Calcium reactor secondary chamber

[P.kapp]

I have been looking for a used calcium reactor for a build I’m working on. The tank will be approximately 400 gal and SPS dominant. It seems like all the reactors I find are rated for smaller tank sizes. I have found a geos reef cr612 for sale, and I’m wondering if I add on a secondary chamber if that will bump the production to what I will be needing?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have been looking for a used calcium reactor for a build I’m working on. The tank will be approximately 400 gal and SPS dominant. It seems like all the reactors I find are rated for smaller tank sizes. I have found a geos reef cr612 for sale, and I’m wondering if I add on a secondary chamber if that will bump the production to what I will be needing?

It may or may not depending on your effluent and bubble count output

 

[Dolphins18]

If you have space the better option would be combining multiple reactors.
They can run separately.

 

[ca1ore]

If you mean running a secondary/scrub chamber in the traditional way then, no, it won’t make much difference. If you added a second chamber within the circulation pump circuit then, yes, it would make a substantial difference.

Have you checked out lifereef? I’d be surprised if Jeff doesn’t make a big one.

 

[P.kapp]

It may or may not depending on your effluent and bubble count output

Do you think I would use more Co2 trying to compensate for the two smaller reactors linked together? If the long term hassle and expense of refilling the bottle isn’t worth the money saved on a smaller unit, I would probably rather cry once and buy a bigger reactor... if I can find one ‍

 

[P.kapp]

If you mean running a secondary/scrub chamber in the traditional way then, no, it won’t make much difference. If you added a second chamber within the circulation pump circuit then, yes, it would make a substantial difference.

Have you checked out lifereef? I’d be surprised if Jeff doesn’t make a big one.

That’s kind of what I wasn’t certain of... If a 2nd chamber would simply act as a scrubber only, or if it can be linked and produce what would be needed as the tank matures.
I haven’t looked at lifereef much, but I will now! Thanks for the tip!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I have a lifereef. He assured me the regular size one would do me. Came with the small c02 tank. He also said i didnt need the ph probe but he sold me the probe holder i think it was too.
Im sure just like his skimmers u can add to it and make it taller to hold more media. Although i dont know enough about cal reactors and if that would really make it any better. Dont u just increase the drip or influent rate?
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I am under the understanding that the secondary chamber or reactor is just a mix area or an area for any residue to settle. Like kalk...
???
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Or a kalk stirrer

 

[rossco]

I had a geo 618 on my 75 gallon and before I upgraded to my 210 the 618 was unable to keep up with the acros in the 75. I actually had to dose along with it. I am running a 818 with a second chamber now, with a Kalk reactor, on my 210. Second chamber and Kalk are mainly there for pH.
I would recommend buy once cry once with the 818 if your goal is a large colony Acro dominated display.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you think I would use more Co2 trying to compensate for the two smaller reactors linked together? If the long term hassle and expense of refilling the bottle isn’t worth the money saved on a smaller unit, I would probably rather cry once and buy a bigger reactor... if I can find one ‍

Not much impact on CO2

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am under the understanding that the secondary chamber or reactor is just a mix area or an area for any residue to settle. Like kalk...
???
D

I have dual and utilize 2nd chamber for ca and mag

 

[JMetaxas]

My MTC Calcium Reactor has a 2nd chamber, but BRS did a video and I was surprised to see that 2nd chambers don't do nearly as much as I thought they would.

 

[Softhammer]

I run a secondary chamber and as the other said, it doesn’t do much. It burns through media at maybe 5% the rate of the main. If you were to somehow make a recirculating circuit for it though, it would be more effective. Been pondering that for a few years now but the exponential increase in the likelihood of leaks has stopped me. I make up for the shortfall with a cheap o Jebao doser. Adds redundancy and has been working great for about 4 years now. I planned on it being a throw away unit but it keeps on going!

 

[ca1ore]

That’s kind of what I wasn’t certain of... If a 2nd chamber would simply act as a scrubber only, or if it can be linked and produce what would be needed as the tank matures.

Like I said, depends on how you connect it. In most/all secondary chambers, only the effluent stream is passed through the second chamber, so it's not exposed to the circulated low pH water. In the time it takes for me to melt through 50 pounds of media in my main rubble chamber, the smaller secondary drops by about an inch. Not a major contributor.

 

[P.kapp]

I appreciate everyones insight! I’m curious what this chamber is and does? It looks like it is connected to your Cal Reactor, right?

 

[X-37B]

Most use the second chamber to help reduce excess co2 comming from the main chamber.
This helps keep the tanks ph in range.
If your carx is tuned correctly the second chambers level will not change very much.
A properly tuned carx will not need a second chamber.

 

[ca1ore]

I appreciate everyones insight! I’m curious what this chamber is and does? It looks like it is connected to your Cal Reactor, right?

It’s in the main circulation loop, filled with bio balls to assist in full dissolution of the CO2. Entirely unnecessary, but I was building it myself, had the spare chamber so what the heck.