Calcium reactor witch one?

[jacknificient]

Got my eyes on 2 models right now:

GEO 612 and the Korallin 1502, my total water volume is 150g with 60% sps, been dosing two part (ESV) for a year and i want to automate the system.

And witch media is the best, CaribSea A.R.M. Calcium Reactor Media and the Deltec ROWALITH C+ seems pretty good ?

Thanks for your input!

-Jack

 

[RokleM]

If you have the extra ~6" of height in your cabinet, I would just go for the 618 instead as it's minimal cost difference for almost twice the capacity. I love mine with no complaints. Very plug and play, little to no tweaking.

I run large grained media (GenX when I can find it, ARM as a backup) and Zeomag.

 

[chadfarmer]

geo and any large grade media

 

[jacknificient]

The 618 wouldn't be overrated for 150g tank?

Ok so Carib-Sea ARM Reactor Media - Coarse would be a good choice?

Im a newbie to calcium reactor and was wondering if it will affect the ALK of the tank, i wont have to supplement for a stable ALK? I know that many people use a kalkwasser with there calcium reactor, is this necessary?

People who use a calcium reactor do they have to supplement anything else, probably magnesium?

Thanks for your time!

 

[RokleM]

Technically you could run a 150 gallon calcium reactor on your 150 gallon tank Oversizing is fine (as long as you don't go super crazy), as you have full control of the output amount and pH in the chamber. Better to go over than under.

The calcium reactor will maintain your calc/alk levels. Many use kalk as well to offset the low pH put out by the calcium reactor. If your pH levels are decent and your calcium reactor isn't running overtime, you will likely be fine. I run a kalk at night.

Yes, magnesium can be depleted. Frequent water changes can assist, but many use ZeoMag or Dolomite in their reactor. It works best with the larger grain media.

 

[jacknificient]

Thanks for the explanation Eric!

The GEO 612 is rated for 300g and the 618 350g and there's a difference of 115$ between those, i think ill be ok with the 612.

So ill probably have to buy a kalk reactor if the reactor is working 24/7?

And for feeding the reactor a maxi-jet 400 should be enough or you need something more powerful like a 900 or 1200?

 

[schminksbro]

I feed my GEO 618 with an Aqualifter. You will be fine with an MJ 400.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14473684#post14473684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jacknificient
Thanks for the explanation Eric!

The GEO 612 is rated for 300g and the 618 350g and there's a difference of 115$ between those, i think ill be ok with the 612.

So ill probably have to buy a kalk reactor if the reactor is working 24/7?

And for feeding the reactor a maxi-jet 400 should be enough or you need something more powerful like a 900 or 1200?

 

[chadfarmer]

i am waiting to see the vertex reactor also

 

[jacknificient]

Iv'e been reading alot on RC and im quite confuse, im thinking of getting a kalkwasser instead of a calcium reactor to begin and probably add the ca reactor later.

What do you think, am i doing the right thing or should i get the ca before the kalk?

The GEO Kalkwasser seems a good choice!

 

[devgru]

jackificient--kalk reactors only compliment a Ca reactor(if just using kalk you could use a 5g bucket and drip into sump)it will not be suffient enough to provide wonders on your tank alone

dosing kalk you also need to make sure you eyeball your pH as the kalk has been know to raise it.

 

[Squidward5]

You would like the GEO 612

 

[Nuuze]

Ditto on the GEO. I have the 612 deluxe package from Jason at Premium Aquatics but either size reactor should do.

I feed it with a matching Eheim 1048 like the one on the 612.

 

[dzhuo]

i am consider getting a Ca reactor as well but i have 2 concerns:

1. lower pH
2. phosphate

for #1, i think most people just top off with kalk to offset the pH (?). i don't know if #2 is a huge issue or not but i have heard ARM has high phosphate? has anyone found a media that does not leak phosphate?

any thoughts?

 

[The Shan Man]

I have just recently put the GEO 612 reactor on my tank and I LOVE IT! I wish I would have done it sooner. It has made my maintenance on the tank so easy. I am sure you will find the same thing.

 

[Paulairduck]

Go with the GEO calcium reactor and dont look back. I have had the 612,618 and now the 818 all our rock solid, great units.

The kalk reactor will work , but there will come a point and time that it will not keep up with demand and you still have to deal with PH issues, just the other way

I would go with the 612/ Large Arm Media for your tank.

One thing you run a BK skimmer, that pump pulls a ton of air, this really helps keep the PH stable!

 

[jacknificient]

For sure i don't want to waste money and end up to have to buy the calcium reactor faster than expected, so im better to get the ca right now like everyone said and deal with the low ph manually, if low ph there is, like Paulairduck said the bk could give me a push on the ph!

 

[jacknificient]

Ok so i've made my order for the GEO 612 with ARM coarse media, ill wait to buy my CO2 bottle cause i wasn't sure to buy a 10lb or 5lb, what size arer you using?

 

[rugbyfish]

Paulairduck, why did you go to the GEO 818 instead of sticking with the 618? I have a 280gal plus 40gal sump and I am considering the 612 or the 618 (thanks to this thread). I am not sure I want to spend the extra money on the 618, but perhaps the 612 isn't large enough. Any words of wisdom from anyone out there? Thanks, Rug

 

[Goodwood]

Good choice Jack. I have been using a GEO 618 for almost 3 years now and can say it is a fantastic piece of equipment. Spend the extra money (minimal) for the 10lb. bottle, it will last twice as long. I get over a year out of mine.

Make sure you get a high-end regulator this is what really makes the difference.

 

[jacknificient]

Ok so ill go with the 10lb bottle, here's a link to the one im looking at:10lb bottle