 40-60 dKH according to the manual
The alkalinity I will be adding via the reactor is the concentration of the effluent minus the alkalinity present in the water initially.
The output from the effluent from the reactor is unknown, but the manual reports a typical range is estimated to be 40-60 dKH. 40 dKH = 14.3 meq/L. 60 dKH = 21.4 meq/L.
So with the effluent I will be adding
With 40 dKH output I will be adding between 14.3 minus 2.8 = 11.5 meq/L
With 60 dKH output I will be adding 21.4 minus 2.8 = 18.6 meq/L
Starting recommended effluent flow rate is 50 liters / 24 hours but can be increased up to 350 liters/ 24 hours.
With 40 dKH effluent output I will be adding 11.5 meq/L * 50 Liters / 1000L = 0.575 meq/L daily
With 60 dKH effluent output I will be adding 18.6 meq/L * 50 Liters/ 1000L = 0.93 meq/L daily
So at my current rate of consumption I will need to continue to dose initially as I convert over to the calcium reactor based on the initial calcium reactors recommended flow rate. I will need to dose the daily consumption minus the alkalinity added by the calcium reactor.
With 40 dKH effluent output 3.24 - 0.575 = 2.665 / .036 = 74 mL
With 60 dKH effluent output 3.24-0.93 = 2.31 / .036 = 64 mL
If my math is right, I initially need to continue dosing between 64 and 74 mL. I will reduce the dosing a bit below the low range effluent calculation when I get the reactor started in order to avoid increasing the alkalinity, and will plan to manually make adjustments as needed as it's much easier to add alkalinity. Thanks for taking a look and any advice.
I appreciate any recommendations and I have two main questions:
1. How much I should continue dosing as the calcium reactor gets going. Does my math look correct?
2. Where should I direct the effluent in order to counteract lowering pH. Two options a) refugium with chaeto or b) skimmer intake
The system water volume is 1000L.
My current daily alkalinity consumption is 90 mL of alkalinity solution at a concentration of 1mL = 0.036 meq/L. 90 mL * 0.036 meq/L = 3.24 meq/L daily
The current alkalinity in the system is 7.8 dKH or approximately 2.8meq/L
The recommended starting flow for the reactor is 50 L / day
The effluent typically falls in the range of 40-60 dKH according to the manual
The alkalinity I will be adding via the reactor is the concentration of the effluent minus the alkalinity present in the water initially.
The output from the effluent from the reactor is unknown, but the manual reports a typical range is estimated to be 40-60 dKH. 40 dKH = 14.3 meq/L. 60 dKH = 21.4 meq/L.
So with the effluent I will be adding
With 40 dKH output I will be adding between 14.3 minus 2.8 = 11.5 meq/L
With 60 dKH output I will be adding 21.4 minus 2.8 = 18.6 meq/L
Starting recommended effluent flow rate is 50 liters / 24 hours but can be increased up to 350 liters/ 24 hours.
With 40 dKH effluent output I will be adding 11.5 meq/L * 50 Liters / 1000L = 0.575 meq/L daily
With 60 dKH effluent output I will be adding 18.6 meq/L * 50 Liters/ 1000L = 0.93 meq/L daily
So at my current rate of consumption I will need to continue to dose initially as I convert over to the calcium reactor based on the initial calcium reactors recommended flow rate. I will need to dose the daily consumption minus the alkalinity added by the calcium reactor.
With 40 dKH effluent output 3.24 - 0.575 = 2.665 / .036 = 74 mL
With 60 dKH effluent output 3.24-0.93 = 2.31 / .036 = 64 mL
If my math is right, I initially need to continue dosing between 64 and 74 mL. I will reduce the dosing a bit below the low range effluent calculation when I get the reactor started in order to avoid increasing the alkalinity, and will plan to manually make adjustments as needed as it's much easier to add alkalinity. Thanks for taking a look and any advice.