AquaC RX-1 Calcium Reactor
Contents
1. than any other reactor in its class Finally the RX 1 doesnot need a feed pump like most competing products AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com Installation First you should perform a basic water chemistry assessment which includes tests for pH calcium and alkalinity Write these results down in a logbook for future reference If your results fall outside of the ranges listed below do not proceed You will need to adjust these levels before you hook up the RX 1 Thisis very important For more info on thistopic see A Word on Calcium and Alkalinity below Acceptable Range for Calcium and Alkalinity 2 5 4 0 meq L 7 11 dKH alkalinity and 375 450 ppm calcium Do not proceed if your results fall outside this range Fill the reactor with your preferred brand of media Do not overfill the reactor Leave at least 2 3 of space between the media and the top of the reactor If you overfill the reactor media could get sucked into the pump intake which is located on top of the reactor We recommend that you rinse the media thoroughly before using even if the manufacturer says it isn t necessary Next connect the CO2 tank to the bubble counter using the black tubing provided Place the plastic check valve inline between the reactorand the CO2 tank you can use scissorsto cut the tubing wherever you prefer Verify that the arrow on the check valve is pointing in the direction of2. AquaC RX Calcium Reactor Rated for reef tanks up to 400 gallons Thank you for purchasing an AquaC RX 1 Calcium Reactor Forbest results please read through this instruction manual before installing the reactor on your system During or after installation do not hesitate to contact our technical support team at 858 689 1121 or info proteinskimmer com if you have any questions about yournew calcium reactor List of Contents pH probe holder CO2 recirculation line input line effluent line and valve bubble counter CO2 check valve union lid RX 1 Calcium Reactor Eheim 1250 pump Intake tubing blue Effluent tubing red CO2 tubing black CO2 check valve Effluent valve NOUBWNE We have included enough tubing for standard installations If you require greater lengths of tubing you can use standard 4 polyethylene tubing RO tubing supplied by yourlocal hardware store Equipment You Will Need You will need to purchase a CO2 tank regulator and needle valve in order to run the RX 1 reactor Many retailers sell this equipment asa package deal oryoucan buy them individually Fillthe tank ata local welding supply company with carbon dioxide gas You will also need calcium carbonate media such asCarib Sea ARM We ve used coarse and fine ARM media with excellent results but any commercially available media should work fine You will also need a reliable pH alkalinity and calcium test kits in order to fine tune the
3. C Limited Warranty Limited Warranty AquaC Inc AquaC warrants to the original purchaser that except for limitations and exclusions set forth below this product shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase Warranty Period The obligation of AquaC under this warranty shall be limited to repair or replacement at AquaC s option without charge of any part or unit that proves to be defective in material or workmanship during the warranty period Exclusions From Warranty This Warranty applies only to defect in factory materials and workmanship Any condition caused by accident abuse misuse or improper operation violation of instructions furnished by AquaC destruction or alteration improper electrical voltages or currents or repair or maintenance attempted by anyone other than AquaG is not a defect covered by this Warranty In such cases AquaC may charge you for materials and labor even during the Warranty Period Parts subject to wear and tear in normal usage are not covered by the Warranty Implied Warranties Under state law you may be entitled to the benefit of certain implied warranties These implied warranties will continue in force only during the Warranty Period Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitation may not apply to you Incidental or Consequential Damages Neither Aqua
4. C nor your retail dealer or selling distributors has any responsbility for any incidental or consequential damages including without limitation commercial loss or profit or for any incidental expenses expenses loss of time or inconvenience Other Legal Rights This Limited Warranty gives you specific legal rights You may also have other rights which vary from state to state Customer Service and Technical Support 858 689 1121 phone 858 564 3419 fax info proteinskimmer com AquaC Inc 7949 Stromesa Ct Ste E San Diego CA 92126 AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com
5. CO2 flow otherwise it won t work Do not open the flow of CO2 at this time keep everything shut off Verify that all the valveson the CO2 tank are closed and then proceed Now you can connect the intake blue and effluent red tubing to the reactor and run them to the sump Do nottum on the CO2 flow at this tme Position the effluent valve several inches above the waterline in the sump and secure it in position using a zip tie or other means For best results the effluent should be dosed into a turbulent area of the sump Open the effluent valve all the way Position the intake tubing several inches below the waterline in a calm area of the sump Secure its position and verify that the intake won t be exposed to air orexcessive microbubbles Once the tubing isin position slowly fill the reactor with water from the aquarium Fill the reactor ashigh as possible and then close the lid Plug in the Eheim pump and watershould begin to circulate through the reactor It will be difficult to tell if water is circulating but the easiest way to verify that the pump is working isto look for movement at the bottom of the reactor undemeath the black sponge You should see some fine particules getting blown around which verifies that everything is running Let the reactor run for 5 10 minutes or until the water inside the chamber clears Take this opportunity to verify that there aren t any leaks from any of the fittings The clear bubble cou
6. ciently if the intemal pH is between 6 5 6 7 For best results do not set the intemal pH lower than 6 5 orhigher than 6 8 Two controls are used to adjust the output from the reactor the effluent valve or the amount of water that flows through the reactor and the needle valve which controlsthe amount of CO2 that enters the reactor measured in bubbles per minute The amount of calcium and alkalinity that isadded back to the aquarium is adjusted by these two controls and finding the proper balance between CO2 and effluent flow is the trick We recommend that you start with approx 1 bubble persecond CO2 and 1 2 dripspersecond effluent If you are using a pH probe this will help you monitorthe reactors intemal pH You can also measure the pH of the effluent with a test kit if you don t have a probe Allow a few hours before you measure the effluent pH as it will take some time forthe reactor to settle in Every day ortwo test youraquarium scalcium and alkalinity levels and write them down ina logbook If these levels are rising above the desired range you should slow the flow of CO2 and effluent drip If these levels are falling or still below the desired range adjust the flow higher It willtake a couple of weeks at least to figure out the proper flow rates and remember that these can change overtime ascorals grow orif you add or remove organisms from the tank AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them t
7. dia begins to dissolve thereby releasing the calcium and alkalinity ions so that they can be dosed backto the aquarum This solution is very concentrated so only a small amount of liquid or effluent needs to be dripped backto the aquarium Overtime both the calcium media and carbon dioxide gas will become depleted The rate of consumption will depend on your aquarium scalcium demand but in most cases you can expect the reactorto work forseveral months without any major maintenance It isimportant to periodically check the CO2 input rate measured in bubbles per minute and the effluent drip rate to make sure that everything is flowing smoothly Also it iscritical that you test your aquarum s calcium and alkalinity levels with a reliable test kit on a regular basis Introduction to the RX 1 The AquaC RX 1isa very advanced calcium reactor Unlike most other reactors the RX 1 isdesigned to be ashassle free as possible At the heart of the reactor isthe powerful Eneim 1250 pump which leadsthe industry in performance and reliability Schedule 80 PVC fittings and unionsare used throughout as well as J ohn Guest Speedfit connectors The RX 1 is reverse flow water circulates up and through the media keeping fine particlesin suspension Extra CO2 is recirculated through the pump forefficient gasconsumption A screw on lid makes for easy media addition without any screws or wingnuts to fiddle with The RX 1 s box design holds more media
8. e solutions have not worked it might be necessary to adjust these values by making a numberof large waterchanges If you are using a quality brand of salt that is mixed according to manufacturer directions you should be able to correct for any calcium and alkalinity problem by making water changes Maintenance The RX 1 needs very little maintenance but there are a few things you should check ona regularbasisto keep it running smoothly It isalwaysa good idea to visually check the CO2 input rate and the effluent drip rate whenever convenient These ratescan slowly change due to backpressure on the tubing or due to sediment build up inside the effluent line Occasionally you might find it necessary to open the effluent valve all the way to clearany build up and then adjust it back to nomal If you notice that the effluent drip rate isnot holding constant remove the valve and clean it thoroughly under some warm water Overtime a small amount of sediment will accumulate undemeath the sponge at the bottom of the reactor Thisisnormal and shouldn t be cause forconcem The Eheim draws water from the top of the reactor so this sediment is not in danger of being sucked into the pump Although cleaning the inside of the reactor shouldn t everbe necessary you can us a garden hos to blast out any sediment if you so desire The Eheim pump doesnot need to be serviced aslong asthe reactorappears to be running smoothly If you notice a drop in produc
9. h the pump If the flow of CO2 istoo high however a large gas bubble will accumulate at the top of the reactorand it will eventually shut down circulation If thisisthe case you are using too much CO2 It s good practice to use the least amount of CO2 asneeded don t overdue it AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com Problem 4 The effluent drip rate fluctuates and will not stay constant A This is probably due to a clogged effluent valve Clean out the effluent valve and hose penodically to keep them running smoothly Problem 5 Itis difficult to maintain a constant CO2 bubble rate A One of the main problems people expenence with calcium reactors is difficulty in keeping a constant and reliable input of CO2 In most cases this is due to the use of a low quality needle valve We recommend that you invest in a high quality needle valve oreven a precision metering valve for best results Check the output pressure on the CO2 tank If the output pressure is set too low it could cause the needle valve to work inconsistently Do not set the output pressure above the needle valve s maximum operating pressure Problem 6 CO2 does not flow through the bubble counter A Check to make sure that all the valves on the CO2 tank regulator are open B Venfy that the CO2 tank isnot empty C D Checkto make sure that the solenoid on the CO2 regulatoris on and Verify t
10. hat the check valve is positioned correctly arrow denotes flow that it isn t damaged Sometimes a broken solenoid willappearto be functioning fine when in fact it is preventing the flow of CO2 To test this unhook the CO2 hose from the reactorand see if it bubblesin a cup of water Problem 7 Either calcium or alkalinity is out of range but the reactor is working A A calcium reactorisdesigned to maintain the properbalance of calcium and alkalinity but it shouldn t be used to adjust the ratio of these levels relative to each other For example if your calcium level is fine 400 ppm but your alkalinity is low 1 5 meq L the reactor will not be able to fix this imbalance You will have to adjust these levels using some other method Please read A Word on Calcium and Alkalinity on page 4 of this manual for more info on thistopic Problem 8 The CO2 tank seems to empty too quickly A In most cases a 10 lb CO2 bottle will last for many months or even up to a yearundernomal use If yourrate of CO2 consumption seems mysteriously fast you should check all connections forleaks One way to check for leaksisto create a solution of soapy water 3 1 ratio of water to soap Apply this solution liberally to the regulatorand valvesnearthe CO2 tank not the reactoritself If there isa leak you should see small bubbles appear AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com Aqua
11. nter should fill with water automatically After several minutes check to see if water is exiting the effluent valve and flowing back to AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com the sump If wateris not flowing back to the sump try sucking on the effluent valve to help get it started or move the valve to a lower position Once wateris flowing back to the sump adjust the effluent valve until the drip rate is approximately 1 2 drips per second Next slowly open the main valve on the CO2 tank Then slowly open the secondary valve until the gauge reads 15 PSI orto the manufacturers recommendation Finally slowly open the needle valve keeping an eye on the bubble counter If you open the needle valve too much you risk flooding the reactorwith CO2 It might take a while for CO2 to start flowing into the bubble counter but once it does adjust the flow so that you re getting approx 1 bubble persecond The reactor is now running but there is still some work to be done Overthe course of the next week ortwo you will need to fine tune the flow of CO2 and effluent to match youraquanum scalcium alkalinity demand Alltanksare different and testing your water chemistry is the only way to determine these settings Fine Tuning the RX 1 Once the reactoris running you will adjust the flow of CO2 and effluent to match youraquarium s calcium alkalinity demand The RX 1 will work most effi
12. o info proteinskimmer com A Word on Calcium and Alkalinity Before installing your new calcium reactor it is important that your aquarium s calcium and alkalinity be in the correct range If these levels are out of balance to begin with the reactor will not get them back to nomal Calcium and alkalinity problems are very common but most are solved fairly easily A set of reliable test kits is mandatory so check to be sure that your kits aren t expired or contaminated which could lead to erroneous results For best results use two sets of redundant kits This will allow you to cross reference the results and certify theiraccuracy Natural seawater contains 2 5 meq L alkalinity and 400 pmm calcium Asfaras reef tanks are concemed a range of 2 5 4 0 meq L 7 11 dKH alkalinity and 375 450 ppm calcium is considered acceptable If one or both of these values fall outside this range you will need to make an adjustment before using a reactor If both values fall within or very close to this range no adjustment is necessary Scenario 1 Calcium is too high Alkalinity is too high Solution Thisisan easy problem to corect If you leave the tank alone both values should naturally fall back into the desired range all on theirown Once they enterthe desired range you can install the reactor Scenario 2 Calcium is too low Alkalinity is too low Solution This is also an easy problem to corect Both calcium and alkalinity are too low In
13. reactor The RX 1 includesa port fora pH probe which comes from the factory plugged with a piece of delnn rod It isnot necessary to use a pH probe with the RX 1 but doing so can help you achieve maximum efficiency If you don t plan on using a probe leave the rod in place AquaG Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com How Calcium Reactors Work It is very important to maintain the proper amounts of calcium and alkalinity in a reef tank Both can be quickly depleted by growing organisms and need to be supplemented in orderto maintain levels equivalent to naturalsea water A calcium carbonate reactor isthe easiest and most accurate method of maintaining calcium and alkalinity A calcium reactor works by dissolving small amounts of solid calcium carbonate media into liquid form which is then dosed back to the tank The concentrated liquid that isadded backto the tank contains the corect ratio of calcium to alkalinity which is essential to maintain the proper balance of water chemistry Unlike most additives or kalkwasser a propery functioning calcium reactor should maintain the appropriate balance between calcium and alkalinity over the longterm The reactoris filled with calcium carbonate media such as reef sand shells etc and saltwater A small amount of carbon dioxide isadded to the water inside the reactor which lowers the pH to a range of 6 5 6 8 At sucha low pH the calcium me
14. stall the RX 1 reactorand you should be able to bring these levels backinto the recommended range Once calcium and alkalinity are within range you will have to slow the output from the reactor to prevent them from rising too high Scenario 3 Calcium is too low Alkalinity is within range Solution A little more complicated than above but fairy common In this situation you want to raise the calcium level while leaving the alkalinity unchanged The easiest way to do thisisto use one of the commercially available calcium chloride supplements or only the calcium component of a 2 part solution such asAquaC Complete Add these chemicalsto the aquarium slowly and test your water often while making changes Scenario 4 Calcium is within range Alkalinity is too low Solution This is also a common situation which can be remedied by adding an alkalinity supplement There are commercially available alkalinity supplements or you Can also use baking soda or washing soda which is much less expensive Before making large adjustments to alkalinity using off the shelf chemicals we recommend that you research this topic thoroughly Simply Google calcium AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com and alkalinity in an aquarum and you will find a wealth of information to point you in the right direction In extreme cases where the balance of calcium and alkalinity is way off or if the abov
15. tion orany sort of problem with water flow orhear grinding noises you should remove the pump from the reactorand clean it out The pump can be removed by unscrewing both unions and the entire impeller assembly can be taken apart forcleaning We recommend that you refill the reactor with additional media whenever you notice that 50 of the original substrate hasbeen dissolved Fillthe CO2 tankas needed Some Do s and Don ts DO NOTa djus the reactor s intemal pH any lowerthan 6 5 Doing so will cause the media to dissolve too quickly tuming into a mud like paste This will clog the reactorand prevent it from operating no mally DO test youraquarium water forcalcium pH and alkalinity on a regularbass It is impossible to run the RX 1 correctly without knowing these values We suggest that you keep a log book to record your results AquaC Inc 2007 All rights reserved Got questions Send them to info proteinskimmer com DO NOTmake large adjustments to the CO2 flow or effluent drip too rapidly It is best to make small adjustments and then wait at least 12 24 hours before testing the waterto see how the changes affect the system DO contact ourtechnical support staff at 858 689 1121 or info proteinskimmer com if you have any questions about your RX 1 Trouble Shooting Problem 1 Water doesn t circ ulate through the reactor on startup A Checkto make sure that the flow of CO2 is off when you are filling the B reac
16. torand starting it forthe first time Do not start the reactor while CO2 is flowing Verify that the effluent valve isopen when initially filling the reactor with water Leave the valve open when you start the pump If the valve is closed air will be trapped inside the plumbing and could prevent the pump from starting C Verify that the reactor is completely full of water before starting the pump Problem 2 Water doesn t flow from the effluent valve back to the sump A This isa common stuation and is easily fixed When you first start the reactor water might be circulating through the chamber but it doesn t have enough oomph to get pushed back to the sump due to the airthat is trapped inside the effluent hose Try lowering the effluent valve as low as possible that might be enough to get it started If lowering the effluent valve isn t enough to get the flow going suck on the effluent valve hose end to get it started Once wateris flowing you Can adjust the valve to slow the flow to the desired amount If neither of the above work examine the position of the reactor relative to the sump water level If the reactor is positioned much lower than the sump level you might need to raise it up ona platform Problem 3 CO2 builds up inside the chamber too quic kly shutting off circ ulation inside the reactor A We designed the RX 1 to handle a certain amount of excess CO2 the extra gaswill get recirculated back throug
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