Calcium reator ?'s

[ScallopKing]

Hey everyone,

I'm having troubles keeping up with CA and ALK in my system. I know how in general CA reactors work but don't know the following and need a little help.

1. which is better?
2. which media is better?
3. where to buy?
4. where do you fill the CO2 tanks at?
5. what type do you have, why did you choose it and what do you like about it or dislike?

I'd like to see what is first choice reactor systems for everyone. Aiming to invest in the best systems money can buy. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[rutz81]

I recently went through the same thing. I finally decided on a GEO Calcium Reactor with ARM Media. I read a lot of good things about the GEO and the fact that they were all hand-made impressed me too. As far as the ARM media, I just went with what Premium Aquatics(where I bought it) reccomended for the reactor. I got my CO2 tank at a local welding supply store which both rents and sells the tanks. So far, I have been very happy with it, it does the job, and also is made very well. I had some problems in the beginning with the setup and both George(owner/builder of the GEO's Reef) and Premium Aquatics were extremely helpful.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[TCU Reefer]

I recently purchsed my Geo 618 through Phishy Business. I wanted a one-stop-shop for my reactor and they sell a package deal.

You get the reactor, choice of regulator (Milwaukee or Gen-X), Eheim pump, MJ 1200 feed pump, choice of 5lb or 10b CO2 tank (empty), 8 lbs of ARM media, and Milwaukee pH controller.

I haven't received it yet but I hope that helps out as far as purchasing.

I went with this reactor because everything I've read and heard has been positive. It sounds very sturdy and well-crafted (handmade as mentioned above) and also fairly easy to dial in. Most of what I've read, people just set it and forget it. Also, setup seems to be very simple. Hope I made the right decision.

I heard some local reefer are using the larger schuran media which can be found here:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/12537/cid/3281

It does require a lower pH to dissolve but I've heard good things about it. Maybe someone else can chime in.

Good luck.

 

[ScallopKing]

rutz81 and TCU Reefer - This helps me a lot. Complete newbie when it comes to these type of reactors. Can either of you tell me if you've noticed improvements in your tank or stonies since going this way? How much of a footprint does the whole reactor plus parts take up?

rutz81 - What type of setup problems in the beginning, what was the fix and how long did it take to resolve? Maybe I can eliminate the same things if I go Geo! Thanks again.

TCU Reefer - Me too! I want the whole package. I like to hear easy, simple and reliable. Did you have any problems and did phishybusiness help out?

Anyone else? Thanks.

 

[rutz81]

I made a "mini table" that the whole setup sits on. It's footprints are: 9" x 22"/23".

The main problem I ran into was the my effluent drip rate turned out to be too slow. I was gettting CO2 pockets gathering on the top of the reactor, therefore sending CO2 through the pump and back to the top once it went through the cycle. If you follow the directoins that come with the reactor you'll be fine. I decided(for some stupid reason!!) that my LFS would be right. They kept stressing to start slow, but, I took that too far. Meaning they were stating a certain amount of bubbles/minute would be good with a certain amount of drips/ minute. I came ot the conclusoin that every reactor has a different "sweet spot"(where the term "dialing in" comes into play) My other problem was not fully understanding how it actually works. Once I started to understand that better is when I realized how I should be adjusting it.

Any other questions let me know, it can definitely be confusing.

Dave

 

[fishypets]

I like my Korallin reactor but it is the only one I have used. I have used both ARM and Korallith media and the Korallith is the best hands down. Great growth and the params are right in line also

 

[jjackson]

I also have a Geosreef calcium reactor... wouldnt trade it for the world it is very nice craftsmenship

 

[murphreef]

hey sean

looks like ur wanting that reactor huh

i think ull be happy with whatever u get

i have the MRC-CR2 Calcium reactor with a JBJ dual guage and solenoid with bubble counter

i got the 10lb CO2 bottle over at the local weld shop.... u just basically rent it.... when ur done go back and they trade u for anotehr and its like $10 for the refill

i got the dual chambered one cause i figured the extra $75 was worth it incase my calcium load gets to high for a bigger tank like ours for a small singled chamber to keep up with

seems like lots of people are very happy with the Geo's

i really like my MRC reactor never had one problem with it and its very simple to set up

i think my setup cost me about $650ish with the reactor, guages, bottle, recirc pump, feed pump, Ph monitor and media

by the way frags look great!

 

[elephen]

I'd look at www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com reactors. He is in the middle of transisitioning to a new site so you may have to email him. I've had one for 2 years and its worked flawlessly, never really had to tinker with it what-so-ever and it runs like a champ.

 

[ScallopKing]

rutz81 - Good to know. Who reads the directions anyways?! I'll probably have the same learning curve as you did. Thanks for you input! Where did you locate it btw? Under the stand or remote somewhere?

fishypets - This is the one that I tought most people had. I will look into tht korallith media some more. With you stonies, what did your before and after look like with the ca reactor?

jjackson - Thanks. So far the most popular one.

murphreef - Hey Justin! I figured I better start looking into it. Thank God for RC to help me out. Where did you buy the MRC from? Did it come as a package deal? Where do you get the bottles of CO2 from around here? What's with the recirc and a feed pump? Good to hear the frags are doing well. I really like those stonies, should turn more yellow and blue over time.

elephen - Thanks! I'll check into it for sure.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[rutz81]

I put mine right next to the tank, under my stand has absolutely no room for anything. My next tank I would like to have all things remotely located, doing work on my tank is such a P.I.A. now.

The recirc pump is the pump that's located right next to the media chamber or on the actual base. The feed pump is the smaller pump that is located in the sump that feeds water into the unit.

 

[ScallopKing]

rutz81 - Okay, I got it (and the light bulb goes on!). That's why I asked...I don't have much room also. Problem is everything takes up almost one whole wall now.

Obvious question for everyone, any pics of your setup? Thanks again.

 

[rutz81]

i'll try and get some posted later

 

[murphreef]

hey sean heres a pic of it before my tank was up and running

i got most the stuff over at vividaquariums.com they are located close to u check out there website u can pretty much get it from them the whole setup less the co2 bottle theres welding places all over the area just look for a local Gas Gas company they will have the tank sitting there filled up

i have a rio HF4 sitting in the sump it feeds my first chamber then the Mag2 Recirculates the water inside the chamber then it passes to the 2nd chamber then out the needle valve

its pretty simple to setup

 

[ScallopKing]

murphreef - Nice setup there! I've been over to vivid before. Kinda pricey for the corals, I'll have to check the equipment pricing out. With the rio HF4 do you have that on a gate valve or it's full flow? How come there are different amounts of media in each chamber? Where do you pt the water that leaves the needle valve...back into your sump? Where does the PH controller go? Thanks again dude!

rutz81 - That'd be awesome...looking forward to seeing your pics.

Thanks! Anyone care to share your setup with me?

 

[fishypets]

Before I added the reactor I thought I had good growth but now the tank is on steriods. Also switching from ARM to Korrallith really helped out a lot also, I am seeing growth I didn't see previously with the ARM.

 

[murphreef]

hey sean...

as far as the reactor goes its $259 from them which is a good price.. i also got the media from them since they had it there

i got the guages and the monitor from marine depot no shipping and no taxes sent next day

the bottle like i said from a local weld shop just look in the yellow pages

i filled the first chamber full of media thats where the CO2 gets injected the 2nd chamber is meant to help dissolve any leftover CO2 .... u dont need to fill that chamber all the way up so i filled it about half....

there is a T junction in the line between the 1st and 2nd chamber where i put the probe for my Ph monitor the effluent coming out of the first chamber should be around 6.3-6.5 to maintain your calcium at the level its currently at....

u will have to play with the bubble count and the drip rate

i have a bubble count of about 90 bubbles per minute and a drip rate of a fast drip but not a slow stream so id say like 120 drips per minute and that keeps the Pn at 6.3ish

i checked my Ca and Alk last nght it was at 420 and 9.6dkh

very easy to use once its up and running just adjust as u see your Ph monitor change eitehr more or less bubbles check your Ca and Alk over the first few weeks then u should be fine....

i have the Rio just fully opened the pressure is needed to get the water through all the media and out the needle valve....

the Mag2 is the recirculation pump which keeps the water moving around int he first chamber .... from the pic u can see how it throws around the media in the top of the first chamber .....

heres a pic of the effluent dripping back into the sump

 

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7353607#post7353607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishypets
Also switching from ARM to Korrallith really helped out a lot also, I am seeing growth I didn't see previously with the ARM.

What does Korrallith provide that ARM doesn't that would cause a difference in coral growth? You set the calcium/alk content of the effluent so it shouldn't make any difference if you're running them under the exact same conditions.

 

[fishypets]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7354263#post7354263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TwistedTiger
What does Korrallith provide that ARM doesn't that would cause a difference in coral growth? You set the calcium/alk content of the effluent so it shouldn't make any difference if you're running them under the exact same conditions.

Not sure I didn't engineer the stuff, all I do know is my corals are much happier now.

 

[ScallopKing]

fishypets - Exactly what I am expecting to happen also. One of the things I've been looking to hear from someone. I have also been told

murphreef - First, thanks for all your help! So the effluent is dripping continually? How often do you calibrate the PH monitor? Why would a PH controller be used? Thanks for those pics too, helps to visualize. I've also heard of some people still dripping kalk even with a ca reactor, do you know anything about this. Thanks again!!!!!