need help with my new calcium reactor

rkehockey16

rkehockey16

New member
i bought jacks' Deltec PF601 Calcium reactor and need help setting it up. i have the regulator hooked up to the co2 tank, but i really am lost from there and i want to do this thing right. so if anyone wants to offer any suggestions of how to set it up or want to set it up for me for some free beer:) that would be cool as well. i have a 125 with a 30 gallon sump and a 20 gallon reservoir tank with a tunze osmulator for top off, just so you guys know my system.
thanks guys
Paul
 
DSC00158.jpg

here it is, guys i would really appreciate your help
 
Hey. Exciting to hear about your new purchase. That is a great reactor and you'll have some awesome growth. The reactor is simple once you understand how they work. Here is a link on getting everything hooked up correctly:
http://www.deltecusa.us/docs/CalciumReactors.pdf
Each manufacturer recommends a different initial setup. I set mine up at about 50 bpm and adjusted my effluent rate down to get the PH out of the reactor to about 6.7. Depending on your coral load, you'll have to increase or decrease.
Here is a link from Geo's setup instructions.. they teach the customer how the reactor works to help them better understand for tuning. Should be beneficial for you. Same principle as your deltec, just different media:
http://www.geosreef.com/forms/ca_reactor_instructions.pdf
Good luck!
 
I just bought and installed a Deltec PF601. Do you have the owners manual and all parts? It was pretty straight forward to install once I was able to rig hose fittings from the feed pump to the water intake. Feel free to give me a call if you want to talk about it. 434-660-6435 cell, 434-525-0161 home. I bought an Aqualifter pump to feed the reactor. It cost $11 or $12 online. The pump looks like an airpump that you might use for a freshwater tank.

The hose problem that I had with the pump is that it takes airline with a 1/4" OD while the fitting on the reactor is 5/16" ID. Lowes had fittings for both of these sizes in 1/4" male threaded on the other end of each. Problem was that they don't sell anthing to connect two 1/4" male threaded fittings. I ordered a jaco 1/4 x 1/4 female connector from Marine Depot and bought a slip (not truly slip since it's a 2 part piece to snug up the hose) fitting with a 1/4" male threaded end from Lowes for the 1/4" OD line. This fitting was better than a barbed fitting that would further restrict water flow.

Is your CO2 solenoid the type that will shut off when the power cuts off (like with a timer)? I set my bubble rate at 50-60 bubbles/minute and the solenoid (on a timer) allows a CO2 feed when my MH lights are on. I understand that the bubble rate and water flow through the reactor are ultimately adjusted over a period of time on a trial and error basis with testing of calcium, ph, alkalinity and such.

The media in your picture is well below the recommended level.

BTW, the blue linkia made its first appearance today. As I suspected, it was exploring the back/underside of my LR. I hadn't seen it for over a week since the first day in the tank but hadn't hit the panic button yet.
 
That size reactor on a 125 with no load, I would only run it a few hours a day until you are more accustom with your reactor. I would dump the media it came with and purchase new and start fresh.
That reactor takes around 18lbs of media and like Virginia Reef noted, that media is well below the recommended level.
My 2c, all you was to use a brute trash can and dose saturated kalk. That should have been your first purchase. Dosing kalk will take care of most tanks cal load alone. The only reason you should add a cal reactor is that you load is such that the kalk can not keep up.
Most people who run a cal reator also run a kalk reactor to keep their ph in check.
 
Controller

Controller

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11943242#post11943242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Virginia Reef

Is your CO2 solenoid the type that will shut off when the power cuts off (like with a timer)? I set my bubble rate at 50-60 bubbles/minute and the solenoid (on a timer) allows a CO2 feed when my MH lights are on. I understand that the bubble rate and water flow through the reactor are ultimately adjusted over a period of time on a trial and error basis with testing of calcium, ph, alkalinity and such.


Paul do you have a controller?
If you don't you will end up checking your reactor on a daily basis and becoming a slave to it.
I tried running my reactor without a controller and I came close to milking my media a few times, that is not good.
Once you set your controller with your reactor you will only have to check it once in a while. :rollface:
Click to expand...
 
i had a geo lack reactor, but got rid of it. i did not like the reactor and had a hard time with it clogging everything, it even nuked my tank once.
 
i have a aqua lifter pump that came with it, does that go in my sump to bring water into my reactor while it drips out calcium water?
 
How did you clog your reactor?
Were you mixing it with a timer and dosing as top-off?
Kalk reactor is cake compared to a cal reactor. The only thing is most kalk reators use maxi jets and the impeller need to be replaced after a while.
 
rkehockey16,

The aqualifter is run external to the sump but does draw water from the sump to feed the reactor.

ade,

I have the Aquacontroller III. Just got it as well as the Deltec! I think that I need another ph probe to run in the calcium reactor in order to use the controller??? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I also have a kalk reactor. I have a lot of learning to do regarding the calcium reactor and how to manage/monitor it in conjunction with kalk.

I currently run the kalk reactor on a dual dosing pump with the other line feeding rodi for topoff. I don't think that the controller would be a good fit with the dosing pump since turning off the power causes the dosing pump to reset. A penny for your thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul
 
paul,
thank you, so the water in the reactor is SW not Fw. now i understand i was thinking that it drew FW from the top off and put it in to the reactor, but my concern with that was over flowing.
thanks
Paul
 
Hey Paul are you going to be around 4pm ish? I was going to go over to UA after work I could stop by and take a look see if you want.
 
Sorry,

Leaving around 4:00 (from Lynchburg) to go to Blacksburg for a VT hoops game tonight. I was hoping to squeeze in about 20-30 minutes at UA on the way.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11945558#post11945558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Virginia Reef

ade,

I have the Aquacontroller III. Just got it as well as the Deltec! I think that I need another ph probe to run in the calcium reactor in order to use the controller??? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I also have a kalk reactor. I have a lot of learning to do regarding the calcium reactor and how to manage/monitor it in conjunction with kalk.

I currently run the kalk reactor on a dual dosing pump with the other line feeding rodi for topoff. I don't think that the controller would be a good fit with the dosing pump since turning off the power causes the dosing pump to reset. A penny for your thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul [/B]
Click to expand...

Hey Paul, Not sure about the AC III, I know that it does a lot, I am sure that someone can chime in on that (matt). The PH controller, controlls your reactor. It monitors the PH inside the reactor and shuts off the CO2 so that the PH inside the reactor doesn't go too low and make sure that it stays below 6.8 or whatever you set it at.
As far as your kalk reactor, I use mine as a top off. I use a Aqualifter to feed the Kalk reactor with RO witch in turn feeds my tank.
 
Your kalk topoff is run with a float switch through your controller? Or just a float switch directly to the pump? I decided on the dosing pump when I built the kalk reactor so that I wouldn't have a malfunction with a float switch and either overdose the tank or flood the floor. Still, the dosing pump is not exact science. It just eliminates (minimizes?) the chance of a catastrophic event.

I'm with you on the ph probe in the calcium reactor to run the CO2...just haven't done it yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FOX-FACE fanboy….
Calcium reactor components
Replies
7
Views
331
FOX-FACE fanboy….
FOX-FACE fanboy….
M
Help with setting up Red Sea Max G2 XL (Raleigh, NC Area) - Will PAY
Replies
0
Views
357
Matty2000
M
Reefing102
Equipment needed for a full calcium reactor set up?
Replies
4
Views
671
five.five-six
five.five-six
jbraslins
Automated RODI/Salt mixing station with 2 50 gal reservoirs in uninsulated garage?
Replies
7
Views
436
griss
griss
Broken reefer
Alk and calcium
Replies
3
Views
868
Reefing102
Reefing102
Back
Top