Is calcium reactor worth the buck?

[akaimal]

Let 650g system get 11liters saturated kakwasser a day. Then 140 ml of brs soda ash solution. The rest o the demand is met by a tunze automat calium reactor during daytime when alk demand peaks. I am able to maintain alk sharp at 8.4 and ph between 8.05 and 8.33. Calcium reactor has a second chamber. Eve with that, you can expect a .1 drop in Ph.

 

[Borat]

Let 650g system get 11liters saturated kakwasser a day. Then 140 ml of brs soda ash solution. The rest o the demand is met by a tunze automat calium reactor during daytime when alk demand peaks. I am able to maintain alk sharp at 8.4 and ph between 8.05 and 8.33. Calcium reactor has a second chamber. Eve with that, you can expect a .1 drop in Ph.

-0.1 easily, -0.2 in my case..

 

[jda]

Mine barely moves like about .01 or .02 with the CaRx. You can barely tell that the CaRx is on the tank. However, I have an efficient tune and do not use wasteful methods like a pH controller or the like.

 

[akaimal]

-0.1 easily, -0.2 in my case..

I also feed the skimmer fresh air from a hole in the wall.

 

[Borat]

I also feed the skimmer fresh air Gras hole in the wall.

well - i dont have a skimmer, this is a bigger problem for me as compared to others.

 

[FishTruck]

i dont use any filter but then its peristaltic pump driven with very small flow (7ml/min)
Isnt the prefilter itself is the most at risk from blocking the flow?

Somehow, I am an expert at clogging 1/4 inch tubing and even peristaltic pump tubing. My system is also spread out over a big basement equipment room with probably longer runs of tubing at horizontal angles which certainly makes me more prone to these issues compared to the average under tank sump setup. Also, since my systems are in the 1500 gallon range, I am probably pushing more crud by virtue of more saltwater through said tubing. But, still, the fuel filters are nice because you can see right away when and where the clogs happen.

 

[jmichaelh7]

This is the reason I made my modified Skimz reactor, running a Tunze pump, reverse flow.

I have crushed coral on hand and I have ARM coming in on Thursday. I want to start the calcium reactor . Can I start with crushed coral and then switch to ARM Thursday? Is there any difference ??

 

[X-37B]

I have crushed coral on hand and I have ARM coming in on Thursday. I want to start the calcium reactor . Can I start with crushed coral and then switch to ARM Thursday? Is there any difference ??

You could but I would run 1 or the other.

 

[jmichaelh7]

You could but I would run 1 or the other.

What’s the downside I read that crushed coral raises phosphates

 

[X-37B]

What’s the downside I read that crushed coral raises phosphates

I read that awhile ago but I checked my effuent and it was only.03 higher than the tank so it does. I try and remove all shells which helps.
ARM is manmade aragonite with elevated elements.
2 days running with coral then switching is more work than I want to do.

 

[jmichaelh7]

I read that awhile ago but I checked my effuent and it was only.03 higher than the tank so it does. I try and remove all shells which helps.
ARM is manmade aragonite with elevated elements.
2 days running with coral then switching is more work than I want to do.

So you think the only difference is, is a few decimal points in phosphates? What about trace elements does crushed coral offer the same as aragonite ?

 

[X-37B]

So you think the only difference is, is a few decimal points in phosphates? What about trace elements does crushed coral offer the same as aragonite ?

Coral bones may supply some but most likely not in the amount needed.
I just dose trace elements and use my carx to keep Alk and Ca stable.
This gives me control of my system.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Coral bones may supply some but most likely not in the amount needed.
I just dose trace elements and use my carx to keep Alk and Ca stable.
This gives me control of my system.

Do you use crushed coral right now?

 

[X-37B]

Do you use crushed coral right now?

Yes. I used to run manmade and got a deal on 100lbs of coral bones. When I switched reactors from Tunze 3171 to my current modified Skimz media reactor I made the switch.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Yes. I used to run manmade and got a deal on 100lbs of coral bones. When I switched reactors from Tunze 3171 to my current modified Skimz media reactor I made the switch.

I thought about it and I don’t have reverse flow calcium reactor. I figure I would wait 2 more days.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Is yours reverse flow

 

[X-37B]

Is yours reverse flow

Yes. When I converted the Skimz to a carx I did it for that reason.
Almost everyone I know does not run reverse flow with bones and no issues unless they run to low of a ph.

 

[jmichaelh7]

So how long to fully dial In

 

[GarrettT]

Found it. 1/2” male thread x 1/4” push

Im really excited to get the carx up and running this week.

I don’t think the Sicce 0.5 will allow for this type of adapter. It’s design is different from the others.

 

[jmichaelh7]

I don’t think the Sicce 0.5 will allow for this type of adapter. It’s design is different from the others.

What did you do? I had to order a custom female npt on Amazon