What is the best Calcium Reactor for a 300 gal reef?

[stockham2121]

If Deltec and Bubble King are the best Protein Skimmers, what about Calcium Reactors? What is the difference between single column and dual column?

I already have the CO2 and regulator I want to buy the rest and need help with the decision.

 

[gcarroll]

"Deltec and Bubble King are the best Protein Skimmers."
What makes them the best?

I can't say what is the best but things that I look for in a reactor.

1. screw on lid. (this makes it easy to refill, none of those thumb screws)
2. reverse flow/ upflow. (no mess to clean out when media is exhausted and reactor burns media completly)
3. reliable pump.

Now to me the Deltec and Schurhan meet all three of those criteria. The Korallin and Precision Marine RFCa6 meet 2 of the 3 criteria, they do not have the screw on top.

 

[bonbon060604]

I have a korallin for sale, it's "the best" calcium reactor out there...J/K...

I agreed with gcarroll the thumbs screws suck.

 

[Bebo77]

yeah i head a lot of great things aboout the Schuran.. they are supposed to be the best but they cost a grip...http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/4908/cid/1408

i have one of these and i like it alot...

http://www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com/

 

[JenDub]

reeftek.com
These are affordable reverse flow reactors-they have keyholed flanges so you just have to loosen the thumbscrews, not remove them 100%

With the eheim pump they meet 2 of 3 at 1/2 the price =)

Plus you are supporting CA business =)

 

[marcrothschild]

Reeftek is in the south somewhere, not Cali.. I had a reeftek, and to be honest, it could not keep up with the demands of my 100g without CO2 buildup/airlock issues. That reactor could not keep a steady effluent rate with a high CO2 rate...it needed constant adjusting to prevent the pH from dropping too low in the reactor.
As far as the Schuran goes, it uses thumbscrews X4 which need to be completely removed to take the reactor chamber out....but this is no big deal...With the schuran, you will never have airlock issues with the pump, and I have burned 1/3 of a fill in 60 days. The company claims 1 fill a month can be dissolved if your system requires it.
I read some posts in the large tank forum that claimed that the JS1 was not really adequate for a 300SPS....The JS2 might be a better choice if you are doing a purely SPS
Hey Greg, whatreactor do you run? You tank is off the hook!

 

[BpOC]

H&S makes a good calcium reactor

 

[badbones]

How deep is your pocket???

I use an MTC ProCal. Its a great unit and once set , forget it until time to change. Holds 15-20lbs of media. Like Greg said, it meets 2 of the 3. I wish it was a reverse flow, but really have had no problems as long as I dont try to use the media left over when time to refill.

 

[JenDub]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7686805#post7686805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marcrothschild
Reeftek is in the south somewhere, not Cali.. I had a reeftek, and to be honest, it could not keep up with the demands of my 100g without CO2 buildup/airlock issues. That reactor could not keep a steady effluent rate with a high CO2 rate...it needed constant adjusting to prevent the pH from dropping too low in the reactor.
As far as the Schuran goes, it uses thumbscrews X4 which need to be completely removed to take the reactor chamber out....but this is no big deal...With the schuran, you will never have airlock issues with the pump, and I have burned 1/3 of a fill in 60 days. The company claims 1 fill a month can be dissolved if your system requires it.
I read some posts in the large tank forum that claimed that the JS1 was not really adequate for a 300SPS....The JS2 might be a better choice if you are doing a purely SPS
Hey Greg, whatreactor do you run? You tank is off the hook!

Reeftek is located in the thousand oaks area I thought. Greg R did the pictures for his webpage...

I love my reeftek - I moved the needle valve to the intake and tee'd it off my return-works like a charm =)

 

[ScallopKing]

Re: What is the best Calcium Reactor for a 300 gal reef?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7685745#post7685745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stockham2121
If Deltec and Bubble King are the best Protein Skimmers, what about Calcium Reactors? What is the difference between single column and dual column?

I already have the CO2 and regulator I want to buy the rest and need help with the decision.

Here's what I have - it's an MRC CR2. Good reactor imo.

Sean.

 

[dattack]

All reactors are pretty much the same. Just have to take in account the price, how easily it cracks, and of course no leaks.

 

[gcarroll]

Here is a pic of mine. Unfortunately it is no longer in production. Also I made a mistake. The Schurhan only meets 2 of my three criteria. I had it confused with the H&S which meets all 3.

 

[slavearm]

I really like the Octopuses for the Price. The pump is made by the same company that makes oceanrunner, and it is loud. But a 1250 will fit in it perfectly. The dual chamber model will hold about 30-35lbs of media, and it is reverse flow. The top is keyholed. No leaks, and all the fittings are JG, plumbing is very sound. It will only run you about $350 shipped.

The seals are all done VERY well. Reefmeister Saw my single chamber version. It is very sweet.

Good luck.

Shane

 

[Jar*Head]

Here is mine DIY dual chamber. Work great for me.

 

[chalowolf]

MTC ProCal!

 

[Costazul]

I have an old Korallin (1502) reactor for about 4 years. I don’t see why I have to change it. It can run for 9 months with 425ca and 10 alk without media replacement before you will see any fluctuation. I fill the CO2 every 1.5 years and not because its empty, just as a preventive measure. lol.

No matter what the technology change or people say about new reactors, I don’t figure out, how other reactor will perform better than this.

 

[marcrothschild]

Geg, I have seen that reactor @ Black Coral. It seems like an excellent design, who was making them? Are those microbubbles in the reactor chamber?

 

[gcarroll]

Yes, I run alot of co2 since I burn through about 6-8 lbs of media per month. The reactor is by ATI. They no longer produce it. The pump is an aquabee just like the deltec.

 

[BpOC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7712054#post7712054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll
Yes, I run alot of co2 since I burn through about 6-8 lbs of media per month. The reactor is by ATI. They no longer produce it. The pump is an aquabee just like the deltec.

and the H&S

 

[JenDub]

Hey Greg- where do the two black hoses coming out of the lid go? I see one is hooked back to the pump's intake (to reclaim co2 bubbles?). Is the other the effluent?