Calcium reactor suggestions
- Thread starter theshaman
- Start date
boon the goon
Member
Why do you wanna try, just wondering
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boon the goon
Member
That's why I was asking I get away with 2 part in my 150 with 3 gallon sump. I don't want to sound mean and don't I just wondering.
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I love my Geo 618. I have a second chamber too (which isn't really needed, but it was free). The initial cost of a CaRx is up there, but long term, it's the best way to go with keeping things stable. I spent the extra money on an Alan Le custom dual stage regulator and a masterflex pump and they're absolutely worth it.
boon the goon
Member
I'm my opinion
1st if it works don't mess with it meaning I would switch from two part to a calcium reactor just just to try it out I would putt it on the frag tank.
2nd i have ran several frag tanks and it's defiantly a lot easier when is plumbed into a main system, plus it will be less equipment.
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hersheyb
Active member
if you decide to run one, I have a dual stage SS co2 regulator and masterflex peristaltic pump available!
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
I've really like my Aquamaxx reactor. I really like the design. Have you looked into a regulator or feed pump? The reactor is only 1/3 of the equation for a CaRx setup.
theshaman
Member
For a regulator I'm probably going with carbon doser.
I haven't decided on a feed pump yet.
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scrapz
Saturation+100
The upcoming ecotech versa looks to be a solid product at a great price point.
vetteguy53081
New member
Geo or Koralin
pa1ntbru5h
New member
Aquamaxx reactors work well.
I do not recommend a carbon doser regulator. Spend a little more for a nice dual stage SS regulator
I do not recommend a carbon doser regulator. Spend a little more for a nice dual stage SS regulator
theshaman
Member
pa1ntbru5h
New member
A dual stage SS regulator built by Alan Le. Not cheap but at least it won't fail on me like my carbon doser did
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hersheyb
Active member
if you need one, I have one, also by alanle
five.five-six
Well-known member
My suggestion is to get a carbon doser. Reactor is a reactor so long as it doesn’t leak and feeds from the bottom. The key to making it successful is a good regulator and good effluent rate control.
And..
If you are not going to get a fancy peristaltic feed pump, tap off the return pump to feed it like I do and get one of those fancy needle valves from BRS
And..
If you are not going to get a fancy peristaltic feed pump, tap off the return pump to feed it like I do and get one of those fancy needle valves from BRS
five.five-six
Well-known member
Anything can fail, carbon doser has a great track record and the new ones come with really really nice check valves which will prevent most of the carbon doser failures. I'm not bashing the Le, but a carbon doser is only $300 or so.
pa1ntbru5h
New member
True but once I truly understood how the carbon doser works, I don't want it on my system. Especially because it almost crashed my tank twice in 1 week.
The carbon doser regulator is a single stage regulator. It feeds CO2 by regulating a solenoid that clicks on and off to allow a puff of CO2 into the line. This means that if you have your solenoid to click on and off every 5 seconds, it's activating 17,280 times a day. The solenoid is bound to fail and when it does, it stays open and DUMPS CO2 into your tank. Remember, there's no needle valve regulating the CO2. Just a on/off solenoid.
My pH dropped from 8.2 to 6.9 within 20 minutes. This happened twice in 1 week. Luckily both times I caught it before it completely crashed my tank. I did lose some SPS colonies from the swings. From that point on I will never use another Carbon Doser Regulator on my tanks.
Spend the extra ~$100 on a quality dual stage regulator.
If anyone wants to risk their high $ livestock with a Carbon Doser, I have second one working fine I'd be glad to sell.
Edit:
Just wanted to add that YES I did have a fail-safe. My Apex was set to shut off the Carbon Doser regulator if my pH ever dropped below a certain point. The Apex did its job, but the Carbon Doser's solenoid was stuck in the open position so CO2 just continued to dump into the calcium reactor.
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