Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
Guys, I'm setting up a MRC CCR 818 reactor and I need some advice on how to feed it. I am using the apex DOS pump. Will a mag 2 put to much pressure on the pump? what would use use to feed it?
Calcium Reactor Setup with apex DOS
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Breadman03
Valuable Member
I have the feed and effluent lines for my Geo 618 teed into my return line and use my DOS to feed water through it. Basically, my return surely pressurizes the whole thing, but the pressure is balanced on both sides of the DOS and I can't truly say how much pressure it can handle, but since the DOS can handle some pretty decent head pressure, I don't think you'll have an issue.
Mag 2 is fine, but that is a lot of wattage for that. Get a MaxiJet 900 or 1200, QuietOne 1200 or even a mainline T.
No idea if the Dos is capable of continuous duty, but if it is, then that will work.
CaRx has very little back pressure if you don't use a pinch or valve on the effluent, so don't worry about that.
No idea if the Dos is capable of continuous duty, but if it is, then that will work.
CaRx has very little back pressure if you don't use a pinch or valve on the effluent, so don't worry about that.
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
Yea I am just using what I have in the stash, i will downgrade the pump once I have it all figured out. I was going to have the DOS push water through but like you I’m not sure of the duty cycle.
Thanks!
Breadman03
Valuable Member
The DOS can't run continuously, but runs in cycles throughout the "dosing" period. I forget the ratio, but I think it's on for 1/3 of the time and rests for 2/3. My tank is very low demand at the moment and the fine controllability of the DOS is a great asset for tuning the reactor, though I don't think that it would be a benefit on a tank with greater demand. The DOS would function to feed the reactor and you won't need another pump, so that Mag 2 would only be serving to pressurize the reactor if the DOS was installed on the effluent line, serving the same role as a needle valve.
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
I did !
I set my ph to 6.4 off 6.6 on in the reactor
I use the DOS to pull water through the reactor vs a feed pump
Set up the DOS to keep my levels stable. Currently I’m dosing 1500 ml per day.
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
I did !
I set my ph to 6.4 off 6.6 on in the reactor
I use the DOS to pull water through the reactor vs a feed pump
Set up the DOS to keep my levels stable. Currently I’m dosing 1500 ml per day.
That’s terrific. Thank you for responding and for the info. Could you please give me a little more info on how you programmed the DOS? Is it running on-off cycles throughout the day? Thank you!
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
I just used the Tasks in the apex fusion interface. It was super easy. It’s running even intervals through out the day.
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Oh awesome- i didn't even realize there was a task for that. Great!.
I see you're also dosing Kalk. How much do you dose and how big is your tank?
Is your Ca and Mg always that high on you Trident?
Last thing (not trying to be a know-it-all)- I think you left an "r" our of your user name accidentally... you may be broke, but not that broke... you can afford the r lol
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
Hahaha I guess I did !
My calcium alk and mag all stay steady at the numbers on my screenshot. I also run magnesium media in my calcium reactor. I dose 15,000 ml of CArX effluent , and 10,000 ml of my Kalk effluent. The display is 200 gallons with a total system volume of 350 gallons if you include my frag tray and sump.
Wow! Just saw your build thread. Awesome! We have similar equipment and approaches but I’ve only been in the hobby a little over a year and my total volume is only 140gal. If you’re dosing that much and the tanks only been up since October i can’t even imagine what you’re growing in there. Thanks for your help and advice!
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
Thank you ! It’s full of coral
and some algae at the moment >.<I started 100 ml per day of both and increased it as things started to deplete in 10% intervals.
Hope that you’ll indulge me for one more question- picked up the Ca reactor and about to set up with DOS pulling from it as you have yours. My question- will the negative pressure from the DOS pulling water out be sufficient to draw fresh water into the reactor? Or do I need an additional pump (essentially a third pump) to feed the reactor? Thanks againThank you ! It’s full of coral
I started 100 ml per day of both and increased it as things started to deplete in 10% intervals.
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
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Brokecoloadoreefer
Community Member
I used a feed pump to get the process started but for months it’s been running with the DOS doing all the work. When I first hooked it up I couldn’t get it to flow. But that could have been that I was impatient.
