Calcium reactor

[Sparkpaul]

My vote is a MRC dual reactor. Arm Standard Media. Aquarium Plants Electronic Carbon Doser Regulator. Continuous duty peristaltic pump to feed the reactor.

There is lots of different methods listed in this thread and also some misinformation.

You are adding CO2 to your tank, it will effect your PH by lowering it, not raising it or keeping it stable.

The reactor is a plastic tube, it really doesn't matter as long as it holds water, media, and has a pump that circulates the water. Brand whatever. Some suck, some are mediocre, some are excellent. As long as it cannot build up CO2 inside the reactor by being trapped then it will work.

Feeding the reactor with a normal pump and using a needle valve to regulate water through the reactor is IMO the cheap way out. It may work for most or for some but I personally don't like to fiddle.

I have worked with many reactors over the years and solved many peoples problems. I will not stray from the setup I listed above and you couldn't pay me to. I would not run a reactor without a continuous duty peristaltic feed pump, I would just assume dose 2 part.

You absolutely do not need a controller to operate the reactor unless your reactor is unstable and will not function without one.

This is two screenshots from my controller sat side by side so you can see my reactors ph stability. 3.5 months and it has changed by .04 ph. That is without any control, just the reactor running happily ever after... You will not find a more stable system then what I am recommending and you will not find a single person who has followed that setup who regretted it. Be warned, there is some sticker shock involved. If you want to venture into this setup I will help you from beginning to end to make sure you get it right.

The reason I am so confident in this setup is because ph probes wander, sponges clog, feed rates change, and media dissolves. All of these effect the outcome but none of them will effect this setup.

Great! I'm taking up your offer.
I just bought a grotech 4800 sp continuous peristaltic pump, aquarium plant carbon doser, and a geo 818.

I am not sure how to set it up because one can use the pump to push or pull the feed.

Currently I have a 200 gallon and eventually upgrade so thats why i bought the big reactor. can it be too big for my current set up?

 

[tkeracer619]

Awesome! In an effort to get quicker replies from me shoot me a pm in regards to setup and adjustment if you have any questions. I should be around for quick replies the remainder of the week - weekend doing nothing but snowboarding and laying in bed.

Set the pump up to pull through the reactor. The pump can produce more pressure then the O rings are able to hold back. It won't pop the reactor but it can and will leak out of the seals if the output gets clogged.

I recommend ARM standard media but anything will work except crushed coral (to much phosphate).


Nope, your reactor will work great with the setup. You just won't have to refill as often

Once it is setup set a slow rate of say 20ml/min and adjust the gas rate such that you hit 6.5ph (arm standard). Once you get there let me know how much alk you are still having to dose (if at all) and we will go from there. Test often, several times each day for the first few days just to make sure nothing changes too drastically. If the dkh starts to rise cut the gas flow back to a slower rate. Shoot me a PM with your tanks details in regards to your current dosing regime as well as the dkh, ca, and mg levels. If you have any other questions, again feel free to shoot me a pm.

 

[oceanview76]

Cole-Parmer Brushless Digital LS Drive with a stainless easyload pump head. Precision Tubing. I prefer modular drive units but console drives work the same.

There are a lot of older units on ebay that are digital drives but they have brushes.

If you are serious about buying one shoot me a PM and I can browse whats available and give some suggestions. They can be a bit overwhelming with all the options and minor number differences. I don't mind taking the time if I have the time.

I'd love to hear more about your pump recommendation as well.

I got lucky a while back and scooped up a full set of large tank MRC equipment from someone getting out of the hobby and I have a large dual chamber calcium reactor that's sitting idle in my garage.

I pulled up the below coleparmer page to get an idea on costs for those pumps and there's a ton of different options. They range in price from "yeah, ok, I'll give it a shot" on the low end to "it'd be cheaper to just buy an overwater bungalow in Fiji and go snorkeling everyday to see corals" on the high end.

Thanks.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Category/Masterflex_Peristaltic_Pumps/4436

 

[rogerwilco357]

Awesome intel I to will look into the above mentioned ca reactor.
Any pics of your setup in action ?

 

[tkeracer619]

I haven't set it back up after my move/crash but am going to try this weekend. Yea, the pumps are high dollar but often you can find them in good condition used. These pumps last a very long time and shame everything marketed to the aquarium industry in regards to construction. I'll take a look when I get back to a pc in the next couple of days (on a phone atm.). I figure what I really need to do is put together a good thread dedicated to this setup.

 

[jda]

I currently tee off my return.

I used to use modified Kangaroos (does that date me, or what?). These always seemed reliable to me, but there are probably better ones out now.

Either work fine.

 

[60gal reef guy]

Looking to set up one on my new 125 gal build. You can't really over size a reactor then? It will just be dialed down? Also if one says it's good for up to 125gal is there any need to over size them like we do sometimes with skimmers? Or does it all just have to do with how often the media will have to be changed?

 

[oceanview76]

I haven't set it back up after my move/crash but am going to try this weekend. Yea, the pumps are high dollar but often you can find them in good condition used. These pumps last a very long time and shame everything marketed to the aquarium industry in regards to construction. I'll take a look when I get back to a pc in the next couple of days (on a phone atm.). I figure what I really need to do is put together a good thread dedicated to this setup.

Looking forward to it.

 

[jcmelski]

Any updates to this thread? I too am interested in buying a calcium reactor and have the same questions as 60galreefguy. I don't have much room underneath the tank since I have an external pump. i would have it mounted next to my tank in a cabinet of some sorts to hide it and the ATO res.

 

[Chicago]

nice write up...

 

[davidsb]

Hello, I have a 120 with sps. looking a a GEO reactor cr510. what do you guys think?

 

[Bpb]

I'm new to the world of CR but I'm thinking the 510 will be a bit under sized if you have a substantial amount of corals eventually. I just purchased a 618 for my 90 gallon


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