CALCIUM REACTOR? What do you use?

jdogg414 · Feb 3, 2016

What brand calcium reactor does everyone use and why? Ive seen some clog? some are better built ? dual chambers? what are you running and why? Im looking at the GEO CR624 but don't see one with dual chamber, Is that a huge deal to those of you that are running one? Thanks for reading, any info is appreciated

Tom Blevins · Feb 3, 2016

I use a 624 as well with a nextreef reactor MR-1 filed with 1/4 media to catch any extra C02 before dumping in my refugium.

Nice unit too!

tqui · Feb 3, 2016

I'm currently using GEO 618... I've used Geo 612 before and had used korallin as well...I'm very happy with the GEO.. never had any issue with them

jdogg414 · Feb 3, 2016

thanks for the responses, what do you do for ph monitoring?

tqui · Feb 4, 2016

aquaticlife co2 regulator.... best one would be carbon doser electronic co2 regulator

cb684 · Feb 4, 2016

I would say that independently of the reactor, what will really make easier to adjust your output is the use of an electronic CO2 regulator, and a good, reliable, peristaltic pump to feed the reactor.

E_Aquatics · Feb 4, 2016

I use a Geo618. So far in 6 months I haven't had any issues. This is my first reactor so I can help much as far as recommending a brand.

shayna123 · Feb 4, 2016

Following along...just about to ask that exact question myself.

Tom Blevins · Feb 4, 2016

I use the Plantronics co2 regulator & I just test the water coming out of the reactor and make sure I have 6.5 on the drip no ph monitor.

gcarroll · Feb 4, 2016

For me, I look for certain features in a CA RX.
1. Upflow (water pumps in from the bottom). I hate dealing with the mud that accumulates inside top flow reactors.
2. Reliable pump
3. No thumb screws

Looking at getting the Vertex next.

reef_ranch · Feb 4, 2016

DaStaCo. Expensive, but it is truly set and forget. No messing with bubble counters or ph or adjusting effluent flow. You set the input CO2 pressure, adjust the dial to set your desired alk level (this take a couple of days of adjustment) and you're done. I still check alk a few times a week to confirm that it is holding steady, but I haven't had a big swing since I hooked it up 2 years ago.

Markandy405 · Feb 4, 2016

acesq said:
DaStaCo. Expensive, but it is truly set and forget. No messing with bubble counters or ph or adjusting effluent flow. You set the input CO2 pressure, adjust the dial to set your desired alk level (this take a couple of days of adjustment) and you're done. I still check alk a few times a week to confirm that it is holding steady, but I haven't had a big swing since I hooked it up 2 years ago.

Is it the co controller you value? Could a co controller be added to any reactor that has a good regulator? It looks like they sell those separately. I'm having trouble finding info on what the controller actually does and how. The alarm features seem very nice. And not replacing a ph probe yearly would be nice too.

d2mini · Feb 4, 2016

I have a LifeReef CaRx with a custom built (ebay parts) dual stage regulator (much better than the AP Carbon Doser) and a Cole-Parmer peristaltic pump for an ultra consistent flow rate.

The reactor doesn't matter nearly as much as the reg and feed pump.
So just get a Geo reactor and then spend the extra money on the other two components.
I built the reg for around $350, easily worth more than $1k if new. And a used CP pump can be had for around $250 with head from ebay.
I went all stainless steel on the reg, even the burkert solenoid, but you certainly don't have to.
It's all so consistent, I don't even use a controller. I just monitor ph so at a quick glance I can make sure it's at the correct level to dissolve my media and not wavering.

Markandy405 · Feb 4, 2016

d2mini said:
I have a LifeReef CaRx with a custom built (ebay parts) dual stage regulator (much better than the AP Carbon Doser) and a Cole-Parmer peristaltic pump for an ultra consistent flow rate.

The reactor doesn't matter nearly as much as the reg and feed pump.
So just get a Geo reactor and then spend the extra money on the other two components.
I built the reg for around $350, easily worth more than $1k if new. And a used CP pump can be had for around $250 with head from ebay.
I went all stainless steel on the reg, even the burkert solenoid, but you certainly don't have to.
It's all so consistent, I don't even use a controller. I just monitor ph so at a quick glance I can make sure it's at the correct level to dissolve my media and not wavering.

Wow that is very cool. So the peristaltic pump is only pumping in to the reactor what you would want out of it. Very cool. Do you have a build thread for your co2 reg? Would love to learn more. Thank you for sharing.

reef_ranch · Feb 4, 2016

Markandy405 said:
Is it the co controller you value? Could a co controller be added to any reactor that has a good regulator? It looks like they sell those separately. I'm having trouble finding info on what the controller actually does and how. The alarm features seem very nice. And not replacing a ph probe yearly would be nice too.

The controller is the heart of the system. It works to turn on and off the peristaltic feed pump based on the alk setting dial while the float switch in the CO2 chamber turns on and off the CO2 solenoid to maintain the correct amount of CO2 in the unit. It does not require any ph measurement. On my 400 gal system, the peristaltic pump is on less than 20 minutes an hour.

It's important that the feed CO2 pressure is constant or an alarm will sound so a quality 2 stage regulator is required. Once you have constant pressure, the alarm only sounds when the CO2 tank is empty. DaStaCo sells a $100 regulator which I used for quite a while before I had a nice big shiny one built.

It doesn't work any better, but it sure looks purty.

d2mini · Feb 4, 2016

Markandy405 said:
Wow that is very cool. So the peristaltic pump is only pumping in to the reactor what you would want out of it. Very cool. Do you have a build thread for your co2 reg? Would love to learn more. Thank you for sharing.

I don't have a build thread for mine specifically but here is the thread I used to build mine. And the OP is very helpful in that thread.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461771

This is the other thread for the Cole-Parmer pumps.
Most everything you need to know is spelled out in the first few posts including links to various parts.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2368618&highlight=calcium+reactor

shayna123 · Feb 4, 2016

Just the kind of info I have been looking for! This is great...thanks all!

ReeferBee · Feb 4, 2016

I run a GEO 618
pH and regulator are monitored and controlled by apex

shayna123 · Feb 4, 2016

How do you know what to set the reactor at in the beginning. Is there a chart? If I know how much alk and calcium I'm dosing everyday is there some kind for table to reference . I understand how the calcium is to be introduced I think, thru the old coral bones right? But how is the alk created?

Oceansize · Feb 10, 2016

Same way. Alkalinity is a measure of the calcium carbonate in the water, which, like calcium, leeches from the media as the water becomes more acidic.

Generally, when using a calcium reactor, the calcium will increase more than the alkalinity, so if you're dialing in your reactor based on keeping alk stable, then your calcium will slowly rise above recommended levels. If you dial it in based on keeping Calcium stable, then your Alk may slowly get too low.

At least this is how Randy Holmes-Farley explained it, and I'm assuming the reason why he and others prefer two-part dosing to reactors. My reactor hasn't arrived yet so I don't know first-hand if this is true.

Those of you currently using Ca reactors, do you find this to be true? How do you compensate?