Oct 14, 2020
Randy
wrote
I am running my Kamoer to push water into a Calcium Reactor. However, even when the Kamoer is off, the pump in the Calcium reactor (OctoReef 220) is pulling water through the Kamoer and therefore is constantly dosing. I was using a Neptune Dos instead of the Kamoer and never had this problem with the Neptune dos as it wouldn't allow the CRX to pull water through the pump. When I had the Kamoer on, this also through the amount the Kamoer was dosing way off, because of this vacuum effect. I set the Kamoer to do 40 ML/min, and after 30 seconds it had already dosed 60 ML. I suspect due to this vacuum effect. Maybe I need to tighten something on the Kamoer to not allow this vacuum effect? Thoughts
Reply
5 Answers
Oct 14, 2020
Jeremy Rykiel
agent
wrote
Due to the design of the Reef Octopus Calcium reactors, it is suggested to use the FX-STP on the effluent side to regulate the water exiting the reactor. In all essence that is what we are trying to accomplish. If the reactor is close to the water source (likely sump) then you can just secure the feed line under the water and the reactors pump will draw its own water without the need for a feed pump. If you have some distance then it is suggested to use a small feed pump or feed off your return manifold. With this setup, the water through the reactor is regulated by the dosing pump. Been running my Reef Octopus reactor like this for 3 years now without issues. I go through setting up the reactor the way I describe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZmM0uljsP0
Oct 14, 2020
Randy
wrote
thank you for the quick reply. I did watch your video and saw the suggestion as you noted above, in fact I watched your video to setup my reactor, and the specific Kamoer setup, very helpful. Here is a follow up question. If the CRX pump is going to help pull water into the CRX and my Kamoer is regulating the outflow (effluent side), won't I run into issues if I have my Kamoer off so it is not dosing anything out, meaning the CRX is still pulling water in, and that water has to get out somehow or pressure will build up. Maybe I am assuming to much into this, and by having the Kamoer regulating output, that in essence will also regulate how much is being input to the reactor. Seems the design is if you input 100 ML, than you need to output 100 ML. Thanks again
Oct 15, 2020
Jeremy Rykiel
agent
wrote
With the Reef Octopus reactor, the Kamoer pump is not really pulling water but controlling the volume exiting the reactor and should not be set to off unless everything else is off. Even with the Kamoer off and installed on the effluent the recirculation pump on the reactor is not capable of producing high pressures it just won't draw water and will only recirculate at that point. Does that make sense? So in this manner, it is actually easier and safer to manage the pressure within the reactor and the function of the reactor.
Oct 20, 2020
Randy
wrote
Hello Again Jeremy. I must have something setup incorrectly with my Reef Octopus CRX, because the recirculation pump is pulling alot of water from my sump, so much that my Kamoer is unable to regulate how much to dos regardless of what I set the Kamoer at. When I have the Kamoer off water is flowing through the Kamoer and still dosing at over 100+ML/min. And when I have the Kamoer on at say 20 ML/min, I would expect the effluent side coming out of the Kamoer to only be 20 ML, it is not, I am still getting over 100+ ML. I tried as you suggested to use the Kamoer to pull, but no luck per the above. I have to swap back to the Apex to push the water through as the Apex is not letting the recirculation pump pull water through it... I just can't figure out if my error is in my Reef Octopus or Kamoer or simply my setup. Frustrating for sure, maybe my variable speed controller is setup to high or wrong. I have all the valves blue/big red fully open on reactor.
Oct 20, 2020
Jeremy Rykiel
agent
wrote
If you have the recirculation pump drawing water to feed the reactor and have the FX-STP controlling the effluent flow rate. When the pump is off there should be no water exiting the pump. The suction side of the pump does not have enough flow to create enough pressure to cause issues with regulating the flow rate. If so the pump is not set up properly. Please make sure the tension screw has enough tension to keep the flow restricted when off. If this is not tight it will not perform its dosing duties properly. Picture attached.