Calcium Reactor Advice

[adamsky27]

As you can see in my sig I have a 110g tall display, with a 40g sump. If I had to guess I'd say that maybe I have about 125g total water volume (with all of the rock and everything else in there), give or take a few gallons. I really want a calcium reactor. I'm sick of having the lighting for certain kinds of sps, but I can never get my calcium above 350 no matter what I try. The green slimer that I won at the swap never opened up, I don't even know if it's alive right now. I'd rather just spend the extra money and get a good one to begin with, so that I don't have to upgrade later. Which one should I get? If you can, let me know why you are recommending the one that you list, I have no clue how they work.

 

[Satori]

The only one I have is an Aqua-Medic, which I don't reccommend. It works great, and it can handle a way larger tank than my 180, but parts are near impossible to find. I tried (and eventually gave up) to find a pH probe for the built-in port. The importer is in Colorado, but their warehouse burned down so they lost their inventory. They referred me to the German website. However, I was able to get a replacement pump for it, so, who knows...

That said, I've seen nothing but great things said about MRC reactors.

You won't be sorry getting a calcium reactor, and will see differences in a couple weeks.

 

[adamsky27]

MRC? I didn't see anything like that on marinedepot. What brand is it? I did see this one, would this be overkill, and I can't tell if it comes with the tank or not.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=KTKLCP1

 

[Satori]

My Reef Creations. They make skimmers, reactors, tons of other stuff:

http://www.myreefcreations.com/

 

[McCrary]

I have a Korallin 1502 waiting for the new tank setup. They are german and use only top quality parts, including an Eheim pump (I have seen ones for sale that are over 4 years old). Look them up at marinedepot.com. The only problem is that they can be a little more expensive than other calcium reactors ($600 and up for the full setup). But you get what you pay for.

 

[scott058]

I have been looking at reactors now for weeks and I am going with a Geo. www.geosreef.com. Another one I was looking at though is one by aquatic systems design. Their web site is messed up right the minute but email them and they will send you all the info you want. The price seems not to be as high as most, might want to check out both of the brands. hth
-Scott

 

[owsi]

I like the 1502, but am only useing it on a 54. Also look into getting a second chamber if it does not come with one, really helps keep pH up.

 

[cerreta]

Adam, I had the Korralin 1502 years ago. It was ok, but the media chamber is about half the size of the other models. I currently have a DIY model that resembles the Georeef. I even drilled and placed a bulkhead in the ractor lid for placement of a pH probe. This is what the Geo reactor has. I reccmmend it as well.

There is also a guy on ebay that sells a milwakee pH controller and CO2 guage for about $160 or so. I was skeptical, but prooved wrong. This combo works very well and needs little adjustment.

You can also search the used forums to buy something used. I bought my reactor and 5lb tank for $150.

I do suggest that you make sure the reactor comes with only an ehiem pump. Accept no other. I had a mag 2 on the used reactor I bought and it was noisy and leaked. I swapped it out for the ehiem 1048 pump and it works great now, so save this step and make sure you get an ehiem pump.