Highest Quality Calcium Reactor for Large Tank?

Steve175

New member
I have a 1500G system with 2 separate 250G displays and a 220G frag tank all packed with SPS. Believe it or not, up to now I have had very stable chemistry with a large Kalk reactor (dripping 33L of Kalk per day) and by dosing 2-part (2.4L per day of each). However, as the demand and dosing has gone up, my pH has increased (averaging a bit above 7.4 now) and I cannot get my Alk above 8.5 despite an irritating level of precipitation. I think it is time to add a Calcium reactor and have started to do some research regarding the brand and model. Will use my apex to control via pH probe. Which would/have you bought? Anyone use a Liter Meter to feed for additional control or should I just feed it off my manifold? TIA.
 
well, the top of the line calcium reactor is a DaStaCo and for your system will run you about 2200 Euros

I have a Geo CR1218 which does a very good job
 
DaStaCo appears to be in the same league with Schuran though I don't own either. I've been researching reactors and really like the controller that comes with the DaStaCo. It appears to be rock solid.
http://************.com/2011/08/25/dastaco-calcium-reactor/

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de%20sta%20co%20202.JPG
 
I be got 2 buddy's that use GEO s on there tanks and they had great luck. I'm running an older MRC but it's only rated for 500-800 so you'll have to get a dual chamber but it's a good unit.
 
Geo. He can make custom sizes if needed. Get a secondary reactor from him as well for buffering the co2. The key to any reactor is a good regulator.
 
DaStaCo appears to be in the same league with Schuran though I don't own either. I've been researching reactors and really like the controller that comes with the DaStaCo. It appears to be rock solid.
http://************.com/2011/08/25/dastaco-calcium-reactor/

de%20sta%20co%20198.JPG


de%20sta%20co%20202.JPG

I own both.

Nothing compares to the DaStaCo. It is leagues better than any other calcium reactor I have seen. Even David Saxby switched to a DaStaCo when he realised how good it was!.

Mo
 
Mo. That's a ringing endorsement. What is it specifically that makes this CR so special? I'm going to pull the trigger I think. IMO the most important factors are:

* Effluent consistency
* Easy adjustment
* Easy maintenance
* Build quality
* Durability

The controller seems to be central to this device. As far as I can tell you can only buy this from H2 Aqautics in the UK but the do ship to US. Can you tell me a bit more about this thing?
 
I have heard great things about Geo. I had a MRC and they also make a great product. My problem with my calcium reactor is it would always get clogged. I did not have a pre filter on it but that would probably need alot of cleaning too. I have switched to dosing alk and tank is better for it but still a labor of love.
 
Mo. That's a ringing endorsement. What is it specifically that makes this CR so special? I'm going to pull the trigger I think. IMO the most important factors are:

* Effluent consistency
* Easy adjustment
* Easy maintenance
* Build quality
* Durability

The controller seems to be central to this device. As far as I can tell you can only buy this from H2 Aqautics in the UK but the do ship to US. Can you tell me a bit more about this thing?

Sorry for not checking back.

The DaStaCo has all of the above features.
I have a 1000G SPS tank. This reactor does not skip a beat. You don't need a pH controller, which is often a cause of failure.

In fact, you measure your alk and adjust the knob up or down, if you need more or less"¦. that's all!. Everything is automated and if anything isn't right, the controller gives an alarm.

It is a fantastic calcium reactor!. The two best things on my system. The DaStaCo and my Bubbleking skimmer.

Mo
 
Sorry for not checking back.

The DaStaCo has all of the above features.
I have a 1000G SPS tank. This reactor does not skip a beat. You don't need a pH controller, which is often a cause of failure.

In fact, you measure your alk and adjust the knob up or down, if you need more or less"¦. that's all!. Everything is automated and if anything isn't right, the controller gives an alarm.

It is a fantastic calcium reactor!. The two best things on my system. The DaStaCo and my Bubbleking skimmer.

Mo

can you raise Calcium without raising Alkalinity? In other words can the two be adjusted separately?

the problem I've had using a CR was the high Alk associated with it's use, could not keep it below 10
 
Hi, No. Calcium reactors add calcium and carbonate together and this one is no different.

I hardly ever test calcium, I just stick to keeping alk stable. If it is, the calcium doesn't vary much. My calcium sits at 500 as my ceramics use up a little more alk. My alk has been sat at 8 forever.

The controller dial goes from 0-10. I was running it flat out at 10, but there is now a new upgraded peri pump. The smaller one is 4L/ hr. The new one is 12l per hour. My reactor is now running on 4. My alk is 8….. if it runs high, you just turn it down…. simple.

Mo
 
So you can set the Alk and the reactor will keep it there?

all calcium reactors are like this
you set your alk and the calcium is a bonus.

i think it was figured that for every DKH of alk, then you get 10 free calcium.

you cant adjust that ratio though. but, having a little extra calcium is no big deal. having too much ALK is a bigger deal.
 
lastly, i run a MRC CR-6 reactor and it works great. i have had no problems and i have been unning it for 2 years +

another person is "Reefski" he has a commercial MRC reactor that he used to use. you might ask him what he thought. it was a dual calcium reactor. (not a single and second reactor, but a true dual chamber)
 
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