Calcium reactor in the future?

[Flippers4pups]

As I'm planning the next six months on my tank reset, I contemplating adding a calcium reactor. Ive been seeing some unbelievable growth and colors coming from tanks using them.
I'm open to anyones input on what calcium reactor they would recommend for my size system. Also what media is best. The reset is to be SPS dominant.

180 gallon total water volume.

 

[Kyl]

So following this thread, eventually I plan on going down the CaRX path too and it seems like options are all over the place in terms of complexity.

 

[Flippers4pups]

So following this thread, eventually I plan on going down the CaRX path too and it seems like options are all over the place in terms of complexity.

pH controller looks like a right direction.

 

[Alfrareef]

IMO: With that kind of water volume and sps, the Calcium reactor its the wise option to choose. And I have no doubt about that...

 

[Flippers4pups]

Like to hear from the community their experiences with their calcium reactors.

 

[Sallstrom]

I haven't tried that many calcium reactors, but I've worked with Schuran, KZ and Deltecs (largest one). All of them have their good and bad sides.
Deltec is robust, and we run it with a pH controller, works great. A bit hard to clean because the top is not possible to take off, just a 50mm hole.
Schuran is great looking, all in acrylic. But I've cracked it just by tightening the screws at bit too hard.. And it has a couple of delicate parts that's easy to break. Ours doesn't have a place for a pH probe, so it's harder to set.
The KZ was too long ago to say anything about. Before I knew how to run a calcium reactor

IMO you should look for one with a pH-probe inlet/connection. And one which is easy to take apart and clean. And one with a common brand pump for internal circulation, so it's easy getting a replacement pump if needed.

We've used regular coral gravel as media. We also recycle, dead corals go into the reactor Working fine, but we do adjust many of the parameters after ICP tests with Triton Labs supplements.

And get a big one, it's boring to refill the media..

/ David

 

[Flippers4pups]

I haven't tried that many calcium reactors, but I've worked with Schuran, KZ and Deltecs (largest one). All of them have their good and bad sides.
Deltec is robust, and we run it with a pH controller, works great. A bit hard to clean because the top is not possible to take off, just a 50mm hole.
Schuran is great looking, all in acrylic. But I've cracked it just by tightening the screws at bit too hard.. And it has a couple of delicate parts that's easy to break. Ours doesn't have a place for a pH probe, so it's harder to set.
The KZ was too long ago to say anything about. Before I knew how to run a calcium reactor

IMO you should look for one with a pH-probe inlet/connection. And one which is easy to take apart and clean. And one with a common brand pump for internal circulation, so it's easy getting a replacement pump if needed.

We've used regular coral gravel as media. We also recycle, dead corals go into the reactor Working fine, but we do adjust many of the parameters after ICP tests with Triton Labs supplements.

And get a big one, it's boring to refill the media..

/ David

Does size matter then? I guess not as long as the effluent drip and bubble count match, right?

 

[bubbaque]

I use a reef octopus dual chamber calcium reactor. I've been happy with it so far and don't have any complaints. I feel the actual reactor itself doesn't matter too much and it all comes down to the regulator and feed pump. If either of those does not function well, you will have a tough time keeping it dialed in. I use a carbondoser regulator and a masterflex pump and it's rock solid. My ph controller doesn't even need to turn the co2 on and off as it stays at a steady ph always.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I use a reef octopus dual chamber calcium reactor. I've been happy with it so far and don't have any complaints. I feel the actual reactor itself doesn't matter too much and it all comes down to the regulator and feed pump. If either of those does not function well, you will have a tough time keeping it dialed in.

How do you determine the size of feed pump? Can one just run it off a manifold?

Dual chamber is for degassing, right?

 

[ca1ore]

Bought my first calcium reactor in 1997; been using it ever since. It’s a MTC PriCal. Don’t know that it was the first, but it was among the first. I’ve modded it significantly over the years, but the basic kit is rock solid. I use reborn in the primary chamber; ARM fine in the secondary. Master flex pump pulls effluent through and out.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Excellent responses so far! I know a little about them, hence the questions, but have never ran one. Just don't want to dose anymore or very little.

 

[ca1ore]

Does size matter then? I guess not as long as the effluent drip and bubble count match, right?

It does because if there isn’t enough media, pushing more CO2 and pulling more effluent means the carbonic acid doesn’t have enough time to dissolve the minerals.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It does because if there isn’t enough media, pushing more CO2 and pulling more effluent means the carbonic acid doesn’t have enough time to dissolve the minerals.

So larger the better? Do you think it could be ran off a manifold?

 

[bubbaque]

How do you determine the size of feed pump? Can one just run it off a manifold?

Dual chamber is for degassing, right?

I originally ran mine off the manifold but the flow does not stay as consistent you would expect it to. It seemed I would have to adjust the efflucent every 3-4 days. I knew that wouldn't work long term or if I went on vacation. I decided to buy the peristaltic pump and it has been rock steady. There is a new one on the market that is $250~, I think it's the kamore.

 

[Sallstrom]

Does size matter then. I guess not as long as the effluent drip and bubble count match, right?

In our case it did matter. The outlets were to small for the flow we needed through the reactor. Almost cracked it by too high pressure (strong dosing pump )
But if you get a reactor that's recommended for the size of your tank, it'll probably be okey. What I meant was changing media/refilling is a bit of a pain, might be hard to set the reactor again or might get cloudy in the tank. So a larger reactor means you don't have to touch it that often.

/ David

 

[Flippers4pups]

I originally ran mine off the manifold but the flow does not stay as consistent you would expect it to. It seemed I would have to adjust the efflucent every 3-4 days. I knew that wouldn't work long term or if I went on vacation. I decided to buy the peristaltic pump and it has been rock steady. There is a new one on the market that is $250~, I think it's the kamore.

I have a medical peristaltic pump, but it's old and doesn't run slow enough.

I've seen reactors just running off a small pump.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Have anyone of you dealt with low PH issues and run a cal reactor? How did you over come the low PH?

 

[Sallstrom]

I originally ran mine off the manifold but the flow does not stay as consistent you would expect it to. It seemed I would have to adjust the efflucent every 3-4 days. I knew that wouldn't work long term or if I went on vacation. I decided to buy the peristaltic pump and it has been rock steady. There is a new one on the market that is $250~, I think it's the kamore.

Agree on that! Forgot to write about pumps to feed the reactor. Get a good one, one you can adjust easily. We used Grotech 4200 before, okey but not great. We've now switched to membrane pumps, very loud but very reliable. Not something you want in your home though (I work at a public aquarium so noisy pumps are fine ).

/ David

 

[Ecvernon]

IMO I decide to use a calcium reactor dependent on the tank alkalinity consumption rate. Once my 150gallon plus 40 gallon sump reached greater than 1 DKH daily I made the switch.

 

[sghera64]

Have anyone of you dealt with low PH issues and run a cal reactor? How did you over come the low PH?

Yes. My effluent runs into my chaeto refugium. I also pull outside air into
My skimmer and pump/bubble outside air in my sump. pH remains about 8.0 to 8.2. I also add kalk at night.