Calcium reactor
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revhtree
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Does it have a manufacturer name on it?
reeftard
New Member
It has two decently sized pumps on it, I would assume it can handle a decent load. For $50 (that's what the sticker looks like it says), it's a total win in my book, as long as the pumps work. Just chuck the media and buy fresh.
deadmeat
New Member
I would definately look into reviews on the reactor unless you are buying it for the pumps. Some reactors are easy to tune/dial-in while others will drift out to often (constant headache). If you are trying to decrease maintenance by adding a reactor insure it will not create more work.
For instance if dosing calcium uses 5min of your time each day (35min weekly), will this reactor use less? (keeping it tuned may take an hour per week, who knows). Plus there is minor savings when running a calcium reactor if your system is small and you do frequent water changes (with high end salt) vs. dosing. I mention reliability because if you are away from home for 8hrs and this thing runs CaCO3 (Alk) up to 13dkh its no longer a winning situation.
Tom
For instance if dosing calcium uses 5min of your time each day (35min weekly), will this reactor use less? (keeping it tuned may take an hour per week, who knows). Plus there is minor savings when running a calcium reactor if your system is small and you do frequent water changes (with high end salt) vs. dosing. I mention reliability because if you are away from home for 8hrs and this thing runs CaCO3 (Alk) up to 13dkh its no longer a winning situation.
Tom
Otter_rs
Well-Known Member
Calcium reactors are pretty simple devices. If you know how to work on them, they are a godsend! $50 is a steal for any calcium reactor, but that is not where the cost will most likely end. Does it come with a CO2 bottle and regulator? Is there an insert to add a pH probe? If you want it to be "set it and forget it" you will need a controller and electronic solenoid. There are many dangers to calcium reactors if you don't know how to use them properly, or if it is oversized for the aquarium. And then there is the second chamber that spazdad mentioned, which you can buy separately, that raises the pH of the effluent water so it doesn't drop the pH of your tank. I say buy it and study up on them. That way when you are ready to take that leap it's already there.
tresguey
Community Member
I didn't see a manufacture name on it, but I really didn't look. I doubt it comes with a CO@ bottle and reg. But that is no big deal I have a couple sitting around from my home brew equipment.
tresguey
Community Member
[FONT="]My current tank is a 37 no sump. Just picked up a 55 and will build a sump / refugium for it. In the next year I want to either upgrade or build another that will be 80-90 with sump/refugium.[/FONT]
Otter_rs
Well-Known Member
I would say that you are better off using chemical addatives until you upgrade to a bigger system, but if you are already planning one, then put the calcium reactor into those plans. That is unless you only plan on keeping soft corals, then it may not be worth it.
