Calcium Reactor Design

[coralhound]

I have recently returned to Reefing after a 10 year hiatus. I have noticed many improvements in equipment over the last 10 years however I see that most calcium reactors are single chamber now. Is there been information that adding the second chamber is not a good thing since I have been away? The first chamber was the "active" chamber and had the recirculation and CO2 injection. The second chamber was to raise the PH of the effluent and any residual CO2 from the first chamber in the single pass second chamber.

Any inputs would be well apprecaited.

Thanks

Chris

 

[JAustin]

No, your still correct in what the second chamber does. Most people purchase a single chamber cal reactor and add a cheaper secondary chamber or DIY one for $30 bucks or so. That's what I've noticed. I just purchased a cal reactor after not running one for several years and noticed the same thing. I'll be dripping the effluent in my skimmer chamber where there are thousands of micro bubbles and lots of gas exchange, so I won't be needing a second chamber....or so I thing. We will see soon enough.

 

[ErikS]

After building a few & running them for a few years my conclusion is - best design? GEO. It hasn't changed because there's simply no need. While it makes taking off the lid a bit of a PITA the pump intake at the top center eliminates the need for CO2 recirculation. Pump turns over fast enough that the gas is chopped & re-chopped = you can push a lot of CO2 through it w/ little if any waste. In all the ones I tried I never found the need for a second chamber, it's much to do about nothing. If you have a PH of 6.8 in the reactor you might get 7 out the end of the second = BFD.

I think most of the "changes" to CA reactors have been "that's not really doing much". Gas recirc does a bit but a good design eliminates the need, second chamber does little if anything. What were once "features" have been discovered to not really add value = simpler can work just fine.

 

[goldenservices3]

I had a dual chamber at one time and went with a GEO, very nice well built products, I will get another GEO soon.