Aquarium Engineering-ACR Calcium Reactor

Mark Gray · Mar 7, 2020

Following I have one on order and I also got a tank switcher

ScottB · Mar 25, 2020

Just off the phone with Bill. There goes my PayPal balance... poof!

8" stacked with backup CO2 bottle automatic switch.

@vetteguy53081 can't rub my face in it with his new CaRx anymore. Ahhhhh. What relief.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 25, 2020

ScottB said:
Just off the phone with Bill. There goes my PayPal balance... poof!

8" stacked with backup CO2 bottle automatic switch.

@vetteguy53081 can't rub my face in it with his new CaRx anymore. Ahhhhh. What relief.

LOL LOL - no regrets once running. You WILL see the difference

ReeferTX · Mar 26, 2020

After a brief phone call with Bill yesterday, I also pulled the trigger on an 8 inch ACR. Curious as to how many peeps pair this reactor up with a dkh monitoring device? I get the benefit of monitoring alk while getting the unit dialed in. But once it's dialed, is there a need to test dkh multiple times on the daily with alk monitor? Original plan was to get alkatronic, but if it doesn't add great value then perhaps i can save some money there.. side note. Does anyone know what tank size the 8 inch ACR is rated for? Can't find that information anywhere.

ca1ore · Mar 26, 2020

Even if you don't augment with alk dosing, the ability to continuously monitor alkalinity is helpful IMO. Dialing in a CaRx is a balance, and that balance will shift over time as tank consumption changes and media gets depleted.

Mark Gray · Mar 26, 2020

ReeferTX said:
After a brief phone call with Bill yesterday, I also pulled the trigger on an 8 inch ACR. Curious as to how many peeps pair this reactor up with a dkh monitoring device? I get the benefit of monitoring alk while getting the unit dialed in. But once it's dialed, is there a need to test dkh multiple times on the daily with alk monitor? Original plan was to get alkatronic, but if it doesn't add great value then perhaps i can save some money there.. side note. Does anyone know what tank size the 8 inch ACR is rated for? Can't find that information anywhere.

I have a Trident but it's still in the box I will start this weekend I think. I have not received my ACR yet. Hopefully it will come soon. I may have the Trident shut down my ACR but I don't think I will let it control it.

BrianReefer · Mar 27, 2020

ReeferTX said:
After a brief phone call with Bill yesterday, I also pulled the trigger on an 8 inch ACR. Curious as to how many peeps pair this reactor up with a dkh monitoring device? I get the benefit of monitoring alk while getting the unit dialed in. But once it's dialed, is there a need to test dkh multiple times on the daily with alk monitor? Original plan was to get alkatronic, but if it doesn't add great value then perhaps i can save some money there.. side note. Does anyone know what tank size the 8 inch ACR is rated for? Can't find that information anywhere.

I use an Alkatronic with it and find it valuable. The CaRx doses consistently 24/7 and my Alk consumption is way higher during the day vs night, which was leading to big Alk swings. So I use the Alkatronic Bluetooth outlet on the carx controller to turn it off when it starts to spike each day, usually around 8-9pm. I could probably accomplish the same by putting the carx on a timer but this let’s it be measurement based which I prefer.

ethridge78 · Mar 27, 2020

Got mine just need to hook it up

ca1ore · Mar 28, 2020

ethridge78 said:
Got mine just need to hook it up

That made me chuckle. Your daughter has that ‘what IS all this’ look on her face.

ethridge78 · Mar 28, 2020

ca1ore said:
That made me chuckle. Your daughter has that ‘what IS all this’ look on her face.

Yeah I had to answer a million questions.

ScottB · Apr 6, 2020

My unit it due here tomorrow. My first CaRx so pretty excited about it.

About time I figure out where this is going to go. If anyone has any suggestions / limitations I will gladly listen. What does or does not matter here:
a) effluent dumps into refugium? return section?
b) maximum safe run distance for the CO2 lines? Effluent lines?
c) working access to the reactor body (post setup)?
d) Reactor height position relative to sump level?

In exchange for this information, I will gladly offer you 2 dozen empty ESV buckets p/u only.

ethridge78 · Apr 6, 2020

A. I drip it before refugium B. It doesn’t matter C. Just enough roof to work on it or change media D. Nope your good just need some kind of check valve on inflow in case lose power drains in tank

vetteguy53081 · Apr 6, 2020

ScottB said:
My unit it due here tomorrow. My first CaRx so pretty excited about it.

About time I figure out where this is going to go. If anyone has any suggestions / limitations I will gladly listen. What does or does not matter here:
a) effluent dumps into refugium? return section?
b) maximum safe run distance for the CO2 lines? Effluent lines?
c) working access to the reactor body (post setup)?
d) Reactor height position relative to sump level?

In exchange for this information, I will gladly offer you 2 dozen empty ESV buckets p/u only.

@Randy Holmes-Farley

BrianReefer · Apr 7, 2020

ScottB said:
My unit it due here tomorrow. My first CaRx so pretty excited about it.

About time I figure out where this is going to go. If anyone has any suggestions / limitations I will gladly listen. What does or does not matter here:
a) effluent dumps into refugium? return section?
b) maximum safe run distance for the CO2 lines? Effluent lines?
c) working access to the reactor body (post setup)?
d) Reactor height position relative to sump level?

In exchange for this information, I will gladly offer you 2 dozen empty ESV buckets p/u only.

Other tips:

1) Leak test it before putting in final location. The Sicce pump has been prone to leaking for me as the piece that seals it up on too tends to lift a bit and cause a small leak. I had to silicone it to get it to stop. And make sure the valve box has no leaks, I had to open mine up and silicone a few places there too.
2) use a few valves to eliminate the need to swap RO tubes during the purge process. It will be a process you need to run periodically so set it up so that it’s easy to do.
3) get the CO2 flow right before connecting it to the valve box. Turn it on, adjust so it’s I the 1-2 range, submerge end in water and make sure bubbles are flowing. Get the reactor and controller purged and running, then connect the confirmed working CO2 line to the input of the valve box

Let us know if any questions

reeflife3 · Apr 7, 2020

How much media does the 8 inch reactor hold?

ScottB · Apr 7, 2020

BrianReefer said:
Other tips:

1) Leak test it before putting in final location. The Sicce pump has been prone to leaking for me as the piece that seals it up on too tends to lift a bit and cause a small leak. I had to silicone it to get it to stop. And make sure the valve box has no leaks, I had to open mine up and silicone a few places there too.
2) use a few valves to eliminate the need to swap RO tubes during the purge process. It will be a process you need to run periodically so set it up so that it’s easy to do.
3) get the CO2 flow right before connecting it to the valve box. Turn it on, adjust so it’s I the 1-2 range, submerge end in water and make sure bubbles are flowing. Get the reactor and controller purged and running, then connect the confirmed working CO2 line to the input of the valve box

Let us know if any questions

Hey thank you for this. Exactly the kind of input I was looking for. If it's not a big deal, could you snap a pic of the valve install you did? And rather coincidentally, UPS just dropped it on the porch. Wow, big box.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 7, 2020

Rinse media in a strainer Prior to packing unit, assure positive flow from pump and agitate before running reactor pump to assure all bubbles are removed. How are you running/connecting PH probe? I try to keep unit ph at 6.6