Calcium Reactors

[bkv1997]

Well I have asked before and I think I have finally decided on the model CA Reactor I'm going to order.

www.geosreef.com

My last question before finally placing my order probably some time this weekend is.........

I want to get a decent sized unit, so hopefully its the last one I would need and could work on upgrades in the future if needed. Some of the models are very well priced and just a couple sizes bigger is only 75$ more, which isn't that bad for almost twice the size.

So the question is can you just partially fill the unit based on how much you need or is trying to use to big of a reactor just going to cause me more problems than its worth?

Kinda just tired of getting stuff rated for my tank then wishing I would have went bigger....

Thanks in advance.
Brandon

 

[Phyxius]

I think the 612 is up to 300 gallons and the 618 for 350 gallons. I would think either of those would be good unless you plan on going really big. Bigger isnt always better but sometimes in this hobby it can be
I`m sure a reactor guru will be around to give a better answer.
I just bought the 612 for my 90 and plan on using it on my future 180. It should be sized fine for my needs on that size tank in the future. I also got the GEO kalk reactor for my smaller tank that should suit it well.

 

[ct_vol]

Isn't bigger always better??? I tend to prefer overkill... I hate wishing I'd gone bigger... I always figure you can throttle it down... I'm not sure if you'd fill it with less media though... Perhaps just running less CO2 through it would be more ideal???

 

[cee]

I'm actually seriously considering removing my Ca RX soon, as it can no longer keep up. Got more work to do, details later.

Dave

 

[bkv1997]

Dave:

I'd love the details... and your opinions about sizing.

I'm either going ot get the 612 of the 624.

One is 12" for 75$ more its double the size to the 624, but I know the 624 at full blast would be overkill for my current setup.

Just curious if its possible to dial down a calc reactor that much.

Brandon

 

[imsqueak]

You could have a Ca RX rated for a 1000 and simply not apply as much CO2 to melt the media. My limited knowledge says you could keep a 300g in a RX rated for 100f if you just crank the CO2 enough to melt the media. Problem with that is that it would lower your Ph. Bigger RX means less Ph reduction because it's a bigger reaction chamber. $ to size, we get the shaft because it costs them 5-10% more and they charge 30-100% more. It's all about economics and who's willing to pay. A newbie with a 55 isnt willing to pay nearly as much as someone with a 180.

oh, dont get me started....:beer: :beer:

 

[imsqueak]

I cant help it...

Dave could probably keep his CaRX but might have to upgrade to a bigger unit. The way it is, he's probably cranking the co2 to melt the CA media and it's lowering his Ph which is bad. He has choices to fix that; primarily kalkwasser drip. It's a pain to do that. Maybe as much of a pain to go ahead and dose everything. For someone as dedicated as Dave is, that might be a good idea because he can adjust things as necessary (I think he tests everything alot and someone like me tests every 2 mos or so).

Point is, dont do as Dave does; just because Dave does it that way. Dave's very dedicated and very knowledgeable, not to mention he's got connections in the hobby to bounce ideas off of. I'd suggest to "ask Dave" before you try to follow Dave.

:beer: :beer:

 

[cee]

Oh, what a loaded issue this is going to be...

Upflow vs. downflow. I don't really think it makes all that much difference. True, you won't get as many bubbles in an upflow, but the effluent is always tapped off the top of the chamber, so you'll still get some. W/ a downflow, you can use finer media which has more surface area, dissolves faster, and can give you higher dKH on the effluent, IME. Also, I think it would be easier to add a spraybar to a downflow model which can improve the device efficiency.

Size. Bigger is better, but may be overkill. You can always dial back the drip rate and the CO2 rate to produce the desired results. I'd always fill the chamber, though, just to reduce the frequency of refills. Get what you can afford, but I always have issues with hundreds of dollars paid for a piece of plastic tube...

One vs. two chambers. I'd always opt for two, because it give the pH a chance to increase by 0.1 to 0.3 before dripping into the tank or sump. Plus, any bubbles that make it into the first chamber effluent line will be partially absorbed in the 2nd chamber. I run upflow in my second chamber to fully utilize any bubbles that get past the 1st chamber.

Finally, run your effluent through Phosgard or some other similar product. Since the effluent pH is low, the risk to the corals is not what it is in a fluidized bed filter with tank water running through it and it will help clean the phosphate from the effluent.

Having said all this, I'm considering ditching my MRC CR-1 with a 2nd chamber, 5 lb. CO2 bottle, Mag3 circulation pump, regulator, feed power head, GroTech Mg granules and Ca media. If someone's interested, LMK. I will go to a multi-channel peristaltic pump system independently dosing MgCl/MgSO4, CaCl, sodium bicarbonate, and salt mix minus the NaCl, all in solution. I have my reasons for this choice, mainly I can customize the ratios based on consumption, minimize the PO4 introduction, and reduce the impact on the tank's pH. Sorry for the thesis, just wanted to try and give you an overview of my view of these devices.

Dave

 

[cee]

Actually, my pH is fine. I "dose" sodium bicarbonate with the water/CO2 "boiled" off with the makeup water just to maintain my dKH at 9 even with my CaRX running w/ several bubbles per second and several drops per second effluent. I measure Ca and Alk 2-3 times a week and always have to add something to bring things into check even with a RX. So, given that, I figure I might as well automate the dosing, ditch the reactor, and be good to go. Plus, I get to play chemist for awhile while I perfect the solution strengths.

Dave

 

[bkv1997]

Dave thanks for the response.

However, I know i've outgrown my kalk reactor, but don't think i'm to that point yet.

http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=386 those the pumps you're talking about? I had also thought about getting one of these (a 2 channel one) to push water to the tank and the other to pull water from the tank. Basically so I could do a 30 gallon water change slowly causing as little possible shifts/swings, but didn't know if both sides were accurate enough to do something like that.

Brandon

 

[cee]

Same idea, different technology. Your link is a diaphram pump which works like an air pump, pushing a pulse of liquid everytime the plunger pushes on the diaphram. A peristaltic pump uses tubing with rollers on a variable speed motor which pushes the liquid around the tube which is wrapped around the rollers. Very precise, as they are used in scientific labs and to dose drugs, IVs, etc. into patients in the medical field.

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

This what you're talking about Dave???

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

 

[cee]

Yep, although I think the ReefDosers are technically dosing pumps. Same concept, though, just less precision.

Dave

 

[bkv1997]

well the unit will be here tomorrow.

I ended up going with the GEo 618 after alot of back and forth between it and the PM models.

I ordered the schuran media and some dolomite. Do any of you have experience running dolomite to maintain Mg?

Thanks