media reactors wanted. confused!

Brian wea · Dec 18, 2015

so im new to this and want to add a media reactor. but its so confusing on what do do with all the gfos carbon and calcium reacors im unsure of which and what I would be looking for....

Jlobes · Dec 18, 2015

up to you what you want to run. Most folks tend to run GFO and carbon, in separate reactors. Im not versed in CA reactors, and personally would start dosing before getting a ca reactor.

what type of media do you want to run? whats you system like?

I run two Vertex Rx-u1.5 media reactors on my 120DT with 30 sump. I like them a bunch, as they are quality construction, easy to use, have a TUBV on the feed side, and come with everything, aside from tubing.

Andreww65 · Dec 18, 2015

BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) has some good quality reactors for media at a good price. Im running GFO and carbon in their dual reactor Works great.

PatW · Dec 19, 2015

Most reactors are just containers to hold the media: charcoal, GFO, or carbon. A calcium reactor is different. You put in essentially old coral rubble and make its chemicals soluble by leaching them with carbonic acid which you make with CO2 and H2O. The carbon dioxide is supplied from compressed gas canisters so you need regulators etc. Doing this is much more complex than just running water through charcoal.

Many people just mix up their calcium, alkalinity and magnesium from chemicals or buy the stuff premixed and dose it.