Octopus Calcium Reactor
- Thread starter mlb75
- Start date
THEKIDSTA1
New member
Well guys I hate to burst your bubble, but i had to get rid of my octopus calcium reactor... They are very diffiult to calibrate just right..you will spend days if not weeks getting it to work right...meanwhile too much Co2 is pumped and your whole tank goes out of wack...killing or closing some corals..I will never again use or buy an Octopus calcium reactor,,,,in my opinion...
Eddie
Eddie
I was told that it is very difficult to dial in any calcium reactor at all, that you will always be tinkering with them trying to get them just right. is this true? My lfs told me they are not needed, using kalwasser and dose liquid will work fine, and save many headaches. does anyone have a reactor that they do not have to mess with, that just works for them?
Thekidsta1, which model did you have and how did you have it hooked up? What did it do that caused you so much frustration? The reason I ask is that from what I can see the setup on this one really isn't different than any of the others I've seen. It's designed to be set up and not require a feed pump, it should just draw the input via venturi but I wouldn't trust that. From what I can see though other than that it appears to be a good looking well built unit.
THEKIDSTA1
New member
i used A.R,M media, and the bubble count was about 1 every 3 to 4 sec. As far as the feed pump, you will always need to feed it water from your tank, if not it would empty out, mine used to draw water from a maxijet 900 i think,,,anyway the bubble count was fine for a few min before i went to work, when i returned it was out of control, the tank was always out of wack...to much alk, or too much calcium..my corals were not healthy. I was so frustrated that I now dose kalkwasser, and add strontium and magnesium...
I recently got the CR140D it's got two 6.5" chambers, I haven't got mine running on my system yet but have had it setup to do some testing and my bubble count would hold steady whereever I set it. I think you may have had a bad regulator or needle valve. I can see where if that was off it would be a major PITA if not impossible to get right.
My understanding is that you should have a bubble count around 2-4 a sec. does that sound right? Then adjust the amount going back to the tank to stabilize the calc and alk.
Other than that it appears to be built very well with O ring seals everywhere, built in bubble counter, the two cylinders are braced together at the top and bottom, and it's footprint is pretty compact for the chamber size.
My only question for setup is the valve at the top of chamber 1, between the purg and the pump feed line, should it be open or closed during normal operation? I know it should be open to purg air from the system but then are you supposed to connect them and close the valve or what?
Thanks
My understanding is that you should have a bubble count around 2-4 a sec. does that sound right? Then adjust the amount going back to the tank to stabilize the calc and alk.
Other than that it appears to be built very well with O ring seals everywhere, built in bubble counter, the two cylinders are braced together at the top and bottom, and it's footprint is pretty compact for the chamber size.
My only question for setup is the valve at the top of chamber 1, between the purg and the pump feed line, should it be open or closed during normal operation? I know it should be open to purg air from the system but then are you supposed to connect them and close the valve or what?
Thanks
RichConley
New member
You had a bad regulator/needlevalve/etc. Thats got nothing to do with the calcium reactor itself.
mr. pluto
New member
sounds like a bad regulator. for better o rings for the jugs order
mcmaster & carr #433 S70 they are 1/4" dia. also use the gen-x media. mine did not have any purge lines but i tapped my own
& for me, i fill it from the return line, close off the feed line &
co2 line & the air & water goes out my purge line. next i shut it off
& hook up the feed pump back to the feed line & run it wide open
till you feel there is no more trapped air.
mcmaster & carr #433 S70 they are 1/4" dia. also use the gen-x media. mine did not have any purge lines but i tapped my own
& for me, i fill it from the return line, close off the feed line &
co2 line & the air & water goes out my purge line. next i shut it off
& hook up the feed pump back to the feed line & run it wide open
till you feel there is no more trapped air.
THEKIDSTA1
New member
yeah sounds right...the reactor itself is built tough and well...it just didnt work right for me. the regulator could of been defective, but it was new...damn i must have the worst luck...
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