Banner image

LaCl Reactor (1 Viewer)

Jonty

Jonty

I contributed!
Lifetime Member
Event Committee
Meeting Host 2024
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
2,523
Last edited:
I've used it, potent stuff. You can kill a lot of stuff too but it's so cheap to run
 
marty9876 said:
I've used it, potent stuff. You can kill a lot of stuff too but it's so cheap to run
Click to expand...
Yep I run a very dilute solution and also run through a carbon reactor and a sock before it goes to the skimmer intake. right now I am using this to remove all the phosphates coming off my live rock while it cures.
 
Very cool idea. I have read through some of the threads on RC on it but am still confused a little on the process. So does it use the solution in the first chamber similar to kalk then passes to the 2nd chamber with floss to take the binded agents out?
 
yep first chamber is the reaction chamber where the LaCl binds and precipitates out the Phosphates and then the precipitate is captured in the floss of the second chamber
 
Jonty said:
yep first chamber is the reaction chamber where the LaCl binds and precipitates out the Phosphates and then the precipitate is captured in the floss of the second chamber
Click to expand...

Ok that is how I understood it just wanted to make sure in-case someone asks me. Are you using an Aquahouse dosing pump from the looks in the picture? How often/much will you be dosing?
 
I am using a Micom Dosing feed pump I adjust the feed to keep the phosphate where I want it. I like to run GFO on a tank but with this new tank I want to do some continuous feeding of photo and zoo plankton so I can try some Carnation corals I plan on running some feed tubing permanently to a "cave" where the corals will reside and dose the feed direct in their location so phosphate may/will be an issue.

Untitled by watsonj0, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
You do need to pay attention with this setup as you can strip all phosphates from the water column which you do not want to do, also you want to ensure a complete reaction of the LaCl to avoid reagent remaining in the water column. I filter through carbon before returning to the tank to avoid this also some tangs have shown an adverse reaction to LaCl in the water.
 
Last edited:
Very cool man! I believe the AquaHouse and Micom dosing pumps are the same exact thing.

I just list them as AquaHouse: http://www.fragtasticreef.com/AquaHouse-Aquarium-Dosing-Pump-AquaHouse-Dosing-Pump.htm
They are awesome pumps for dosing etc....

So how do you calculate how much to dose and draw in from the tank? Does the dosing pump draw from the LaCl or from the tank itself and the LaCl is just in the main chamber and needs to be added over time? I really am interested in these since I am not a huge fan of GFO. Granted I do sell a lot of GFO by the # I tell my customers to use it as a last resort...
 
Fragtastic Reef said:
Very cool man! I believe the AquaHouse and Micom dosing pumps are the same exact thing.

I just list them as AquaHouse: http://www.fragtasticreef.com/AquaHouse-Aquarium-Dosing-Pump-AquaHouse-Dosing-Pump.htm
They are awesome pumps for dosing etc....

So how do you calculate how much to dose and draw in from the tank? Does the dosing pump draw from the LaCl or from the tank itself and the LaCl is just in the main chamber and needs to be added over time? I really am interested in these since I am not a huge fan of GFO. Granted I do sell a lot of GFO by the # I tell my customers to use it as a last resort...
Click to expand...

I use this calculator http://www.derkroon.com/store/products/lanthanum-reactor/lacl3-calculator
the dosing pump dispenses the LaCl from a separate container and a feed from a pump introduces system water , the first chamber is a mixing chamber only.
 
Ok that is what I figured on how it works.. Very cool. From my understanding of reading also so if it strips all the PO4 out it will start taking Alk in its place.
 
Fragtastic Reef said:
Ok that is what I figured on how it works.. Very cool. From my understanding of reading also so if it strips all the PO4 out it will start taking Alk in its place.
Click to expand...
I have heard that but never actually experienced it.
 
Dropping the o2 levels and killing tangs is a big risk. Etching glass I've also read reports of
 
marty9876 said:
Dropping the o2 levels and killing tangs is a big risk. Etching glass I've also read reports of
Click to expand...

I have read about a few tang issues can you point me to the low 02 documentation I would like to check it out, also the etching of the aquarium glass sounds a bit far fetched so I would also like to read about that.
 
I have not heard of the glass issue but have read about the tang issue on RC. I think if you use it very conservatively you will be fine.
 
I have used it before without issue I am not worried :)
 
I dose lanthanum and have not experienced glass etching or any problems with tangs. I do dilute 5ml in 1 liter though and drip over the course of 24 hours and use 5 micron socks to clean it out.
 
Jonty said:
I have read about a few tang issues can you point me to the low 02 documentation I would like to check it out, also the etching of the aquarium glass sounds a bit far fetched so I would also like to read about that.
Click to expand...

Was a conversation I had with Kevin kohen, I got the impression he ran it a little faster than current methods
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top