Avast Marine : CA1 Calcium Reactor Kit - Please Bring this Kit Back!!!

zemuss · Apr 19, 2012

Hi Reef 2 Reef,

I have been doing some research on what I am going to do next for a tank. Recently I bought a 40 breeder and still have my Solana 34. However, I have never been successful with SPS corals, so I did some research for my upgrade.

I was all excited to have found a DIY kit CA1 Calcium Reactor Kit, but when I went to the Avast Marine site the kit is no longer available. I called Avast and spoke to a gentlemen who said they are looking to enhance the design.

Please post to this thread if you would be interested in purchasing the new kit when it comes out.

"Z"

edwing206 · Apr 20, 2012

I'd be interested. Bring it back!!

redtop03 · Apr 20, 2012

I've been shopping for a CA reactor for a while now,I am currently dosing 2-part but as my SPS grow,I'm gonna need something a little more efficient...

I've already purchased the DIY kalk stirrer from Avast and love the quality,design,and ease of assembly....if Avast does reintroduce the DIY Ca Reactor,I'd definitely be interested in one myself,but I'm gonna need one that will suppliment a 400 plus gallon system

serpent · Apr 20, 2012

Bring it Back! Love Avast products and if they are revamping the design, then it will be kick butt.

AVAST Marine · Apr 20, 2012

OK.

What would be the most important feature set, size, etc. that would be of interest? I have been impressed with the price : performance ratio of the new line of maxijet utility pumps for this application, any others we should consider?

zemuss · Apr 20, 2012

I am going to be setting up a 40 breeder soon and will be combining the 34 solana and 40 breeder together. Long term I am going to either purchase a 90 or 120 gallon but thats about 2 years away.

I am really looking for a reactor that could scale with additional takes added to one system. (If that is possible)

I am the complete noob, so I look at the others here to help out. I just followed through with what I said I would "gather the interests".

I would love to see an integrated solutions ie KALK / Calcium reactor if possible.

"Z"

cdness · Apr 20, 2012

Avast, good to see you on the thread...

I would be highly interested in buying a DIY calcium reactor kit. When looking at this stuff I tend to focus on the design and afforbability of the product. Features such as the following would be good to see:

- Affordable price point
- Easy to disassemble for refill or cleaning
- PH port for testing the effluent
- Bubble counter for CO2
- a few different sizes for different size tanks.

- Expandability would be an optional but nice feature. Currently I have a 125G tank but I plan to go larger at my next place. Having a base unit with additional media canisters would allow the unit to expand to meet future needs.

serpent · Apr 20, 2012

cdness said:
- Affordable price point
- Easy to disassemble for refill or cleaning
- PH port for testing the effluent
- Bubble counter for CO2
- a few different sizes for different size tanks.

- Expandability would be an optional but nice feature.

Agreed. Maybe a second chamber add on and the ability to use any pump too.

zemuss · Apr 20, 2012

What are the thoughts of making it a Calc / Kalk reactor?

cdness · Apr 20, 2012

They are not easy to compliment each other directly... It would be easier to deploy both reactors as the exit water is already calcium saturated by the calcium reactor. Kalk increases PH while the CA reactor decreases to dissolve calcium carbonate skeletons...

I like the idea of making it pump universal as everyone has spare pumps lieing around. If not they can source via the recommendation or get a different one.

AVAST Marine · Apr 21, 2012

Universal pump design. Check
Multiple sizes. Check
Add on effluent chambers. Check
Easy assembly. Check
Integrated self filling bubble counter. Check
Good value. Check
I was thinking recirculating co2 would be the most important addition to the comments above. Check

Capacities would be 5.5# of media to 11# with the add on chamber to the smallest size, 8# and 16# for medium, and 16# doubled to 32# for the large. Of course mix and match would always be an option.

Am I missing anything?

redtop03 · Apr 21, 2012

I think you have it all covered,excellent,those look great.....when can we expect to see these up for purchase ?

AVAST Marine · Apr 23, 2012

Since this is just a remake of a design I have used for 5 years and it is pretty mature as far as ease of use and reliability are concerned, it could potentially be to market in as little as a month.

Dashiki · Apr 23, 2012

Hurry im ready to buy!

shred5 · Apr 23, 2012

Wow they look nice. Any idea on the cost?

kuyatwo · Apr 23, 2012

Up flow design like geo and detect where water pushes through the media from the bottom also ph port

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AVAST Marine · Apr 23, 2012

Dashiki, what size are you thinking? Tank size/ stocking levels?

Shred5, not putting anything in stone yet, but probably comparable to our ozone reactor line pricing for both kit and built. Effluent chambers would be priced the same as our media reactors kit/built.

kuyatwo, check, check.

zemuss · Apr 23, 2012

Will the build manual have the needed equipment to purchase? I never used a Calc reactor and need to make sure I purchase the right equipment. I will need one that can handle from 100 gallons to 300 gallons. Which would you suggest I purchase when avail?

AVAST Marine · Apr 23, 2012

zemuss, 100-300 gallons are quite differant numbers

Care to elaborate on your setup? Stocking?

We have a pretty nice calcium reactor user manual already and it covers equipment, instalation and tuning, we will probably update it a little to include model specific information but if you would like a copy shoot a email to captains @ avastmarine.com and we can send it to you now if you like.