Are there any nano calcium reactors?

ezcompany

ezcompany

Premium Member
The smallest one i was able to find is this:

PCI CR-70 Calcium Reactor 100gals

* CR-70 Calcium Reactor for aquariums up to 100 gallons.
* Footprint 8" x 6"
* Incluces high quality pump and bubble counter
* Inside cylinder approx 2"
* Total Height 20"

pcicr70reactor.jpg


My set up is around 25 gallons of total water volume. Will this be a stable (cheaper) system or am I still better off with a litermeter III dosing homemade 2 parts?
 
A calcium reactor basically is a container that dissolves calcium carbonate media and add it to the tank. The bubble counter is used a guide so that you know what is the rate of CO2 you are pumping in. The CO2 will dissolve in water and acidify the water and allowing it to dissolve the calcium carbonate media. And this water that contains the dissolved calcium and carbonate will flow into your tank.

Any calcium reactor automatically adds a balanced amount of calcium and carbonate into the water.

Actually the manufacturer's rating is nothing more than a rough guideline. you can throttle the output of the reactor by adjusting the effluent flowrate and the CO2 injection rate.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9417567#post9417567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ezcompany
i am totally new to the calcium reactor scene. are those units able to maintain alkalinity automatically as well? they all seem to be rated for over 100 gallons also. will this be a problem? how does the "bubbles" work?

how about this calcium reactor:

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17283&cat=346&page=1
Click to expand...
hey ez i have a buddy who has a 29g biocube all modded up and he found this really nice small sized reactor that really kicks but on a small tank it has an ehiem pump and is all handmade acrylic it looks and works great i will ask him to give me the links to info on it
i think its for 50g and under
Nick
 
thanks Nick, that would help greatly.
I just hear all these things that for nano tanks, the calcium reactors have a hard time producing bubbles in minute quantities.
How does the first calcium reactor look? Is PCI a good brand?
 
I got mine from aquaticsystemsdesign dot com (scott). Amazing work, uses an eheim pump for recirculation, and it's a bit less than 6" x 6" with everything. Supports at least 65 gallons heavily stocked (tried for at least a year and a half now on a 65 w/o problems and good Ca).

Talk to Scott. He makes them per order, so you could probably see if he can make it a custom size for you too.
 
Here are some pix... btw I ordered the entire package with regulator and all plumbing etc ready to plug n play, scott was SUPER helpful. He even stopped eating dinner to take my order, even after I said it was totally fine to call back! He was very accomodating:

ca_reactor1.jpg


ca_reactor2.jpg


ca_reactor3.jpg
 
thanks Kinetic, are the prices reasonable? (as in less than a litermeterIII)

and btw, I have no sump, is it feasible to install it in the back of a 24 gallon all in one? (Aquapod)
 
my whole package was $300 something everything included. Pretty good if you ask me. Regular reactors are usually $300 something alone.

I know used systems are about $300, but this is brand new stuff, all pretty with all the plumbing and everything hooked up already. Oh heck, he also throws in Ca media. So it's literally, plug and play.

EDIT: Just remembered, only thing that wasn't included was a ph controller / probe that I already have on my aquacontroller III.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9417783#post9417783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ezcompany
thanks Kinetic, are the prices reasonable? (as in less than a litermeterIII)

and btw, I have no sump, is it feasible to install it in the back of a 24 gallon all in one? (Aquapod)
Click to expand...

It doesn't need a sump, just need to route the plumbing correctly. You'll need a MJ 400 or equivalent to feed the reactor, so given that will fit in the back compartment, you should be good to go. I'm not very familiar with the aquapods so I'm not too sure, but I think a MJ400 will fit =)
 
i can fit a mj400 no problem.
why is the ph controller / probe needed?
sorry for all the questions, but i really appreciate the help bud :)
 
I also have a nano reactor from Scott. I was the first one to get one and I have never looked back! The reactor works wonderful and I have never needed to add chemicals to the tank since setting the reactor up.

The reactor is a reverse flow design and uses co2 very efficiently. I have a 2.5 lbs tank and have been using it for close to a year. The only item I would upgrade on the reactor is a neddle valve for the reactor output so you can get the drip rate exactly where you would like it.

Scott is a wonderful guy and will stand behind his work. Since I had the 1st one, he said if I was EVER unhappy I could send it back for a full refund.

If you take the pludge, you will never look back!

William
 
The controller basically determines when to shoot the co2. The co2 is what changes the ph in the reactor, thus putting the calcium into the water stream. I'm no expert, but that's basically what it does I believe.

So the controller using the probe will monitor the pH level, it needs to be around 6 or so, because at that level the media will start to "melt" and put calcium into the water column. The co2 is what keeps the pH low, so when the pH rises (naturally SW is around 7 something), the co2 will shoot to bump it down.

This also helps control high pH levels in your tank as well.

But anyway, if someone with more experience can chime in that'd be great. Bottom line is, you need the controller + probe combo as well to have it work.
 
I also have a nano reactor from ASD. Scott is an awesome guy. Give him a call and he will get you hooked up
 
im guessing with the controller and probe combo, its going to be almost the same price as a litermeter iii?
 
I just saw one at the last show. Retail only about 90.00 can be used with a paintball regulator and bottle. Acro calcium reactor looks the company said would be available in 3 weeks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

vlangel
75g Lurking danger and Leafy Seadragons
14 15 16
Replies
308
Views
12K
griss
griss
650-IS350
New In box - Koralin KL1502 Calcium Reactor with Ehiem pump
Replies
3
Views
772
650-IS350
650-IS350
650-IS350
New In box - Koralin KL1502 Calcium Reactor with Ehiem pump
Replies
12
Views
2K
650-IS350
650-IS350
gcarroll
FS: Calcium Reactor rated up to 500g
Replies
14
Views
2K
gcarroll
gcarroll
slief
New Spectrapure Ultra Precise Top Off System. Good for Calcium Reactor Feed Pump Too
Replies
1
Views
807
slief
slief
Back
Top