who is using a calcium reactor?

[AquamanE]

Yes, the Carbon doser is an electric regulator, but they can also be fitted to another regulator and run inline.

Yes. But note: The Carbondoser from aquarium plants is a dual stage regulator like anyother. What makes it different is the part that actually feeds the co2 to the CaRx. Instead of it being a pressure switch with a solenoid that opens and closes it, its an electronic gadget that does the dosing.

 

[Delsfishes]

Is the regulator the same as the electronic carbon doser?

Had a carbondoser worked well but still like the stainless line dual german regulators not because they look pretty but durability. Will last a few generations before it goes and its flawless. Pricey but worth it to me if you don't want the headache. I don't need now as I use the pro sea salt and my system is stable with the water changes and calcium stays put.

 

[dadummy]

Not sure where you are getting you info from DDummy. Carbon doser from aquariumplants.com is a dual stage regulator. It will not allow "end of tank dump" since its electronic and does not operate based on tank pressure. google the carbon doser from aquarium plants for more info. I have it hooked up to my Apex and it works flawlessly.

Awesome Find on the masterflex. send info my way if you seee another please.

Im not saying this is the only way to go. Obviously many choices out there, but the OP asked what we like, and why. :love2:

checked AP website, no where does it say it's a dual stage reg, hard to believe they crammed two diaphragms in that tiny valve body
I am not knocking the carbon doser, did some searches and always end up in the planted tank forums. Think RC will hang me, again, if I post the links. Found info where someone took the black box apart but couldn't fine the thread. Supposedly a clippard mouse driven by pulse width modulation is what's inside the box.

I hit ebay for the Masterflex, found one that looked good with 75 buck shipping, offered them 50 bucks. Told them if it didn't work, no way was I paying shipping to return it. They accepted the offer. Tried lowballing offers on several more to set up auto water change and have had no luck.

 

[AquamanE]

checked AP website, no where does it say it's a dual stage reg, hard to believe they crammed two diaphragms in that tiny valve body
I am not knocking the carbon doser, did some searches and always end up in the planted tank forums. Think RC will hang me, again, if I post the links. Found info where someone took the black box apart but couldn't fine the thread. Supposedly a clippard mouse driven by pulse width modulation is what's inside the box.

I hit ebay for the Masterflex, found one that looked good with 75 buck shipping, offered them 50 bucks. Told them if it didn't work, no way was I paying shipping to return it. They accepted the offer. Tried lowballing offers on several more to set up auto water change and have had no luck.

DaDummy- thanks for the Masterflex advice, ill keep my eyes open as i try to work with the Kamoer when it comes back. What do you think of a single head, adjustable Stenner, for effluent feeding? They are continous running commercial pumps.

On th AP CD, I thought dual stage meant 2 gauges, one for feeding flow rate, the other for measuring tanks remaining volume. You are obviously more technically knowledgable than I am.

 

[dadummy]

I don't know much about the pumps, only what I have read online, any continuous duty pump for the right price is worth a shot to me. Have read good things about Stenner. Millipore was another often seen on ebay with a cole palmer masterflex head. I am sure there are other manufactures that are good too??

 

[nivram]

who is using a calcium reactor?

Yes. But note: The Carbondoser from aquarium plants is a dual stage regulator like anyother. What makes it different is the part that actually feeds the co2 to the CaRx. Instead of it being a pressure switch with a solenoid that opens and closes it, its an electronic gadget that does the dosing.

It's an electronic solenoid or valve Eddie. The carbon doser is nice as a plug and play option. However with the "high end" or professional grade regulators, I don't necessarily believe a carbon doser is needed. The builds I've seen these guys do in one of the threads, they are using much nicer valves that make tweaking bubble counts and pressure adjustments a lot easier.

The carbon doser has a light that flashes per the set bubble rate (unless you have the lad model) so I think the newbies like myself find that visual easier to use in making adjustments. I've had my carbon doser for about two years. I did have to send it in to be rebuilt. I forget the cost, but it's stated on their site. It was relatively painless except for the part where I was without the regulator for a couple days to a week. The issue was the "gizmo" Eddie referred to stopped working. Luckily for me my tank wasn't at a point where I needed it.

Here's the thread to check out if you want to build your own. How to build a CO2 regulator for your calcium reactor.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461771

 

[rovster]

Eddie the amount of gauges is not related to stages. Dual stages step down the pressure from the bottle so the second stage fine tunes. Is more stable especially as the pressure in the bottle drops.