Opinions on a new toy

[Shawn_epicurious]

I spent the first few months of my return to this hobby do the work to set up a nice tank, but not really knowing which direction I would end up going.... I spent the next three months getting it going, cycling... building up a good bioload. Getting things ... working. (My tank has been going for 4 months now)

Now I know the direction I want to go. SPS dominant. Some clams... so, I’ve been refining my equipment while my tank matures. Trident systems and reagents are impossible to get right now. I have a good controller now and am installing it it this weekend (lol look for more questions) The dosing system I want... yeah, always out of stock too : ( so, I changed my plan. To something I can get right now.

I just bought a 150g to 250g calcium reactor starter bungle... an Octopus.

good idea or bad idea?

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[naterealbig]

Lol too late now.

I'd be interested in seeing how the tunze regulator/solenoid/needle valve combo performs.....

I am almost certain you will have challenges with your feed pump being consistent. The consistency of the feed rate is very important if you are using a pH controller.

I would highly recommend replacing the centrifugal feed pump with a quality peristaltic pump, rated for continuous duty. The Kamoer brand I think is decent, or you can find Cole Parmer pumps used, at reasonable prices.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Lol too late now.

I'd be interested in seeing how the tunze regulator/solenoid/needle valve combo performs.....

I am almost certain you will have challenges with your feed pump being consistent. The consistency of the feed rate is very important if you are using a pH controller.

I would highly recommend replacing the centrifugal feed pump with a quality peristaltic pump, rated for continuous duty. The Kamoer brand I think is decent, or you can find Cole Parmer pumps used, at reasonable prices.

Interesting... you don’t like the pump. I wasn’t expecting that... it makes sense. I was more hesitant about the size of the CO2 bottle.

 

[homer1475]

I think I would skip the CO2 bottle. I can never get them filled, and there was just a thread about not being able to get it filled.

Most places just want you to exchange them. Even BRS says not to buy one.

 

[homer1475]

Also without starting with 2 part and a doser, have fun fiddling with that constantly to get it to where you need it to be.

While a calcium reactor works great, they typically don't work very well when the demand is very low to start with.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Also without starting with 2 part and a doser, have fun fiddling with that constantly to get it to where you need it to be.

While a calcium reactor works great, they typically don't work very well when the demand is very low to start with.

Okay so... you don’t like this thing at all : ( I can’t get the dosing system I want right now... trust me, I have been trying... the reality is, it’s going to be getting used very little at first... if at all. My calcium levels with a tank full of softies is already staying at the right range. And I was going to run it with my Neptune.

I think the reason why I asked this question is that it was sort of a frustration purchase. Nothing is available online right now. I guess I was actually trying to find out if I should just sent it back unopened.

 

[naterealbig]

I think I would skip the CO2 bottle. I can never get them filled, and there was just a thread about not being able to get it filled.

Most places just want you to exchange them. Even BRS says not to buy one.

You are right, but it's like propane cylinders. You have to buy one first. You can't just go to a place empty handed, and walk away with a full cylinder for the price of a refill. You must purchase a cylinder somewhere - why wouldn't you want to get it as part of a package? Have you run a calcium reactor on a setup before?

 

[naterealbig]

Also without starting with 2 part and a doser, have fun fiddling with that constantly to get it to where you need it to be.

That's not true at all. What is the difference between a 2-part doser, Kalkwasser, or dosing 2 part by hand? I did Kalk and 2-part by hand before installing my calcium reactor. Dosing 2-part has no bearing what-so-ever on how your calcium reactor performs, or the alk/calcium demand of your system.

While a calcium reactor works great, they typically don't work very well when the demand is very low to start with.

LOL again - not true at all. A calcium react works great regardless of the demand of your system. Sure - if you want to have a debate about startup costs, or economy on a smaller system, then fine. But the efficacy of a calcium reactor is just the same for a small system, as it is a large. Assuming your effluent flow rate is constant (the reason behind recommending a quality peristaltic pump), then your alkalinity and calcium levels in the reactor effluent are proportional to the CO2 gas dissolved (or in laymans terms - your bubble count). In this particular case, the CO2 addition rate (though, while I prefer other methods) will be controlled by the Tunze needle valve on the regulator, and then regulated by the pH controller. (That's why people use pH controllers - it makes up for the fact that it is hard to fine-tune a single stage regulator w/ a high flow needle valve).

The long story short is: this setup should be fine. The biggest problem you will have to overcome with this particular kit, is that the small line that is pumping water to and from your calcium reactor to your system (the one connected to the Sicce feed pump), is that is will become fouled over time by bacteria, mulm, algae, and critters. Because the pump you are using is not rated for the constant, slow, relatively high pressure required to keep the flow constant - it will not. You will find your self, fiddling with the valve used to control the effluent flow rate often, with the exception of running a very high effluent flow rate (we are talking gal/hr here). And, the fiddling is what you are trying to get away from by automating your supplementation. You can give the Sicce a go, but a constant effluent flow rate is important. I think you would be well-served by sourcing a quality peristaltic pump.

Reach out if you need help with the setup - I'm happy to help.

Nathan

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

You are right, but it's like propane cylinders. You have to buy one first. You can't just go to a place empty handed, and walk away with a full cylinder for the price of a refill. You must purchase a cylinder somewhere - why wouldn't you want to get it as part of a package? Have you run a calcium reactor on a setup before?

Actually... I have this issue defeated by lucky geography. I just happen to have an Airgas depot right around the corner from my house. I have a CO2 bottle in my bar... beer on tap. I have never had a problem swapping bottles before.

I have not run a calcium reactor before... setup or otherwise. This is a first for me.

 

[naterealbig]

Okay so... you don’t like this thing at all : ( I can’t get the dosing system I want right now... trust me, I have been trying... the reality is, it’s going to be getting used very little at first... if at all. My calcium levels with a tank full of softies is already staying at the right range. And I was going to run it with my Neptune.

I think the reason why I asked this question is that it was sort of a frustration purchase. Nothing is available online right now. I guess I was actually trying to find out if I should just sent it back unopened.

This is an option, and, a dosing pump system will serve you just as well (or maybe better) as a calcium reactor for your purpose. The calcium reactor setups are incredibly expensive, if you buy quality equipment. My setup was about $1400 - but - it is absolutely bullet proof. It will last about 20 years before I need to replace any component with the exception of the circulation pump (maybe), and the peristaltic pump tubing, and I don't need a controller to run it - so, just one less point of failure.

If you want to stick with the calcium reactor setup, I can walk you through it. If you prefer to go the dosing pump route, just return it to BRS without opening the box .

 

[homer1475]

Why would you buy a brand new empty cylinder to just have it exchanged(exchanged cylinder won't be all shiny and new)? Best bet is to buy a full cylinder, and then exchange it when it's empty.

And Yes many years ago I ran one. Just posting my experience with one. Yours is obviously different. My current system does just fine with 2 part.

 

[naterealbig]

Actually... I have this issue defeated by lucky geography. I just happen to have an Airgas depot right around the corner from my house. I have a CO2 bottle in my bar... beer on tap. I have never had a problem swapping bottles before.

I have not run a calcium reactor before... setup or otherwise. This is a first for me.

Ah! I understand now. I didn't realize you already had the cylinder. And, the questions about running a reactor before was really for homer - not you. Sorry

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

That's not true at all. What is the difference between a 2-part doser, Kalkwasser, or dosing 2 part by hand? I did Kalk and 2-part by hand before installing my calcium reactor. Dosing 2-part has no bearing what-so-ever on how your calcium reactor performs, or the alk/calcium demand of your system.



LOL again - not true at all. A calcium react works great regardless of the demand of your system. Sure - if you want to have a debate about startup costs, or economy on a smaller system, then fine. But the efficacy of a calcium reactor is just the same for a small system, as it is a large. Assuming your effluent flow rate is constant (the reason behind recommending a quality peristaltic pump), then your alkalinity and calcium levels in the reactor effluent are proportional to the CO2 gas dissolved (or in laymans terms - your bubble count). In this particular case, the CO2 addition rate (though, while I prefer other methods) will be controlled by the Tunze needle valve on the regulator, and then regulated by the pH controller. (That's why people use pH controllers - it makes up for the fact that it is hard to fine-tune a single stage regulator w/ a high flow needle valve).

The long story short is: this setup should be fine. The biggest problem you will have to overcome with this particular kit, is that the small line that is pumping water to and from your calcium reactor to your system (the one connected to the Sicce feed pump), is that is will become fouled over time by bacteria, mulm, algae, and critters. Because the pump you are using is not rated for the constant, slow, relatively high pressure required to keep the flow constant - it will not. You will find your self, fiddling with the valve used to control the effluent flow rate often, with the exception of running a very high effluent flow rate (we are talking gal/hr here). And, the fiddling is what you are trying to get away from by automating your supplementation. You can give the Sicce a go, but a constant effluent flow rate is important. I think you would be well-served by sourcing a quality peristaltic pump.

Reach out if you need help with the setup - I'm happy to help.

Nathan

You rock Nathan! I’ll do that. I don’t mind if I need a better pump. I can pick that up at my LFS.

 

[naterealbig]

Why would you buy a brand new empty cylinder to just have it exchanged(exchanged cylinder won't be all shiny and new)? Best bet is to buy a full cylinder, and then exchange it when it's empty.

And Yes many years ago I ran one. Just posting my experience with one. Yours is obviously different. My current system does just fine with 2 part.

Sorry - I see your point. When I made the purchase for my cyclinder from AirGas initially, I recall them charging me about $70 + refill for the 10lb cyclinder. If the cost up front is more to purchase separately, then definitely it would be silly to come out of pocket more for the shiny new one.

I also agree that dosing pumps are great options. Just like a calcium reactor (or any other piece of life-support gear) though - you have to purchase quality components if you want reliability.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Ah! I understand now. I didn't realize you already had the cylinder. And, the questions about running a reactor before was really for homer - not you. Sorry

No worries... I pick up on the side-bar : )

 

[homer1475]

Since I haven't run one in years, I just called up my local airgas.

For a 5 pound cylinder filled is 45$ without exchange. To exchange a cylinder it's $20. new cylinder on BRS is 70$.

Of course prices are different around the country, I just can't see buying a shiny new cylinder only to have it exchanged for 25$ more.

 

[X-37B]

I think I would skip the CO2 bottle. I can never get them filled, and there was just a thread about not being able to get it filled.

Most places just want you to exchange them. Even BRS says not to buy one.

You buy one then just exchage for a filled one.
That way you always are running a tank that has been certified. $30 to exchange for a 10lb im my area.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Skip the CO2 bottle? If there is no CO2, then there is no reaction.... I’d just be running water across the media. Right?

 

[X-37B]

Many ways to run a carx.
I started my 120 with 2 part and 6 months in fired up my carx. Could have done it from start just as easily.
I run no controller or ph meter.
Co2 runs 24/7 and solenoid is only for shutting down co2 if power goes out.
Running and tuning your reactor this way will not affect ph of your tank and is so simple.

 

[BrandonS]

As for Co2 I would check with your local shop. Only shop near me doesn't exchange and only fills there cylinders. He's only guy in the county so has a bit of a monopoly.