Two Part System or CA Reactor for Large Tank?

[NUBIANTANGLOVER]

Please Help Me!
I currently have a reef system with approximately 300 gallons of water with a Hammer Torch Coral, 2 Frag Acroporas, 1 Medium Sized Acropora, Galaxea, & Green Star Polyps and only two fish. (I know, I know, I'm going very slow with this tank). I have been maintaining calcium levels by manually dosing with Tech CB two part liquids (A & B). The corals are doing fine, but I'm sure they can grow much better with stable conditions.

I am also really tired of this and I would really like something more stable and automatic. I also want something where I can top off with water (as I can store large quanities of water directly behind my wall in the garage).

A Calcium Reactor is defintely more expensive, and scares the heck out of me, as the thought of having CO2 underneath the tank and it accidentially falling scares me for some reason. I am thinking maybe it can explode or something.

I have read all 13+ pages in the Two Part System vs. Calcium Reactor Thread here on RC, and I am even more undecided, as I read it thinking that I would defintely go with a two part automatic system. Whatever I select, must be easy to install and monitor. I also don't know the differences and benefits of a one part chamber vs. a two part chamber for these calcium reactors. I have even heard that I can maintain good calcium balances by simply using a kalk reactor.

I am hoping you guys can help as you can provide me with advice based upon your experiences. Please also describe and/or state the system (make and model) you use. This is very new to me, but I am wise enough to seek help from those who know when I don't. Thanks!

 

[mflamb]

I have a DIY reactor with Gen-X Ca media and Zeomag. I use a 20lb CO2 tank and a Milwaukee regulator controlled by a Neptune Systems AC3. It takes care of itself. I test Alk, Ca, Mg weekly. I dose a little Mg each week. I need to add a little more Zeomag to the reactor so I won't have to dose Mg.

 

[danskim]

A CO2 tank will not explode unless it falls and the top part breaks off or if it's near a high heat source.

I would say go with a Ca reactor because you can set it and not worry about it. A lot of the big tanks, especially the ones I've seen overseas use the Balling method which is close to using a two part solution.

For your light calcium load, maybe you should consider bulkreefsupply.com, one of the sponsors, because their kits will yield a lot more solution than the commercial ones for less money per oz.

 

[NUBIANTANGLOVER]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12098120#post12098120 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
I have a DIY reactor with Gen-X Ca media and Zeomag. I use a 20lb CO2 tank and a Milwaukee regulator controlled by a Neptune Systems AC3. It takes care of itself. I test Alk, Ca, Mg weekly. I dose a little Mg each week. I need to add a little more Zeomag to the reactor so I won't have to dose Mg.

Wow! I wish I was that handy to construct a DIY Calcium Reactor. I am guessing that I would need the following supplies to get started. Please correct me, as I am new to this:

1. Calcium Reactor
2. Media
3. Regulator
4. Co2 Bottle
5. Co2 Tank
6. Ph Meter or Probe to for measuring the pH
7. Alk, Mag & Calcium Test Kits

I have also read about a needle valve as well as solenoid. What are these items and what are they used for?

 

[NUBIANTANGLOVER]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12098467#post12098467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danskim
A CO2 tank will not explode unless it falls and the top part breaks off or if it's near a high heat source.

I would say go with a Ca reactor because you can set it and not worry about it. A lot of the big tanks, especially the ones I've seen overseas use the Balling method which is close to using a two part solution.

For your light calcium load, maybe you should consider bulkreefsupply.com, one of the sponsors, because their kits will yield a lot more solution than the commercial ones for less money per oz.

Thanks Danskim. I feel much better, as I was concerned considering that I have pets and kids. I do have room to add this underneath my tank, in the stand.

 

[NUBIANTANGLOVER]

What type of Calcium Reactor Brands are recommended for a 300 gallon system? I am looking for something easy to install and not too expensive.

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12098772#post12098772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NUBIANTANGLOVER
Wow! I wish I was that handy to construct a DIY Calcium Reactor. I am guessing that I would need the following supplies to get started. Please correct me, as I am new to this:

1. Calcium Reactor
2. Media
3. Regulator
4. Co2 Bottle
5. Co2 Tank
6. Ph Meter or Probe to for measuring the pH
7. Alk, Mag & Calcium Test Kits

I have also read about a needle valve as well as solenoid. What are these items and what are they used for?

Number 4 and 5 are the same thing. I got mine at beveragefactory dot com. The needle valve and solenoid comes with the regulator. I recommend Wilwaukee regulators and take a look at the Geo 624 calcium reactor. Great design. The pH controller turns on/off the solenoid to control CO2 flow to the reactor. The needle valve is used to adjust CO2 bubble count to the reactor.