How do you maintain your calcium reactor?

B

BlackTip

Active member
My reactor has been running for about 5 months. After 5 months, only 1/3 of the media chamber is empty. When I stop and start the reactor, a lot of sediment and small particles float to the top, the top 1/3 becomes very cloudy, and my tank gets cloudy. The sediments settled down after 1 hour or so.

I am using Reborn media.

Do I need to empty the reactor and clean the media? How often do you guys do this?

Or, should I just leave it alone?

I replaced the peristaltic pump hose after 3 months.

Thanks,
 
Curious... Why did you chose a reactor over dosing an AB solution?

I used to run a reactor a long time ago... I found the maintenance, as you're discovering, more than I wanted to deal with.

What media are you using?

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deputydog95 said:
Curious... Why did you chose a reactor over dosing an AB solution?

I used to run a reactor a long time ago... I found the maintenance, as you're discovering, more than I wanted to deal with.

What media are you using?

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

For the first 6 months, I used BRS 2 parts. I had a lot of precipitation, I had to clean the sump and equipment more often, I couldn't get the DKH above 8 no matter what I did, I had to mix jars of supplements every week or so, it was getting pricy. Using any other brands would have been cost prohibitive. I have 350g total water volume. I keep SPS and LPS.

With a reactor, it has been running for 5 months, the only thing I did is replace a hose (5 min), dkh and ca are very stable, I can push dkh as high as I want to, the reactor doesn't add just CA and carbonate, but all other types of minerals trapped in coral skeletons.

I use Reborn media.
 
I understand it's more cost effective. Especially on a tank that large.

I would not judge two parts effectiveness based on BRS. That is a bargain 2 part as far as I'm concerned.

My tank is about 120 gallons total column. I dose about 22 ml per day and maintain a steady dkh of 8.4

Its quite simple to raise or lower depending on my needs.

I ran a previous tank at 10 dkh by simply adding more solution.

I do use an automated doser though which simplifies the process.

I got tired of filling the co2 tank, measuring the effluent, and keeping the reactor maintained. Gets especially messy over time as the media will sometimes mush out over time and get mud like. Just time to clean it but more maintenance I didn't want to deal with.

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Very interested thread. I got a total of 175 gal volume. Packed full sps, mostly acropora. I use a doser. At this time , lm pumping in 75ml of Cal and Alk. I buy it in bulk. So its not to costly. Very easy to adjust. Just turn up the dosage alittle when needed.
 
I would give mine a good cleaning every 6 months or so when the media needed replenishing.

As far as why to use over two-part... two part gets expensive.
CaRx is more money upfront but cheaper in the long run.
It's also adding minor trace elements besides just Ca and Alk.
And with a proper setup, I found my CaRx to be much easier to adjust and keep stable.
Testing is easier too. It adds the elements in balanced amount so only tested Alk every few days. Mag once in a blue.

Nanos... probably best to just stick with dosing.
Large tanks... CaRx is better. Or use a complete systems like Triton, AquaForest, etc.... which can also get expensive.
 
How did a question about maintenance turn into why not to use a reactor at all?

I'm in the midst of a new build myself, and many years since I had a reactor, so I'd also like to see the input from others. As d2mini said though, I only messed with it when it was obviously time to add new media anyway, but we can always find new and better ways :) Using a peristaltic pump this time and hope it's much more worry free than last time!
 
Hey guys, good thread. Its all good. I think the op got some good info. But also got me thinking after reading that article some of the positive reasons why use a reactor. Thanks .
 
I would not judge my CaRx to be particularly difficult to maintain. About every 6 months the reborn media in the primary chamber has reduced to about one third. I remove the lid, suck out the remaining media (along with any detritus) with my buckethead. rinse it clean, and return it to the chamber with additional new media. Secondary chamber requires the same treatment about every 12 months. Refill the 20lb CO2 every 12-14 months and the masterflex tube every 3 months. Easy. Spent much more time mixing and dosing frankly.
 
I clean mine out every 4 to 5 months rinse media that as in reactor out with ro water and refill rest with new media. I have been using a reactor for the last 3 years would not have it any other way and ends up a lot cheaper time than 2 part dosing.
 
I just pull the lids off, siphon the junk with my python, add more media, change the masterflex tube. Takes me less than 10 minutes... A bottle of co2 lasts me about a year.
 
Something I have noticed with the reborn media is that after a few months (I replace 100% media quarterly) it looks like your reactor is still full, but if you squeeze the media between your fingers it crumbles really easily. The reborn seems to dissolve from the inside out in my experience, so I do a full drain, clean, new media every 3 months.
 
ThreeMoneyJ said:
Something I have noticed with the reborn media is that after a few months (I replace 100% media quarterly) it looks like your reactor is still full, but if you squeeze the media between your fingers it crumbles really easily. The reborn seems to dissolve from the inside out in my experience, so I do a full drain, clean, new media every 3 months.
Click to expand...

What pH do you run? I use reborn at 6.6 and no crumbling.
 
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