Calc Reactor
- Thread starter TimGentry
- Start date
jmait769
-CSHFLW
Tim, I’m using one and love it!! It took a few weeks to dial it in but once it is you don’t really have to do much. However, I still have to run kalk just to keep the pH up. It is a balancing act as to much kalk added in the topoff drives the Alk up. After some fine tuning I can tell when it is time to add some more kalk to my reactor by watching the pH trend. You can see that here in the second chart: http://www.reeftronics.net/jay-m/apex-history. When it gets down to about 7.9 at night I add more kalk. I’m using the Apex to control everything. Here is a good article also: A Guide to Using a Calcium Reactors
Jay
Jay
benjabba
New member
Just make sure you are keeping track of your alk aswell. It can creep up there when you are dosing kalk and running a CA reactor. Jay have you considered adding a second chamber to your ca reactor. You run your effluent through it after it comes out of the first chamber and it gives the co2 more time to diffuse. Less co2 = higher ph. This will help keep your ph higher without having to up the kalk dosing.
jmait769
-CSHFLW
hmmmmm - I will have to look into that.
I did a quick look on Google but does the second chamber require a pump or anything? Yes, the Alk will creep rapidly running both. This happened to me a few times as i dialed in the system. Thanks!!Jay
benjabba
New member
No need for a second pump. It goes inline with your existing reactor. Plus it gives you an excuse for additional hardware. 
If you wanted to get really crazy you could add some kind of magnesium media to the second chamber and kill two birds with one stone.
Sorry for the thread jack Tim. The main thing is you want consistency and I have seen first hand what high alk can do to a tank.
If you wanted to get really crazy you could add some kind of magnesium media to the second chamber and kill two birds with one stone.
Sorry for the thread jack Tim. The main thing is you want consistency and I have seen first hand what high alk can do to a tank.
I love using a calcium reactor..I have had one on every setup Ive had ..once it is dailed in you can set it and forget it..within a year or two (depends how large tank is) it could easily pay for itself..I would recommend using a 2nd chamber to balance out the ph and reduce any extra co2 from the effluent you can use mag. in chamber as well..AS far as suppliers for a refill most welding supply stores will refill your tank or swap you out a tank if you have a standard painted tank..On a quick search you have a dozen welding suppliers like 
raxair, airmix, airgas southwest in your area..pretty simple ...like $12 to refill tank and maybe $10-20 media every 6-12 months really inexpensive once main purchase is made..
raxair, airmix, airgas southwest in your area..pretty simple ...like $12 to refill tank and maybe $10-20 media every 6-12 months really inexpensive once main purchase is made..Similar threads
