Tunze CA Reactor

[Rob Schwartz]

Hi Roger,


Firstly, thank you so much for all the responses on this forum. I know that you generally have more items on your streams so here is a new one for you.

I am looking for some information on the Tunze Calcium Reactor, J&L Aquatics here in Canada is offering a package price with everything needed for about $600 cdn, which believe it or not is a very good price in Canada.

I am new to the reactor concept but understant that it is a great to have with SPS. My questions are as follows:

1. Why is it cheaper than so many of the other units, what are it's strengths and if you can tell me what are it's weaknesses (I undersand that sometimes I need to compromise for the lower price so don't worry about how your response sounds)!

2. I have an acrylic Uniquarium, where the sump and return are part of the main tank but sectioned off on the back, how does installation work, do I put it down below and send the return to the reactor and a new return back to the tank?

3. Lastly, any guidance or information on this purchase would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure if I can get the unit cheaper with exchange and everything in the states but I do travel to Seattle a fair bit, do you have a dealer there?

Thanks, and best regards,

Rob Schwartz

 

[rvitko]

The price from J&L is actually quite good, generally in America with an Aluminum bottle the retail is about $650. The unit has it's own pump and must sit submerged to a min depth of 20cm, it cannot fluctuate below this point and operate properly. I really don't know of two many weakneses other than that for a full blown SPS tank it probably has a maximum capacity of 500L or 125gal. It does require the pH controller to function properly. In my opinion their is no better pH controller and solenoid on the market. The electrode is a real deal glass/platinum lab electrode, the monitor is very accurate and switches the solenoid exactly at the set point down to the hundreths place. The electrode is low voltage, and nickel plated making it at least have a chance of surviving a screw up where saltwater enters the valve. The Calcium Reactor itself- works essentially the same as all others accept it must be submerged and you should use only Tunze media because it is a specially made compound of pure calcium carbonate and not a natural media, it dissolves thoroughly and without residue that could clog the pump or plumbing. It also because it is small has its limits- I would say 400gals if you are only trying to grow coralline and 120gals if you are heavy on clams and SPS. The design is very simple, no big Eheim pump and it isn't watertight- this makes it cheaper. Otherwise you set a drip rate and bubblecount the same as any other reactor. It has a run in time of about 3months similar to other reactors. It also can be quirky causing a KH of 16 and calcium of 340 or opposite KH of 8 and calcium of 500, I have seen both. I would assume J and L would only have the new model 3174/3. Please check this because in all honesty reactor 3174/2 was a poor performer. It was very weak and if anyone has one I hope they will contact me and we can arrange a discount or conversion.

 

[rvitko]

The price from J&L is actually quite good, generally in America with an Aluminum bottle the retail is about $650. The unit has it's own pump and must sit submerged to a min depth of 20cm, it cannot fluctuate below this point and operate properly. I really don't know of two many weakneses other than that for a full blown SPS tank it probably has a maximum capacity of 500L or 125gal. It does require the pH controller to function properly. In my opinion their is no better pH controller and solenoid on the market. The electrode is a real deal glass/platinum lab electrode, the monitor is very accurate and switches the solenoid exactly at the set point down to the hundreths place. The electrode is low voltage, and nickel plated making it at least have a chance of surviving a screw up where saltwater enters the valve. The Calcium Reactor itself- works essentially the same as all others accept it must be submerged and you should use only Tunze media because it is a specially made compound of pure calcium carbonate and not a natural media, it dissolves thoroughly and without residue that could clog the pump or plumbing. It also because it is small has its limits- I would say 400gals if you are only trying to grow coralline and 120gals if you are heavy on clams and SPS. The design is very simple, no big Eheim pump and it isn't watertight- this makes it cheaper. Otherwise you set a drip rate and bubblecount the same as any other reactor. It has a run in time of about 3months similar to other reactors. It also can be quirky causing a KH of 16 and calcium of 340 or opposite KH of 8 and calcium of 500, I have seen both and am not enough of an expert to really know how to remedy it, both are saturation and both aid growth. I would assume J and L would only have the new model 3174/3. Please check this because in all honesty reactor 3174/2 was a poor performer. It was very weak and if anyone has one I hope they will contact me and we can arrange a discount or conversion. Also, 1674/3 is what I use and it is weaker, it handles my 120 LPS and SPS tank quite well in use with the 5074 Calcium Dispenser- my readings are 10KH and 420Calcium. Not bad, but it did take 3months to get their. If I didn't use a Filter kit that is designed for the 1674/3 the 3174/3 is far superior.

 

[Rob Schwartz]

Roger, thank you for the info. J&L has always been great to me, their prices are on the money and are a great LFS IMO, so I will ask Alan about model number to be sure.

I have a 60 gal with plans to upgrade to perhaps a 180 in the next couple of years, I don't see us ever going with a full blown SPS tank though, it would always be a mix.

As a beginner is this a reasonable accessory to set up? Lastly, the area that the system would be submerged in, the sump for lack of a better word would be about 8 inches across by 4 inches wide, and 1.5ft deep. Would the reactor fit into a section this small or will I need to set up an alternate sump?

Thanks again!

Rob

 

[rvitko]

The width is the problem, you need at least 4.75". It really is no more difficult to set up than any Calcium Reactor- they do take a little more time and patience than most aquarium accessories.

 

[Rob Schwartz]

Gotcha, thank you.

On my next pilgrimage to J&L I'll take a look to see if it will fit. I do have 25 gal aquarium that I was planning to adapt into a sump/fuge at some point. I was waiting since I technically have this already as the all in one system.

Best,

Rob

 

[man910]

Can the unit be completely submerged?

 

[rvitko]

yes, I will check specifics on Monday but I seem to recall up to 1m underwater.

 

[man910]

Thanks and can you check if it has to be positioned standing up? In other words, can I lay it on its side?

 

[rvitko]

It has to stand upright but it can be submerged up to 1m minimum is 180mm.

 

[man910]

OK. Thanks.