Calcium reactor items

[MSB123]

Perfect, then you’re on the right track. What reactor have you chosen to go with?

I found a precision marine CR422 for $250

 

[Water Dog]

This basic set up thread may help...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/calcium-reactors-and-related-equipment-part-1.418642/

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

I assume that you're using a Calcium reactor in preparation for the stony coral population you're going to have? Calcium reactors are like a car, once set up, you need to have very good control or a crash may occur. There really is two controls 1. amount of effluent going into the tank and 2. the alkalinity of the effluent. The amount going into the tank done by adjusting a needle valve or the better, more expensive way, is to have a Kamour peristaltic pump pulling effluent from the reactor and controlling ml/min into the sump. You still need a feed pump into the reactor for tank water. It must have a vent hole so the reactor doesn't over pressurize. The effluent alkalinity is controlled by regulating the PH in the calcium reactor chamber. To reduce the PH in the chamber, you would increase the CO2 bubble count and size. I use a Carbon Doser to regulate the bubble count and size. The carbon doser comes with both regulator and solenoid to control the bubble count without actually counting bubbles. Since the media dissolves at lower PH, the more Co2 the lower the PH and the higher the effluent alkalinity. Lastly, to control when the solenoid releases CO2 into the reactor, I use the apex PH probe and monitor the PH in the reactor. I use a medical grade probe and apex controller. The check valve is obviously used so salt water doesn't get to the Co2 regulator.

 

[wake122]

So I am new to the whole Calcium reactor world but I am in the process now of trying to learn and eventually set one up myself. Why is everyone saying to use a peristaltic dosing pump for the feed? Why would you not just use something like a mj1200? From what I have seen from all of the BRS videos and Marine Depot videos that's what they all seem to use.

 

[Water Dog]

While using a manifold or an MJ1200 / Sicce 0.5 will definitely work to feed a calcium reactor in conjunction with a PVC precision needle valve to dial in effluent rate, a big issue using that method is clogging. In a matter of a few days, depending on how one dials in their effluent rate, often times they have to readjust their effluent rate due to clogging at the needle valve.

A continuous duty variable speed peristaltic pump allows you to precisely dial in your effluent rate without any clogging issues for consistent and accurate flow rates.

That said, many have had success without a peristaltic pump by using the faster rate steady stream method and adjusting their pH at a higher level, based upon their consumption. The faster steady stream method helps avoid clogging issues.

 

[MARK M. DAVIS]

Clogging is a big issue for large, high consumption, sps dominant tanks. Even with high flow rates, consistency of effluent rate is an issue. Also, incremental adjustments to effluent rate is difficult, at best, with a needle valve versus a peristaltic. Pricing of peristaltic pumps have dropped to affordable.

 

[wake122]

So if I am understanding this correctly the greater demand from the Cal reactor the greater the chance of it getting clogged correct?

 

[ca1ore]

So, as others have noted, you are going to need a CO2 regulator assembly and some way to feed water through the unit (in addition to the circulation pump). While the carbon doser regulator is the fashionable choice these days it seems, it's expensive and not really necessary. I've been using the Milwaukee regulator for 15 years reliably, and its $85 rather than $350 (both sold on aquariumplants.com). You can certainly live with feeding the unit with a small powerhead, or as a divert from your main pump, but clogging can become an issue (though you can mitigate this somewhat by having the needle valve on the output of the unit rather than the input). That is why most veteran CaRx users run some form of continuous duty peristaltic pump. Masterflex is probably the most common, but there are others as well. They are relatively easily found on ebay.

 

[Water Dog]

So if I am understanding this correctly the greater demand from the Cal reactor the greater the chance of it getting clogged correct?

I wouldn’t characterize it as a direct correlation. I’d rather keep it simple and say that adjusting with a needle or pinch valve will often lead to inconsistent effluent rates because of clogging issues which will then require readjustment of the needle/pinch valve after a few days.

 

[lapin]

Im one that uses my manifold for feed and 2 pinch blocks for controlling the effluent drip rate. It works for me. Drip rate for me is a fast drip just short of a stream. The first block is about 2 feet before the last one. I think by using 2, they dont have to be closed as much. I dont see much of a clog issue. I do have to adjust (clean) it about every 2 months. This requires I open up the final block and let any clog escape. I know when its time because I see a drop in Ph in the reactor.
I use a smith dual gauge for tank control, a solenoid for emergency shut off if Ph gets too low and a glass bubble counter filled with glycerin. Screws right on to the solenoid. Its smaller that the one that came on my Geo reactor. It shows about 1 bubble per second while the Geo shows 1 per 5 seconds.
I would use a masterflex , however I'm on a fixed income and this hobby is not easy on the bank acct.