Calcium reactor output in skimmer input?

[Icefire]

Would it be benefic?

If you have any residual CO2 or a ~7 ph in the Calcium water, going into the skimmer would gas off the CO2 and bringing back the PH to ~8.

Is this logic good?

I'm picking a complect CO2 kit for 80$, full and might make a reactor out of a Phosban.

Currently my tank only use 1dkH per 2-3 days but that would save me the dosing part.

[Billybeau1]

I see jd's online. Let me see if I can steer him your way.

[jdieck]

Yes, dripping the effluent of a calcium reactor into the skimmer helps reduce the impact of the effluent's lower PH.
If you plan on a converting a phosban reactor note that capacity will be small. Insure you recirculate the water inside the reactor while diverting a bit out in the form of effluent, otherwise the dissolution will not be efficient enough with a single pass due to short retention and contact time and the device may become more like a CO2 reactor that will basically only dissolve most of the CO2 in the water.

[Icefire]

Well I heard it can hold near 6lbs of media, how much time should it last if I use 1dkh/2-3 days?

I use 5ml NaCO3 /2-3 days on my 83G system and I'm upgrading to 160G system near.

[jdieck]

Originally posted by Icefire
Well I heard it can hold near 6lbs of media, how much time should it last if I use 1dkh/2-3 days?

I use 5ml NaCO3 /2-3 days on my 83G system and I'm upgrading to 160G system near.

Assuming 25% of the media is wasted in mud and cleaning, at that low level of consumption of 0.5 dKh per dayyou will need to dissolve 100 grams every 27 days, that means that the 6 pounds (75% usable) will last you two years in the 83 gal.

[Icefire]

Jee, if I have it set up right and only have to change the CO2 adjustement once in a while to offset the CA/alk change, 1 years on a 110G would be nice.

I looked at your website jdieck and have a bit of a hard time figuring how to adjust the reactor with your calculator.

[jdieck]

It will be easier to figure it out once you have it and can play with it.

[Icefire]

how do I set the valve before trhe needle? in psi

[jdieck]

Originally posted by Icefire
how do I set the valve before trhe needle? in psi

Which regulator do you have? Some are pre-set (like the Gen-X or Reeffanatic) and can not be adjusted.
If it allows adjustment you do it by turning the large center knob in the body of the regulator, screwing it in (clockwise) will increase the output pressure, un-screw it (counter clock wise) to reduce the output pressure.
Set the output pressure between 15 and 25 psi.

[Icefire]

thanks, thats the regulator:

[jdieck]

OK, the black triangular knob in the body of the regulator will adjust the output pressure. Remember to un-screw (counterclockwise) that knob all the way until it feels a bit loose before you open the cylinder valve and re-adjust it back in to the required delivery pressure. Failure to unescrew thet knob before opening the cylinder valve will send an instantaneous high pressure shock to the lower pressure gauge and damage it.

For your reference that seems to be a Milwaukee or a cheaper version commercialized under the Blue Line brand not pretty good regarding pressure regulation at lower delivery pressures. Use 20 to 25 psi, you may notice that bubble rate cycling up and down as the delivery pressure cycles also up and down.
Also because of the need to use higher delivery pressure insure the ouput of the reactor dose not get plugged or the pressure may burst it open.

[Icefire]

Well I paid 80$ for a used 5lbs tank full of co2 and the regulator. pretty good I guess.

[jdieck]

Yes. That set new would have been about $160.00 to 180.00