People still using a calcium reactor?
- Thread starter karsseboom
- Start date
Acronic
The Fifth Master
Word, I was just curious. I have never run a calcium reactor and wasn't sure if there were other factors like PH or consumption that limited the ability to run lower alk levels. Carbon dosing was my concern when I asked that question.
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
Pity the fool who does not automate Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium supplementation.
Mock
Saltwater Junkie
Dont know about Mag but Alk and Cal yes....
I myself have ran a reactor before and never liked it. Too many qizmos to go wrong, leaks, you name it. Then the mess of having to reload it, then reset it and on and on and on... More of a hassle for me.
I envy those that have a set it and forget it reactor but for me the ease comes in dosing two part with dosing pumps. I can keep my numbers solid as a rock with them and if needed adjust slightly down to the ML up or down with no problems.
Its all preference or what you have experienced in the past. I go through about a gallon of solution ever two weeks and its nothing to cook up some baking soda and stir up a little prestone to make up new...
re-fill reactors???? what media do you guys run that need re-filling in a few months. i am currently running TLF reborn and in the past ran large media just like this and have NEVER had to refill media or even noticed a drop in media. My last tank was over 300g HEAVY sps with a large frag tank, i ran the reactor at 6.3-6.4 and never touched it for 2 years until i broke the tank down.
Wow. That's a first... sounds like something strange was going on there for you not to see your media dissolving.. That's the whole purpose of a calcium reactor.. to dissolve the aragonite into a liquid form to be absorbed by the corals and other animals that require it. You've got me puzzled on this one... either your CR PH probe was waaay off and you didn't notice issues because you were doing pretty large regular water changes that kept up with your cal/alk demand or your media was straight from Krypton! What brand media were you using at the time? Are you seeing your media dissolve now? How do you like the TLF brand?
ros_sco
Premium Member
I have a GEO 618 and also am using Reborn. I ran Gen-X large media until I couldn't get it anymore, used one jug of large ARM (didn't like it as much) and switched to Reborn. I am almost done with my second bucket of Reborn. When I had the GEO on my totally SPS packed 75, the effluent rate was 150 ml per minute with a bubble rate of 110 bubble per minute and an internal pH of 6.65 -6.7. The reactor could barely keep up. I went through about 2 pounds of media per month and a 10 pound bottle of CO2 every 3 months. I transferred almost everything to my 210 mid September, and now that growth has started again the level in the reactor has dropped 2 1/2 inches in the last month and a half. As soon as I see signs of the reactor struggling to keep the alk/CA stable in the new tank, I will be switching to a GEO 818.
blakers82
Member
I'm using a MRC CR-2. It has the second cylinder to help raise effluent pH. While it may not last long, I'm still using Gen-X media and I search hard for it 
. I feel that my media disappears much slower than it should. As others have said countless times, GET A QUALITY REGULATOR. My fellow reefing friends and I have combined to have run about 6 different regulators or something silly like that. Unfortunately, all have seemingly had issues-- all the way up to the digitally controlled bubble counters, etc. My latest is a Reef Fanatic regulator and has been good all year. Santa even brought it a gift. A rag to clean her gauges Har Har.
It is true that there are more steps along the process (CRs vs. Dosers). My recent issue was my MaxiJet feed pump losing its pressure on its own and my effluent coming to a stop! I read from reactor setup instructions to not T off of my return pump, but now I'm thinking about it.
Oh, despite my second cylinder AND nightly kalk top off, my pH can get really low. Lowest and second lowest reading this month was 7.49 on Christmas and a dip 7.58 on the 18th.
. I feel that my media disappears much slower than it should. As others have said countless times, GET A QUALITY REGULATOR. My fellow reefing friends and I have combined to have run about 6 different regulators or something silly like that. Unfortunately, all have seemingly had issues-- all the way up to the digitally controlled bubble counters, etc. My latest is a Reef Fanatic regulator and has been good all year. Santa even brought it a gift. A rag to clean her gauges Har Har. It is true that there are more steps along the process (CRs vs. Dosers). My recent issue was my MaxiJet feed pump losing its pressure on its own and my effluent coming to a stop! I read from reactor setup instructions to not T off of my return pump, but now I'm thinking about it.
Oh, despite my second cylinder AND nightly kalk top off, my pH can get really low. Lowest and second lowest reading this month was 7.49 on Christmas and a dip 7.58 on the 18th.
Someone referred me to a reef fanatic regulator when I first got my GEO Reactor years ago. The only valves present to adjust are the needle valve to set you bubble count and the one to set the effluent drip rate. The Reactor pressure is set automatically by the regulator and you never have to touch it! This regulator is ROCK SOLID after years of use and is less all the digital gizmos that you see on some of the newer reactors. I strongly recommend them.
I'm using a MRC CR-2. It has the second cylinder to help raise effluent pH. While it may not last long, I'm still using Gen-X media and I search hard for it
It is true that there are more steps along the process (CRs vs. Dosers). My recent issue was my MaxiJet feed pump losing its pressure on its own and my effluent coming to a stop! I read from reactor setup instructions to not T off of my return pump, but now I'm thinking about it.
Oh, despite my second cylinder AND nightly kalk top off, my pH can get really low. Lowest and second lowest reading this month was 7.49 on Christmas and a dip 7.58 on the 18th.
You're on the right track! I learned not too long ago to once every six months to disconnect my maxijet feed pump and simply blow in to the feed line of the reactor. Works like magic and keeps your reactor flowing nicely. The maxijet is not a pressure rated pump so overtime that line can become blocked.. Mine drove me crazy with that after a while, when i learned how to fix the issue, I had to laugh at my self due to the fix being so simple, but assuming that it was complex as so many other things in this hobby. LOL. As for your PH, try to get you skimmer air tube routed outside the house or setup a simple C02 scrubber, where you suck your skimmer air through a container filled with soda lime.. Here is a link with the concept... You can set one up very easily and its cheap!
http://glassbox-design.com/2009/soda-lime-co2-scrubbers-mcu-research/
davemc1234
New member
I have used many different ca reactors and balling ,and must say the DASTACO2 CA REACTOR to be the best and easiest to use .No ph probes ,just one dial turn up to increase down to decrease,very stable.
davemc1234
New member
davemc1234
New member
davemc1234
New member
davemc1234
New member
blakers82
Member
That's exciting. The initial costs listed are $50-100 and $30 refills. I'd hope to find a cheaper solution considering it mentions the media loses effectiveness in 1-3 months. I'm heading off to work, but I'll have to look more into this. Thank you for the heads up!!!
REEF SMAC
New member
Love my Ca reactor.
Can't imaging using anything else on a large demand system.
Made my own.
Set it forget it.
Need to add more media when my alk starts dropping too low.
(or I add some baking soda daily until I get around to it)
If I want my alk lower, I lower the bubble count.
If I want my alk higher, I raise the bubble count.
Refill it with media twice a year along with cleaning out the inlet tubing.
20# C02 bottle lasts me almost a year.
Been running 6 years non-stop.
No problems.
It's probably the most non-maintenance part of my entire system.
Can't imaging using anything else on a large demand system.
Made my own.
Set it forget it.
Need to add more media when my alk starts dropping too low.
(or I add some baking soda daily until I get around to it)
If I want my alk lower, I lower the bubble count.
If I want my alk higher, I raise the bubble count.
Refill it with media twice a year along with cleaning out the inlet tubing.
20# C02 bottle lasts me almost a year.
Been running 6 years non-stop.
No problems.
It's probably the most non-maintenance part of my entire system.
