Calcium reactor items

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I am buying a calcium reactor, and I need help with what I need.
I am getting:
reactor, check valve, bubble counter, eheim circulator pump and all necessary tubing
I have a 5lb co2 tank. What else do I need?
 
I'm running a vertex reactor, kamoer FX-STP feed pump, carbondoser regulator and a pH probe from my apex
 
Calc reactor
Media
co2 tank (filled)
co2 reactor
ph probe
apex or some other controller
power control hooked up to apex
pump to feed effluent (circulation pump usually already included with calc reactor)
Some method of accurate dosing in mL/minute (people usually use medical dosing pumps although I have a question about that I'm about to post)
 
you are missing ph probe and some type of controller. Go for the reactor which has a ph probe holder. You need controller to turn off CO2 if ph becomes too low otherwise the whole media will melt and become mush. And get the media Argonite)
 
What else do I need?

Outside of my list, you dont NEED anything else. Things that might be nice to have:

co2 safety harness to affix to a wall or something. This keeps the co2 tank from getting potentially knocked over.
Extra tubing to route however you want.
Extra 1/4 inch fixtures, right angle, etc
Any kind of sump tube holder etc
Teflon tape
co2 air quality monitor. co2 is heavier than air. If you have a dog and a co2 leak they'll have problems before you. Set it up, and set it low. If it gets above 1500ppm keep an eye on it. 2000ppm is where things can start to become a problem

Really thats it. But I just listed well over $1500 of equipment all in. So...
 
Outside of my list, you dont NEED anything else. Things that might be nice to have:

co2 safety harness to affix to a wall or something. This keeps the co2 tank from getting potentially knocked over.
Extra tubing to route however you want.
Extra 1/4 inch fixtures, right angle, etc
Any kind of sump tube holder etc
Teflon tape
co2 air quality monitor. co2 is heavier than air. If you have a dog and a co2 leak they'll have problems before you. Set it up, and set it low. If it gets above 1500ppm keep an eye on it. 2000ppm is where things can start to become a problem

Really thats it. But I just listed well over $1500 of equipment all in. So...
Do I need a regulator?
I have an apex with an extra ph probe.
 
They make that? If so, where can I get one?

A co2 regulator is not what you think it is. A regulator takes the co2 from "high pressure" and steps it down to low pressure for release. No matter what, you NEED a regulator. It has nothing to do with PH.

You don't necessarily need this. In the power port configuration they have a "PH" option. What this does is it turns on/off the electronic co2 regulator via the power outlet. So just plug the electronic co2 regulator into your power bar, and configure that power bar plugin port to turn off if the PH is lower than 6.5, and turn on if its above 6.5

I have already listed anything and everything you could ever possibly need. There is nothing more.

Here:


Calc reactor
Media
co2 tank (filled)
co2 **regulator** (typo, not reactor)
ph probe
apex or some other controller
power control hooked up to apex
pump to feed effluent (circulation pump usually already included with calc reactor)
Some method of accurate dosing in mL/minute (people usually use medical dosing pumps although I have a question about that I'm about to post)
 
A co2 regulator is not what you think it is. A regulator takes the co2 from "high pressure" and steps it down to low pressure for release. No matter what, you NEED a regulator. It has nothing to do with PH.

You don't necessarily need this. In the power port configuration they have a "PH" option. What this does is it turns on/off the electronic co2 regulator via the power outlet. So just plug the electronic co2 regulator into your power bar, and configure that power bar plugin port to turn off if the PH is lower than 6.5, and turn on if its above 6.5

I have already listed anything and everything you could ever possibly need. There is nothing more.
Ok.
What should I use for a ml/m doser?
 
Honestly I am saying this with the kindest intent of helping you be successful in setting up a calcium reactor, but from your questions it seems like you should do a lot more reading and research on how calcium reactors and the supporting equipment function.

My one piece of advice on setting up a relatively frustration free calcium reactor is to put a 10" Reverse Osmosis Canister with 1⁄4" Ports and a 25 micron pleated cartridge in line after the reactor output and before the needle valve that controls your drip rate. This will help maintain a steady drip rate by keeping your needle valve clog free for much longer periods of time.
 
Honestly I am saying this with the kindest intent of helping you be successful in setting up a calcium reactor, but from your questions it seems like you should do a lot more reading and research on how calcium reactors and the supporting equipment function.

My one piece of advice on setting up a relatively frustration free calcium reactor is to put a 10" Reverse Osmosis Canister with 1⁄4" Ports and a 25 micron pleated cartridge in line after the reactor output and before the needle valve that controls your drip rate. This will help maintain a steady drip rate by keeping your needle valve clog free for much longer periods of time.
I know.
I am having someone else set this up and teach me how it works, but he is backpacking without service and so I need to order everything.
 
Secondcitycorals is steering you in the right direction, with good information.

My question though, what are you planning to use as a controller for the reactor? If you have an Apex already, the best method would be to purchase a PM1 module and PH probe for the reactor. Make sure to get the low range calibration fluid, and not the high range. If you do not have an Apex, Milwaukee makes a standalone controller that works well. Both of these systems will be able to control a electronic regulator if the ph goes out of range.

Now for a regulator, hands-down I would not get anything besides a carbon doser. I have had many different regulators over the years, and the carbon doser has been hands down, the best. Worth every penny, IMO.

Your reactor should come with a circulation pump, depending on what model you purchase. But they don’t typically come with a feed pump. There are many different feed pumps to choose from, but I would recommend a continuous duty pump like the Kamoer FX-STP Peristaltic Dosing Pump.

Next would be choosing your choice of media. A lot of people use ARM, but it’s just overpriced and repackaged dead coral skeleton. You can buy the same exact stuff in large bulk bags.

In addition to the media, I would also recommend using some type of magnesium media. I personally use zeovits, “zeomag”.


Other than this, you should be good to go. Depending on where you are placing your reactor, you might need some longer tubing.
 
A regulator that can be operated by your apex.


Technically any electronic regulator could be used off an Apex. I used a carbon doser with mine. If the ph drops too much, my apex is programmed to turn off the outlet that the carbon doser is plugged into.
 
Secondcitycorals is steering you in the right direction, with good information.

My question though, what are you planning to use as a controller for the reactor? If you have an Apex already, the best method would be to purchase a PM1 module and PH probe for the reactor. Make sure to get the low range calibration fluid, and not the high range. If you do not have an Apex, Milwaukee makes a standalone controller that works well. Both of these systems will be able to control a electronic regulator if the ph goes out of range.

Now for a regulator, hands-down I would not get anything besides a carbon doser. I have had many different regulators over the years, and the carbon doser has been hands down, the best. Worth every penny, IMO.

Your reactor should come with a circulation pump, depending on what model you purchase. But they don’t typically come with a feed pump. There are many different feed pumps to choose from, but I would recommend a continuous duty pump like the Kamoer FX-STP Peristaltic Dosing Pump.

Next would be choosing your choice of media. A lot of people use ARM, but it’s just overpriced and repackaged dead coral skeleton. You can buy the same exact stuff in large bulk bags.

In addition to the media, I would also recommend using some type of magnesium media. I personally use zeovits, “zeomag”.


Other than this, you should be good to go. Depending on where you are placing your reactor, you might need some longer tubing.
I have an apex 2016 with a separate pm1 and new double junction ph probe with the low range calibration fluid.
 

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