SIMPLE TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Q. - MY TANK HAS STARTED TO GO CLOUDY .
A. - You are introducing too much Nitrate Fluid into the system without sufficient bacteria in the reactor. Cut back on the feeding and it will clear.
Q. - THERE IS MORE NITRATE COMING OUT THAN IS GOING IN.
A. - The filter still contains oxygen and is acting as an aerobic filter. Wait for a few more days and retest.
Q. - THERE IS A SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS COMING FROM THE UNIT.
A. - The redox on the unit is too low. Reduce the amount of feeding or increase the flow rate.
Q. - THE pH IS LOW COMING OUT OF THE UNIT.
A. - This is normal. Aerate the water coming out of the reactor or run it through some coral gravel.
Q. - THE FLOW RATE OUT OF THE REACTOR IS REDUCING.
A. - Check that the outlet from the reactor is clean and has not started to block up with dead bacteria.
Q. - MY INITIAL REDOX READING SHOWS A STRANGE LEVEL
A. - It can take 5-6 days for a new redox probe to settle down and to give the correct reading.
Q. - IN FULLY AUTOMATIC MODE IT IS BECOMING DIFICULT TO MAINTAIN ZERO NITRATE AT THE OUTLET.
A. - Recalibrate your redox probe as it has probably drifted more positive and is opening the solenoid too early.
MAINTENANCE
Your reactor will require regular cleaning maintenance due to the build up of dead bacteria and the closer you run the unit towards its maximum capacity the more regularly it will require cleaning.
1 - If the lid and pipes become blocked then remove the lid and thoroughly clean all the surfaces, pipes and the pump.
When you reassemble the unit remember to try to waste as little water from the reactor as possible as this will have to be made up with tank water which will be at a higher redox and will take a while to rebalance. After cleaning switch the water feed to the reactor off for a few hours to assist this process.
2. - Eventually even the media within the reactor will become so chocked up with dead bacteria that it will be necessary to clean this out too.
Empty the water from the reactor into a bucket and remove the cartridge from the chamber. Scrape off as much dead bacteria as possible and if necessary wash it in the water that you have just removed.
NEVER WASH THE FILTER IN FRESH WATER FROM THE TAP
Re-roll up the media and return it to the canister before carefully decanting the saved water from the bucket back in. Reassemble the rest of the unit and place it back into service.
After a major clean like this we would recommend that you reduce shut off the flow for a day then build it back up over a week or so to its original level
