AquaCare Turbo Manuel D'instructions page 6

Putting into operation
Please read this part carefully to prevent work and failures. Incorrect
use of the reactor may destroy the circulation pump.
11. Be sure that all inlets and outlets are connected (incoming water, out
coming water, air and CO2)
12. Only size 4 or 5: Close the bypass ball valve and open the ball valve at
the pressure side of the circulation pump.
13. Open the water inlet ball valve (start the water inlet pump) and fill the re-
actor completely. Put the Turbo Chalk Reactor circulation pump into opera-
tion for a short time to bring out the air off the pump. This step is important
to minimize the work. Only if all air is out of the pump it can produce the
pressure for the fluidized calcite bed. Maybe you have to wait for half a min-
ute and start the pump again. If all air is out off the system, stop the pumps
and drain the reactor half.
14. Open the calcite tube. Unscrew the cap of the calcite tube and take out
the filter sponge.
15. Fill up the calcite tube to the maximum filling mark. Do not use more or
another material. Otherwise the fluidized filter system does not work cor-
rectly. Close the calcite tube - don't forget the filter sponge! Please use
AquaCare Turbo Granules – it is the most effective material. With others the
efficiency will fall down.
16. Open the water inlet ball valve (start the incoming pump) and fill the re-
actor with water completely.
17. If water reaches the sediment tube put the circulation pump in operation.
Ball valve at the CO2 tube (size 3 at the pump) should be open.
18. Reduce the ball valve at the CO2 tube (size 3 at the pump) that only the
very small Turbo Granules will be in motion. Heavy movements of the
Granules will cause turbidity in the aquarium.
19. Now start the air supply. For the right volume, see technical data. Every
time you must see bubbles in the sediment tube.
20. Reduce the incoming water (ball valve) to the optimum. For the right vol-
ume, see technical data.
21. Start the CO2 supply carefully. If the Turbo Control is mounted the sole-
noid will start after some seconds. Open the needle valve at the pressure re-
lief valve carefully. You see the incoming bubbles at the bottom of the CO2
tube. The needed bubbles per time depends on the water inlet flow, the pH in
the reactor and if the Turbo control is mounted.
The right volumes for incoming water, air and CO2
Water Inlet:
The power of the Turbo Chalk Reactor should be controlled by the daily
operation time. Do not reduce the incoming water! Otherwise the circu-
lation pump will be damaged. The pump for the incoming water should be
in operation 24 hours per day. (If you stop the circulation pump the reactor
would be de-aerated within the brakes.)
The optimum incoming water of the AquaCare Turbo Chalk Reactors in li-
ters per hour:
Size 1 Size 2
4-5 l/h 8-10 l/h
Please take this optimum volumes. If the water in the reactor becomes yellow
and very turbid, the incoming water must be raised. Otherwise the circulation
pump breaks down. For raising the incoming water please open the ball valve
in the inlet. If the ball valve is totally open, please take a larger incoming
pump. Optional you can use volume meters (size 2-5).
The air supply for the neutralizing tube:
The more air comes into the neutralizing tube the higher the pH of the out
coming water (maximum pH 7,3). The air supply should be in action all the
time. The proper function of the air pump should be controlled in the sedi-
ment tube- every time you must see bubbles in the sediment tube.
If the pH of the out coming water is higher than 7,3 you have to reduce the
air input. If the pH is below 7,0 you must force the air input (use a stronger
pump).
The right CO2 volume WITHOUT Turbo Control:
Please regulated the CO2 volume that after the operation time of the reactor
any CO2 will be sucked by the circulation pump. But after the operation time
a big CO2 bubble should be in the CO2 tube. If too less CO2 is in the reac-
tor, the system will not work properly. Attention! At the start the reactor
need much CO2 – at the end of an operation period the system needs less
CO2.
Size 3 Size 4
20-25 l/h 40-50 l/h 80-100 l/h
B-KALK3.DOC, Seite 6 / 6, Aug. 11
The right CO2 volume WITH Turbo Control:
If a control is mounted you need more CO2 volume. If you start the reactor
and the control (timer ON) the solenoid will start after some seconds. Please
raise the CO2 volume per time that the control will shut off the CO2 input af-
ter 1-2 minutes after the start. If the Turbo Chalk Reactor needs more CO2
the solenoid will start again automatically.
Size 4 and 5: sometime it is possible to reduce the ball valve at the CO2 tube
if the water in the CO2 tube contains many very small bubbles. If these fine
bubble occur the control will not work properly.
The power of the Turbo Chalk Reactors:
Important!!! The power of the Turbo Chalk Reactors should be con-
trolled with the operation time. Do not lower or raise the water inlet!
Maximum power is reached with two hours operation - 15 minutes pause -
two hours operation.... For a normal reef aquarium you need 2 - 6 hours op-
eration time per day. If the aquarium contains very many living stony corals
the operation time can raise up to 20 hours. For the first two months control
the carbonate hardness (KH) every week. The optimum is between 8 and
12°dH (German hardness). The reactor can produce a light turbidity in the
aquarium. It is pure calcium carbonate and it is not dangerous. To prevent the
turbidity, take some very fine filter material at the outlet of the water.
To control the daily operation time please use a simple timer. With this
timer control the circulation pump and the CO2 supply. Air supply and
incoming water can operate 24 hours a day. Please start with a low op-
eration time (2 hours per day). The power of the AquaCare Turbo Chalk
Reactor is very high compared to other systems!
Carbonate hardness should not be under 5°dH, the calcium concentration not
below 400 mg/l (ppm). KH above 15°dH and calcium above 500 mg/l can
cause negative effects in the reef aquarium. If only one parameter is to low,
raise it with other compounds, e.g. AquaCare Care System „KH-plus" or Su-
per Buffer, „Calcium-plus" or calcium hydroxide solution „Kalkwasser".
The maximum carbonate hardness and calcium concentration depends on the
pH of the aquarium water. Normally you can reach 10°dH and 400 mg/l cal-
cium. The pH of the aquarium would raise a little bit after some days opera-
tion of the reactor. If the pH of the aquarium is too high reduce the air vol-
ume of the neutralizing tube.
To have an optimum system you must do some maintenance work. Otherwise
the power is not high or some parts would damage.
Daily control of CO2 (measure the incoming water or use a volume meter)
Daily de-aeration of the reactor: for de-aerating the reactor you have to
stop the circulation pump once a day (or use a simple timer) - without stop-
ping the incoming water. After 2-15 minutes all gases are out of the reactor.
Weekly to monthly: fill up the calcite tube with Turbo Granules. Stop the
circulation pump and the CO2 supply. Open the calcite tube, take off the
blue filter sponge, wash it out and fill up the calcite tube. The material dis-
solves totally with the time - you only fill new material to the old.
If the sediment tube is full: stop the system, disassemble the tubes from the
sediment tube, take the tube from the mounting plate, open the tube at the
cap and clean it. Assemble the system after cleaning.
Size 5
Every year: clean the neutralizing tube and the CO2 sensor.
Take some vaseline for the screws of the tube. It is more easier to open
them.
Take some vaseline for all O-rings to have gas tight connections.
Reduce the power of the reactor if carbonate hardness is more than 15°dH
or calcium more than 500 mg/l. You can save electrical power, CO2 and
spare parts.
The reactor should start minimum once a day. Otherwise the calcite material
can block or the mesh in the bottom of the calcite tube can block (size 4 and
5).
Turbidity in the aquarium water can stop after using a fine filter material in
the outlet of the reactor
You can save CO2 if you stop the CO2 supply ½ to 1 hour before stopping
the circulation pump (you need a second timer).
If the air supply would be not in order the out coming water of the reactor is
too low (5.2-5.5). To prevent damage in the aquarium use a pH control. If the
pH in aquarium is below e.g. 7,9 the AquaCare reactor should stop totally.
You have 24 months warranty on all AquaCare units excepts spare parts like
air stones, pump parts and granules. You have no warranty if parts are bro-
ken by violent (for example totally closed water inlet). If you send a warranty
unit to AquaCare please send the dated receipt, too.
Maintenance
Some tips
Warranty