Vortex Reactor

cyborob

cyborob

AC Members
May 24, 2006
164
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Pacific NW
Hey I've got this reactor with my diy yeast setup http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/pr210.htm

And I thought I'd just turn it off at night and back on in the morning.
Well the co2 back-fills up into the pump so in the morning you can't just plug it back in because the pump won't prime (it's full of co2). You have to reach in the tank and turn it up to let the big pocket of co2 inside the pump out (hassel).

Does anyone have one of these?
Do you just leave it on all the time?

I am worried because I have a hard time telling what my ph is with those three shades of green 6.4 6.6 6.8, and my Kh is 3

This is giving me a big guessing variable of 14.26 to 35.83 co2 ppm

Anyways right now I am leaving it running with the lights out and will keep testing my ph for a couple more hours and see how it goes.
 
First off don't turn the pump off at night, this will cause sudden changes to the pH levels and can make the fish ill or even kill them. This will also help prevent the problem you are having. If you are worried about to much CO2 at night just run a small air pump with a air stone to keep the surface of the water moving around and keep oxygen in the tank. Keeping the pump running will not harm the fish or tank as long as there is oxygen in the tank by using the air stone at night. You can simply unplug the air pump during the day as to not lose all the CO2 that is produced and it will not make you pH levels jump around. Also try getting a better test kit. Don't use the strips as they are no all the good and can be off. Go to a LFS and get a liquid test kit, they are about $20-$25 in my area and hold up to 700 tests. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for replying. I am not using strips, I have the master kit by aquarium pharmaceuticals. It's just really hard for me to tell the dif in the 6.4 to 6.8 range.
 
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Well it ran all night and I checked the ph 5 times and it pretty much just stayed the same from what I could tell.
The fish were fine.
Just leave it running 24/7 then is the plan.
 
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