Best calcium reactor media

hybridazn · Oct 22, 2015

As the title states, what's the best in your opinion? I am making the switch and my reason will be posted in my build thread shortly. Ill be running a geos 618 reactor with a Milwaukee co2 regulator (I know not great but its new and just laying around lol)

Any other suggestions or tips on running a reactor?

Thanks!

Rockhead · Oct 22, 2015

I'm using arm corse and like it, but this is the first time having a cal reactor been running it for 9 months

tdo · Oct 22, 2015

I am using tlf reborn. Works great for me so far, no clogging or any concerns of that nature in the past 9 months.

One thing I highly recommend is a quality peristaltic pump to feed the reactor. You can pick up a master flex pump for pretty cheap these days, and once you have that set up you don't ever have to worry about the effluent rates changing. I tried the different feed pumps and tees off the return line, that was super frustrating!

evolved · Oct 22, 2015

TLF reborn

ARM coarse sucks now; they changed it about 5 years back. Extra coarse is still okay, as an alternative to Reborn.

FarmerTy · Oct 22, 2015

TLF reborn. I switched from the ARM media and I'm happy with it.

gcarroll · Oct 22, 2015

TLF Reborn for me. Of course recycling dead Acro skeletons is first choice.

pirate2876 · Oct 22, 2015

I was wondering if the Triton stuff was any good myself. http://uniquecorals.com/dry-goods/triton/dastaco2-media-for-calcium-reactors-5kg-bucket.html

DeniseAndy · Oct 22, 2015

I have used the extra course ARM, but maybe my next stuff with be the TLF Reborn.

hybridazn · Oct 23, 2015

Seems like tlf reborn is the way to go. Im sure I could just read up on this but for the sake of keeping the discussion going how much would I need of the media to put in my reactor?

Vmacisback · Oct 23, 2015

so people put dead skeletons straight in their reactor? I have a pile of old dead skeletons i keep just to remind me how much money Ive sunk into this hobby. Itd be a nice recycle program if thats a possible use.

Singlefin · Oct 23, 2015

hybridazn · Oct 23, 2015

Vmacisback said:
so people put dead skeletons straight in their reactor? I have a pile of old dead skeletons i keep just to remind me how much money Ive sunk into this hobby. Itd be a nice recycle program if thats a possible use.

Yup that is all what the media is. I know reborn is harvested to be used and is clean of shells and such.

Rockhead · Oct 23, 2015

hybridazn said:
Seems like tlf reborn is the way to go. Im sure I could just read up on this but for the sake of keeping the discussion going how much would I need of the media to put in my reactor?

Making me think of switching myself, I'm running the same reactor as you and holds 8 lbs of arm media

Tank2379 · Oct 23, 2015

Reborn

Vmacisback · Oct 23, 2015

Do you rinse the reborn in RO before putting it in the reactor?

evolved · Oct 23, 2015

hybridazn said:
Seems like tlf reborn is the way to go. Im sure I could just read up on this but for the sake of keeping the discussion going how much would I need of the media to put in my reactor?

Until it's full.

Well, nearly - some space at the top is needed. Geo's recommendation is to go to the bottom of the label.

Vmacisback said:
Do you rinse the reborn in RO before putting it in the reactor?

I don't bother - it's pretty darn clean. Not at all like ARM (which tends to be really dirty/dusty).

gcarroll · Oct 23, 2015

I've never rinsed any reactor media I have ever used

gcrawford · Oct 23, 2015

Tropic Eden has done wonders for my reefs....

Paul Carpenter · Oct 26, 2015

gcarroll said:
TLF Reborn for me. Of course recycling dead Acro skeletons is first choice.

Good idea. Just crush them to granular sizes???

Paul Carpenter · Oct 26, 2015

Has anyone ever seen any reliable data of the various mediums? The chemical content of the effluent would tells us much. The rest is anecdotal, opinion........etc.