Calcium reactor media... gravel??

sticksreef · Jul 28, 2020

Hey everyone!
Wanting to see whats the public opinion on a calcium reactor media that is a aquarium gravel? Someone mentioned it and its also on youtube used by Rico. What you guys think for your sps systems?
Thank you all!

jwshiver · Jul 28, 2020

Calcium reactors will accumulate a lot of detritus over time. I would be concerned with that small of particle size that it would compact and not have could flow through it.

GlassMunky · Jul 28, 2020

I used crushed coral in my calcium reactor for years.
the only issue I see with that stuff is the particle size is already so small that when it starts breaking down it’ll just turn to mush immediately and clog the lines.

TX_Punisher · Jul 28, 2020

I use fla crushed in my second chamber, as do many, and have had no issues. It does deplete faster than ARM, tho so it will need topoffs more often.

stephj03 · Jul 29, 2020

Search amazon for "middle keys crushed coral gravel".

Might be a better option vs the bag pictured.

sticksreef · Jul 29, 2020

Thank you all for your recommendations! I was worrying since this are not specified for calcium reactors, and not specify to contains trace elements or not.

jda · Jul 30, 2020

Aragonite is aragonite. If you reactor is reverse flow, then the stuff will work well. If not, then it can get compacted as it melts and the flow will slow down and you will need to service the reactor more often. This is why reactors are reverse flow, for those of you who were not around when this is the only type of media that we had. There is a lot more surface area here and this stuff melts easier than the larger media, so check your tune and output once you put some into service.

Robinson · Jul 30, 2020

There is another thread here about some of us using the Middle keys crushed coral that you can find on Amazon.

This is how it looks after you remove the shells and some rocks.

Basically I would say is 90% coral skeletons so it should work fine. I still need to install the reactor, but others have been reporting that is working good.

TX_Punisher · Jul 30, 2020

jda said:
Aragonite is aragonite. If you reactor is reverse flow, then the stuff will work well. If not, then it can get compacted as it melts and the flow will slow down and you will need to service the reactor more often. This is why reactors are reverse flow, for those of you who were not around when this is the only type of media that we had. There is a lot more surface area here and this stuff melts easier than the larger media, so check your tune and output once you put some into service.

This makes sense now. I started running fla crushed Coral in my second chamber recently and it sure depletes quickly. In comparison, my ARM course has been in there 2 mos and hasn’t shrank or decreased in size one bit!

Robinson said:
There is another thread here about some of us using the Middle keys crushed coral that you can find on Amazon.

This is how it looks after you remove the shells and some rocks.

Basically I would say is 90% coral skeletons so it should work fine. I still need to install the reactor, but others have been reporting that is working good.

Gee, that sure looks like reborn!

sticksreef · Aug 1, 2020

Back in this topic since im still researching. What about trace elements on these aragonite gravels? @jda what media are you running if you dont mind sharing

.
@Robinson I will look into that since im looking to change the aragonite purely because of the trace.

i have no problems with alk, calc and mag. Just thinking about the trace elements.