calcium reactor

cjps67 · Post by **cjps67** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:22 pm

hello,
Can someone tell me why needle valve keeps clogging up every few days sometime sooner.When the valve clogs on the effluent line the media will dissolve rapidly because of the co2.Any help will be greatly appreciated

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:37 pm

Mine is set up so that the effluent output is submerged in a cup where I measure the ph. I have only had it set up a couple of months but mine hasn't clogged up yet. Maybe a few more details might help:
What is your effluent ph?
How fast is your output?
What are you using for a reactor feed pump?
How many bpm?

Post by **snoopdog** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:57 pm

Liz's husband came up with a new way of preventing that clog. He attaches an air pump around the tube for the effluent and lets it vibrate the valve. Just a cheap airpump with nothing attached to it works. What it does is keep that from building up and clogging the line.

cjps67 · Post by **cjps67** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 9:14 pm

scott,
effluent is about 8.3 with a steady drip.I was trying to get it around 40 drips a minute but it just gets clogged in a short amount of time.I have the I have t on the return pump feeding the reactor.Any info will be great.

Post by **snoopdog** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 9:18 pm

Seriously try what I said, it worked.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 9:23 pm

My effluent is 6.6. I think that may be your problem (I am assuming that you meant 6.3). Your effluent is oversaturated with calcium and as the CO2 is released from it the calcium deposits on the output. 6.6-6.8 is a good range to shoot for ant way you can get it. I had problems getting my bubble count down without the bubbles stopping so I increased my drip rate until I got the effluent ph that I was looking for.

bertz_maru · Post by **bertz_maru** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:05 am

where would some one get a valve like this?? i need one..

cjps67 · Post by **cjps67** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:37 pm

Scott,
sorry I meant 6.8,So if I increase the effluent drip rate do I need to give more co2 .If I increase the drip rate The effluent ph will rise(right)so if I adjust one I will also have to adjust the other to make up the difference.Please explain it to me If I am wrong,It really does get confusing listening to different opinions on how to adjust.

Xster · Post by **Xster** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:43 pm

You can increase the effluent slowly and keep an eye on the effluent's PH. If it increases above 6.8 then you will need to increase the CO2 bubble rate slowly. Remember that adjustments will take approximately 24 hours in order to have an effect on the chemistry of the effluent.

Hope this helps, John