Can't raise the pH in my calcium reactor

[Kahuna]

Refilled my C02 tank and cleaned out, replaced my media. Replaced the media with typical coarse media (can't remember the brand, get it from BRS) and 10% NeoMag.

After 3 days, even with the reactor output turned off, the pH is staying around 10. So unbelievable I recalibrated my reactor pH probe - twice!

No change. Usually to 6.4pH within 3 hours from 8.0pH.

Any ideas?

I get my C02 from a welding gas supplier. Could they have filled it with something else, like argon?

Thanks.

Kev

[joejvj]

Highly unlikely they gave you the wrong gas. You can test by bubbling in a glass a water and watch pH drop.

Sounds more like CO2 is not getting into the chamber. Could be bad check valve or tubing is split or not seated on a connector and it's escaping.

[Kahuna]

Highly unlikely they gave you the wrong gas. You can test by bubbling in a glass a water and watch pH drop.

Sounds more like CO2 is not getting into the chamber. Could be bad check valve or tubing is split or not seated on a connector and it's escaping.

No leaks, bubbling fine. pH at 10.8. Wife refilled gas bottle at supplier today and we will check again.

[sirreal63]

I would suspect a bad pH probe, or severe electrical interference.

[Ontheway]

Apply gas to a glass of freshwater and test with a cheap freshwater test strip.

[Kahuna]

PH 10 on the test strip. Just hooked up new bottle of c02.

[ken6217]

That's odd. I don't see why you would have a PH of 10 regardless. Tap water or tank water isn't that high. Something would have to drive it that high.

[n2585722]

It may be something in the media doing this. Does it have the high pH without the media in the reactor?

[Kahuna]

Still no luck. Purging the reactor.

[Kahuna]

I didn't rinse the media this time - forgot to. This is also the first time I've used the ZeoMag mixed 10% with the coarse media.

I've always used the same coarse media.

I've never seen anything like this. I can see bubbles in the "bubble counter" portion of the reactor. This is a Geo 612 reactor, Reef Fanatics regulator (both my old one and my new one have the same effect), C02 bottle, and pH probe. Old probe was calibrated, installed new probe and calibrated. What gives? There's C02 visible in the top of the reactor as well. Tried completely closing the ball valve and letting the C02 saturate it.

Nothing is making a difference. What the %^!?

I haven't pulled off the gas line and put in a glass of water - tested everything else.

[scottwhitson]

What is the PH of your tank with the probe that is reading 10?- pull it out of the reactor and put in the tank without changing anything else. I have never heard of a reading that high and am thinking something is wrong with your PH meter.

[AcroporAddict]

Test your tank water pH. If your tank water is not at 10, then it is either your NeoMag or your calcareous media. Couldn't be anything else.

[jda]

What is the alk of the effluent? Is it higher than the tank alk?

[Kahuna]

Flushed the reactor with just tank water and no c02, effluent valve wide open for 24 hours. Closed up to 5ml/min and reactor is now working normally.

I have no explanation...