Jason,

It's not your system that I think is anerobic. :D It's your reactor. :)

If your whole tank was anerobic.. wow.. :D The smell woudl be summting else.

Since you used a pH monitor.. hmm

I'd say bump up the flow rate. I am running 75 ml/min with my reactor. :) For flow rate that is. Once you start getting fresher water in there the smell will subside. As for the algae. I have seen that stuff before. It may go away witha higher flow.

Start at that rate and then adjust your CO2 accordingly to get the alk in your effluent that keeps up with your tanks demands.

I'd add more but I have to run.

Brad will chime in shortly I am sure. :D

Thanks darren,

O.K. So I'll up the effluent level to 75 drops/min, and leave the CO2 as is. Once the PH raises, I'll increase the bubble count to bring the PH back down to around 6.8.

I have forgotten right now what my ALK was, but i think it was around 12. Should I keep it at this level?

And does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks very much
Jason

Jason, that plan sounds good. Let us know if it helps!

Sounds good. As Brad says. Keep us posted..

Oh was the Alk your tank or effluent?

Thanks guys,

Darren, I'm at work right now, so I don't have my logbook. I think the ALK was of the tank, but I'll check when I get home.

Should I be measuring the ALK of the effluent? If so, what should it be?

Last question, I'm assuming that with a final drip count of 75/min, my bubble count should end up at around 15/min. Does this sound reasonable?

Tanks again guys, take care

Jason

The way I set mine up was to get a measuring cup and physicaly measure the amount of output in one minuit. for your case 75 ml / min is the same as 1/3rd of a cup in one minuit. once you get this flow rate stable then slowly start increasing your bubble rate on your CO2 untill the out put PH of your reactor is aprox 6.8 then you can fine tune from that point.

This is whare I leave mine and it works for me.. depending on volume and "other" tank factors you minght nheed more or less CO2.

Darren had a way of setting by using alkalinity but for some reason it didn't for my tank but it has for others.. basicly take what people say (Including myself) and use it as a reference to start at then fine tune your tank to what works for you.

Darren is also spot on with the denitrifacation happening in your reactor.. sulpher is a by product of anarobic activity in both salt water and fresh water tanks.. thats why you can buy sulpher denitraters and such. this is also what makes dead spots in your substrate stink.

Steve

Well, I placed the PH probe in PH7 calibration solution, and the reading was bang on at 7.0.

So, the probe is functioning perfectly. I habe the drip rate at about 70, and the PH of the efflurnt this morning was 6.77.

I'll measure the ALK tonight and report back.

Thanks guys! have a great weekend.

Jason

Great idea Steve,

If I remember from CHEM 101 at good ol UofA, I drop is about 1cc, so I was assuming the same. I like your measuring idea, and will properly measure out 75cc per minute tonight.

Good work, and have a great weekend..

P.S. anyone catch the Esks DESTROY the stampeders last night?

I love it...... :lol: