AquaMaxx C-Tech T series

[Mikeltee]

Does anyone have any experience with these? For $200 I think id be a fool to pay $500 for a comparable Geo. Its rated to 300gal. The only review I found was a guy with the same size tank as me and he gets a year out of the media before messing with it. I like that I can assemble it to an 8x8 footprint therefore being able to place it in my sump. I would run a Versa to feed it. It comes with a Sicce pump to circulate and that alone is a $50 addon with the Geo. I think its worth the gamble! Anybody have one of these or comments towards its design? I know it's not the latest post-2018 design but I dont plan to run small media and I will have a Versa so clogging shouldn't be an issue. I'll be be using a GLA dual stage for gassing it. I'd be out the door for under $650!

cTech T-1 Calcium Reactor

INTRODUCING THE AQUAMAXX CTECH T-1 CALCIUM REACTOR AquaMaxx cTech T-1 Calcium Reactors use an up-flow design to mix saltwater, calcium carbonate and CO2 inside a reaction chamber to eliminate the need for daily two-part dosing. Not only will the AquaMaxx cTech T-1 Calcium Reactor keep your...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[reef lover]

Bump!

 

[Mikeltee]

Mine arrives today

 

[Mikeltee]

I cracked the box. This looks pretty solid! It's no where near the heft of my Geo Kalkstirrer but for $350 less, I am not going to complain one bit. I love it's small footprint. It's about 60% of my Kalkstirrer. I'll be able to place a 10gal tank next to it and still have space for my 10gal ATO resevoir. I got a half bag of reborn and a half bag of remag in it and it's right at the AquaMaxx label. I'll report back once I start pumping water through it and let you know of any leaks. I am going to do that for a week because my regulator wont get here until next week.

 

[Mikeltee]

Ok... First update on operation. It leaks like a sieve Right at the pump. They have some jenkie joint in there and it drips. I have a versa filling it up so it's going to take awhile. The Versa also leaks! What the heck did I just get myself into. I am continuing to fill it up to see if there is any other leaks. If there is it's going back. If not, I am going to try and rip their union apart and see if its fixable. Why cant these companies leak check them first? Bubble Magus does and they are by far the most Chinese made device in this industry. They dont even have English instructions lol

As far as the versa goes, I am going to wait until I get my regulator and use some of the tubing it comes with to see if maybe the issue with the leak is from the tubing sent with the AquaMaxx.

 

[Mikeltee]

The versa issue was that the tubing the CaRx came with was too small in diameter. When I place the larger diameter tube in the CaRx the CaRx fitting leaks. Today I am going to find a coupler and place it over my tank in case it leaks as well in order to join the 2 different tubes. I shouldn't have to resort to rigging stuff together in order to make it function properly in expensive pieces of plastic. This is ridiculous and I won't be buying from AquaMaxx anymore!

 

[Mikeltee]

It appears that these fittings are very selective in the tubing it accepts. I had to add a shark bite coupler to every single fitting that I didnt have enough of the tube that came with it in order for it to stop dripping. After tinkering with the pump's unions I was able to get its drip to stop. I now have a ton of air being taken on by the system and I am not sure if it's normal considering there is no co2 yet. The drip rate is irregular.

 

[Mikeltee]

This will be my final update to this thread. As stated earlier I got it to stop leaking but I could not get the air out. Once I kill the pump, water again leaks from the pump's union. This point of sale is going back. I'll be getting the Geo 612. I'm gonna need another bag of reborn to feed it. Anyone got a spare bag?

 

[Mikeltee]

So the story continues... my kids threw away the box so I can no longer send this back. I determined the source of the leak was the Sicce .5 pump. While being a great pump, I dont think it's made for recirculating with this much pressure. I got a new one off Amazon for $30 and hooked it up. This one leaked worse than the last one but it wasnt cracked like the original. I decided to epoxy everything and wrap several layers of plumber's tape around the joints. For the past few hours, it had been running great and not much air is in the system. I'm going to crack the valve on the gas tomorrow as long as I dont find any puddles in the morning.

So to circumvent the shortcomings of this $200 carx, I had to seal the easily replacable pump, and use the provided tube as stubs with a 1/4" OD connector on the end so that I could use any tube without having leaks. That set me back $25 for high quality shark bite and John Guest couplers and $5 in rodi tube. Any pump can be used for the recirc pump by the way. You might have to get a little creative rigging it though. The baffle for the pump really makes this thing silent though so I would advise sealing the Sicce if its leaking on you.

As advised for best performance, I have an aqua lifter feeding the pump, the in-loop sicce recirculating, and a Versa pulling. I havent measured the Versa output yet but it looks like it's on point! For $200, I am no longer going to complain, but I wouldnt recommend this to anyone. I hope this post helps someone in the future get theirs working properly.

I will report back once its dialed in. It's going to be a chore as my demand is very low at this point. I am not using a pH probe as a controller. My goal is to tune a 20dKh effluent and drip it into my tank fulfilling its needs. I do however have a pH probe to monitor what is going on and is a fail safe. With a 2 stage high quality regulator from GLA, I dont forsee any trouble with the gas.

 

[Mikeltee]

This thing is dead quiet. I need to get a DC return. It's the only thing I hear now. FWIW, I tried to contact AquaMaxx last week about this issue and I never got a response. They arent in Bejing...thy are in Cali!

 

[Mikeltee]

5gal everywhere... nuff said! It was fine before I went to work. As an aside, it was at 36 bubbles/min and hovering 6.72 with a brand new calibrated probe and another one confirming it's on point. There must have been a leak... imagine that! Hopefully Geo has one in stock as I am too impatient to wait a month. I'll get a reef octopus if I cant get the Geo. I dont see the point of the varios. Sound maybe? Anyone have any comments on the RO?

 

[ca1ore]

Not a big fan of the sicce as an external pump. Use them on my frog tanks and they leak all the time. PanWorld 10 is actually a great little pump for a CaRx. I used one on my now mothballed MTC ProCal.

 

[Mikeltee]

There is no give to the placement in the pump. The specs would need to be exactly the same. Of course it could be modified, and for $200 it might be worth it to some. I, however, have a good 8 hours in messing with this thing and am over it.

 

[Hilltopreef]

Sorry and happy this happened to you! Sorry because no one should have to go through dealing with poorly made reef tank equipment and happy because I almost pulled the trigger on the same reactor! My question is this. Why do calcium reactors cost so dang much? Let’s face it their made out of acrylic tubing and pvc fittings. Add in the pump and the whole thing couldn’t cost more than a couple hundred dollars to build. Probably less! Even the really well made non automatic ones ones like the Geos and maybe the reef octos shouldn’t cost more than 3 or $400 to buy. Should be able to set up a reactor with the tank and all including gauges for what the want for just the reactor!

 

[Mikeltee]

Sorry and happy this happened to you! Sorry because no one should have to go through dealing with poorly made reef tank equipment and happy because I almost pulled the trigger on the same reactor! My question is this. Why do calcium reactors cost so dang much? Let’s face it their made out of acrylic tubing and pvc fittings. Add in the pump and the whole thing couldn’t cost more than a couple hundred dollars to build. Probably less! Even the really well made non automatic ones ones like the Geos and maybe the reef octos shouldn’t cost more than 3 or $400 to buy. Should be able to set up a reactor with the tank and all including gauges for what the want for just the reactor!

This is why I kept updating the thread. I'm glad I saved you the headache. There are some insane looking diy in the diy forum. I actually started one yesterday. I am going to turn my Geo Kalkstirrer into a Geo calcium reactor... maybe. I am still ordering a geo 612, but if by the time it gets here I am happy with my DIY I'll be putting it up for sale here.

 

[Mikeltee]

Aquamaxx HOB media reactor decided to take a leak all over my floor today. Moral of the story.... AVOID AQUAMAXX AT ALL COSTS

 

[jmichaelh7]

your the only bad review like this...

but it makes me reserved on getting this now.

any update?

 

[elcapitan1993]

your the only bad review like this...

but it makes me reserved on getting this now.

any update?

I’m using one and the pump leaked right out of the box but had a replacement sent and it has been solid after that so far

 

[jmichaelh7]

I’m using one and the pump leaked right out of the box but had a replacement sent and it has been solid after that so far

Im buying from LFS ... i need to ask if that happens if there is return policy. all sales are final is risky?

 

[elcapitan1993]

Im buying from LFS ... i need to ask if that happens if there is return policy. all sales are final is risky?

Aquamaxx (bulkreefsupply) offers a 1 year warranty, just make sure where you are buying it from is a authorized distributor or it will not be covered, here is a few screenshots of the policy that I read