Calcium

[reeformadness]

I am looking at buying a calcium reactor but don't know what brand to get or what to look for. A couple of helpful people have recommended Octopus, Geo, and Deltec. Those seem nice, but I don't want to spend more than is necessary. I have posted several threads but have not gotten a good response. I decided to look for myself. From what I gather one of the most important things is how well they can be dialed in. Would I be better off getting a cheap one and adding new tubing and gate valves. Also I have heard mixed things about size. Some say bigger is better, but others say that they should be sized to your tank (I have a 75 gallon). These things really look like fancy fluidized beds to me. Are there any easy mods to fluidized beds that could work for me? Keep in mind that I already have an electronic regulator and pH controller, so hopefully this will help me cut some costs on the reactor. One of my main concerns for purchasing a reactor is knowing that my Milwaukee probe will fit in it properly.

I have looked around and these are the brands I have come across the most that will work for a 75 gallon:

Under $300 -

AquaMedic
Coralife
Reef Octopus
My Reef Creations - I heard negatives about these
Pacific coast
Aquatic Life Systems
Coral Vue Octopus - I heard positives about these

Over $300

Geo - heard good things
K2R
Knop - know these are popular
precision marine
Korallin - I've heard these are tough to dial in
Deltec - good things
Schuran - good things
MoCalc - good things
H&S - good things
GroTech - good things
Aquatic Essential - good things

I really want to spend as little as possible (150-250), but I am willing to pay more if it means better functionality. Please give any input to the concerns and brands I have listed. It is a tough thing to shop for these without any experience. My corals and I thank you ahead of time.

 

[reeformadness]

Looking at this now...the fluidized bed with calcium carbonate should be before the sump with monitor. oops. But is this what a calcium reactor is basically doing? Sorry its not beautiful.

 

[reeformadness]

Or maybe its not wrong. Can anyone help!?

 

[reeformadness]

By the way, it would definitely be a good idea to make the effluent sump be airtight. Any input?

 

[reeformadness]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...189&perpage=25&highlight=shuran&pagenumber=34

 

[kakan]

Hey reeformadness

First off heres a good article that will explain a lot about reactors www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

Also if your looking to save some money and your a little handy you can build one of these like I did. www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=587186&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

HTH
Kakan.

 

[reeformadness]

Thanks kakan. You are a big help. I will check those out. I'm starting to get sold on the Schuran jetstream pico, the only problem is I don't know if I can use a probe and controller with it. I saw you can with the jetstream 1 from the thread I just linked. I'll check these out for now.

 

[reeformadness]

Wow, thanks again, kakan. That DIY looks too easy not to try. I have been home sick these last few days, so I might just have the free time.

 

[reeformadness]

Kakan, how are you liking it? I read most of the thread but i am too tired to read any more now. I noticed people had problems with high alk, so they lowered the output and bubble count. I also noticed some people had problems with low pH. Have you had any problems or is it running like it should?