GEO calcium reactor questions

[MrSquid]

I'm trying to decide between a GEO 612 and a GEO 618 as a deluxe package.

My tank is a 125 mixed LPS/SPS. Using 2-part right now but I'm going to be leaving it in my wife's hands for a year starting in late April so I want to add a reactor. Most recommendations for a set-it and forget-it unit were for GEOs.

I'll be home 3 or 4 times during the year. How long could I plan on the 8# of media in the 612 to last versus the 12# in the 618?

Is either the 612 or the 618 going to be more reliable than the other?

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi,

The 612 would be more than plenty for that size system, even if it is heavily loaded down. If you ever did plan on upgrading to a larger system though, it might be worth it to spend a few extra dollars and just go with the 618. Either direction you decide to go I would recommend using the one of the larger grain medias, as they allow for better circulation throughout the reactor itself, thus making them a little more efficient. They are also not as soft as the smaller grained ARM for example, and issues with turning the media to "mush" are avoided. I would think you could easily go 4 - 6 months on either reactor before needing to possibly tear it down and clean it out. I know peopl have gone much longer than that, as I have too, but it's generally a good idea to remove any pieces of media that could have broken down to a very small size and gotten passed through the system, into the pump, etc. In this amount of time you would not deplete the entire amount of media in either of these reactors.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[MrSquid]

Thanks Jeremy.

With what you've seen with these reactors, how confident would you be in setting one up in hopes of being able to walk away from it for long periods of time without anything going wrong? (keep in mind I'll have ~6mos with it before the tank will be in my wife's hands)

 

[Jeremy B.]

I have used just about every reactor out there, with the exception of the Deltec fluidized unit, and I can honestly say that the Geo is the most "set it, and forget it" reactor that you will find on the market.

Thanks,
Jeremy