Best Calcium Reactor media for 2nd chamber?

[Reefahholic]

Yes....which media for a second chamber and what size do you prefer?

Also, do you guys still add ReMag or similar product after all these years or do you just buffer your mag with a 2-part magnesium product like BRS or ESV?

 

[ycnibrc]

2nd chamber I prefer smaller media so it will take longer for water to pass through therefore it can de-gas

 

[vetteguy53081]

A combo of dolomite and ReMag

 

[jda]

I would use some super-small natural media. If your reactor is wasteful and is passing along unused co2, then you will want the media in the second chamber to be as easy to melt as possible so that the co2 gets used up. Dolomite and calcite take more co2 to melt than aragonite.

Natural media has always had enough mag in it for me. If you need more mag, then dolomite will work, but it needs to be in the first chamber. Start with about 25% dolomite and 75% aragonite and see if that can keep up... adjust from there. Dolomite takes a lower pH to melt than aragonite.

Edit: it is possible to tune your reactor not to need a second chamber.

 

[Reefahholic]

Thanks for the info guys. That makes sense. Can’t wait to get online.

 

[Reefahholic]

I would use some super-small natural media. If your reactor is wasteful and is passing along unused co2, then you will want the media in the second chamber to be as easy to melt as possible so that the co2 gets used up. Dolomite and calcite take more co2 to melt than aragonite.

Natural media has always had enough mag in it for me. If you need more mag, then dolomite will work, but it needs to be in the first chamber. Start with about 25% dolomite and 75% aragonite and see if that can keep up... adjust from there. Dolomite takes a lower pH to melt than aragonite.

Edit: it is possible to tune your reactor not to need a second chamber.

@jda what brand do you like?

 

[Reefahholic]

Can I get some replies on popular brands.

 

[joseserrano]

Caribsea or crushed coral/gravel are fine.

 

[Reefahholic]

Caribsea or crushed coral/gravel are fine.

Which Caribsea bag?

 

[joseserrano]

Which Caribsea bag?

Florida Crushed Coral Dry Sand

Florida Crushed Coral is and ideal substrate for high-flow tanks with a lot of water movement that might blow other finer sands around and create bare spots. This grade of substrate is not recommended for tanks with sand-dwelling or sand-sifting creatures due to it's larger size. How Much...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[Reefahholic]

Florida Crushed Coral Dry Sand

Florida Crushed Coral is and ideal substrate for high-flow tanks with a lot of water movement that might blow other finer sands around and create bare spots. This grade of substrate is not recommended for tanks with sand-dwelling or sand-sifting creatures due to it's larger size. How Much...

www.marinedepot.com

Thanks!

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would use some super-small natural media. If your reactor is wasteful and is passing along unused co2, then you will want the media in the second chamber to be as easy to melt as possible so that the co2 gets used up. Dolomite and calcite take more co2 to melt than aragonite.

Natural media has always had enough mag in it for me. If you need more mag, then dolomite will work, but it needs to be in the first chamber. Start with about 25% dolomite and 75% aragonite and see if that can keep up... adjust from there. Dolomite takes a lower pH to melt than aragonite.

Edit: it is possible to tune your reactor not to need a second chamber.

25%? I remember using 15 and that was too much. I normally ran around 10% dolomite to keep mag stable but I guess every tank is different.