Best Calcium Reactor on medium large system

[Jonty]

DasTaCo for the win, set it up, turn on and walk away, it really is that good

 

[billwill]

looks pretty good what size system ate you running it on.

90g with about 20g in sump. Pretty heavy sps load

 

[billwill]

DasTaCo for the win, set it up, turn on and walk away, it really is that good

What size tank are you running it on? Pretty heavy sps, mixed reef, etc?

 

[Bruce Burnett]

So original question was based on 300 gallon system mainly SPS corals. The DaStaCo would be around $2,000, The Pacific Sun AC3 pro about $1,300 if you know where to find it in the USA. Even though this seems like a lot of money, if you took a good basic reactor in the $500-600 price range added the carbon doser regulator and a used continuous use peristaltic pump you would be at $1100-$1200. Since I am on a fixed income as to being disabled, I may get part time job just so I can afford to stay in this hobby. Anybody have any long term experience with Skimz, Aqua Max, Aqua Excel, Reef Octopus Cr3000 or Cr5000. No one convinced me with enough pluses to switch out my old Aqua C Rx-1 reactor with something new.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have only ever used a Geo reactor and it was great. I know that there are many other good brands as well.

 

[brotherd]

I had a a Lifereef lcr2. Worked great.

 

[rockworm]

I have been using the RO CR5000 on my system for a little over a year. I have a 400g SPS tank (medium stock) and a 75g LPS tank (lightly stocked).

I use the milwaukee 2 stage regulator and, for now, use a MJ900 powerhead to feed the reactor. I also use a PH probe connected to my Profilux controller. I have had no problems with it and it has served me well, so far. You don't need a PH probe and controller to operate a CARX. I use it for the convenience.

I class my SPS tank as medium stocked because it is a mix of frags and small colonies. I expect the demand to increase as they grow out, but there is still lots of room in my CARX setup to increase the deliverey. I currently run my PH at 7.8 and this, along with my Kalk reactor is maintaing my current levels. I can reduce the PH to add more alk/ca/mg when the demand increases.

I have no experience with other reactors, so cannot provide a comparison. I am happy with Reef Octopus.

 

[Jonty]

What size tank are you running it on? Pretty heavy sps, mixed reef, etc?

500 Gallon system mostly SPS
qDTKkar by watsonj0, on Flickr

 

[powderblue14]

I have a 325 gl display with 125gl sump and I run a GEO 624. Have been really happy with it. I ran a smaller GEO on my 90 gallon and really liked it as well.

 

[HeadStrongGrafx]

I use Skimz! Love it!
It's over on the right side of my stand

 

[HeadStrongGrafx]

 

[Waseem Akram]

Hi I have a geo cr618. Using it for last four months with ap regulator and nothing but trouble. Have to drain it every 5 day cus keep getting bubbles.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Hi I have a geo cr618. Using it for last four months with ap regulator and nothing but trouble. Have to drain it every 5 day cus keep getting bubbles.

From what I understand too many bubbles can be caused by too slow effluent flow, too much co2 or sucking air in somewhere on the suction side.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Was beginning to think everyone stopped using a calcium reactor. Anyone can correct me but it is my understanding go as big as or slightly bigger on calcium reactor than you will ever need. Running too small means lower ph in reactor to keep up and depresses ph in display more. Going oversized means use less co2 and higher tank ph.
If initial outlay of money is not a big deal then DaStaCo or Pacific Sun sounds like the least trouble for setting up.
Properly sized for 250-300 gallon looks like a reactor that will hold about 16 lbs of coarse media on the small end and double that on the larger end. It needs to be easily cleaned and pump needs to be easily removed and replaced if needed along with a choice of pump replacements.

 

[Squamosa]

go as big as or slightly bigger on calcium reactor than you will ever need. Running too small means lower ph in reactor to keep up and depresses ph in display more. Going oversized means use less co2 and higher tank ph.

That's what I believe.
Having a too small reactor on my system meant cranking the gas up, pouring in the effluent, always at the risk of melting down the media and always playing catch-up.

I built my own reactor, it holds 17kg of media, the pH runs at 6.6 and the effluent drips in, holding my dKH steady at ~7.5 on a120g SPS heavy tank.

My thinking is this: I now have a vehicle with 300 bhp, sure it can drive at 40km/h, but if i need it too, it could also do 250km/h

 

[Waseem Akram]

Thanks Bruce Burnett. I will re assemble the hole thing again. May be it will fix the problem.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Thanks Bruce Burnett. I will re assemble the whole thing again. May be it will fix the problem.

Make sure you are using a small pump either a peristaltic pump or something like a maxijet on the supply. If using something like a maxijet be sure you you have a small bleed off, the air venturi that comes with the maxijet works great for that. If you don't then the pump will cavitate and create air bubbles and not develop any water pressure. It will also give you a more consistent effluent rate. Based on all the reviews for the Geo reactors and the comments here they should give you good fairly trouble free use.

 

[Waseem Akram]

Thanks for the advice. I am using ehiem compact 300. Is that good enough or I should try to sorce maxi jet here in Australia.

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

I've been using a DaStaCo XtremA A4 (2000L) for the past year, i'm really impressed with this reactor.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Thanks for the advice. I am using ehiem compact 300. Is that good enough or I should try to sorce maxi jet here in Australia.

You want the supply pump to be just a little larger than a full flow through the reactor which is around 150 gallons or around 600 liter an hour so the Eheim 300 is on the small side but may still work, be sure to have that bleed off hole regardless which pump you use.