cheap calcium reactor Will this work? new q

Tajjo · 03/01/2008, 07:24 PM

Hi everyone, my brother is looking for a CR, is this alright for a 55 gal with a 30gal sump? He has a 75 gal RR he is going to build a stand for.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~ES33504.html

They seem alright for the price, What kind of media would you say he should buy? the thin stuff of the thick stuff? thanks!

What about the http://www.coralvue.com/octopuscalcium.html calc reactor? Are these any good?

Tajjo · 03/01/2008, 07:26 PM

This will be for SPS / Zoa tank. He has 6x54 t5 HO tek light, and has 2 250 mh waiting for his new tank.

Tajjo · 03/01/2008, 07:36 PM

Does a CR help SPS or other animals grow faster?

m2434 · 03/01/2008, 07:49 PM

I've heard that they're OK, but the expense is not in the unit itself, but the CO2 accessories.... It should help coral growth if set up properly.

Tajjo · 03/01/2008, 07:58 PM

He has a freshwater planted tank, he has a co2 set up, a regulator and has 2 milwaukee ph controllers.

thanks m2434.

chrismunn · 03/01/2008, 08:07 PM

the ca reactor dissolves solid calcium media into soluable calcium.

the corals that build calcium skeltons (sps, lps) are then able to utilize the liquid calcium created by the reactor to help build thier skeletons.

from what ive read, the reactor should not increase the amount of calcium in the tank, but instead maintain a certain amount of calcium.
for example, you can use an additive like b-ionic, or straight calcium hydroxide to raise ca in the tank to 420ppm, and then set the effluent from the reactor at a rate that maintains that 420ppm ca, without lowering or raising.

i dont know what im talking about because ive never used one, but here is a link that should help. at the bottom of the page there is another link to a helpfull artical as well.

http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html

as for that specific reactor, i have no idea?

Tajjo · 03/01/2008, 08:20 PM

What about the http://www.coralvue.com/octopuscalcium.html calc reactor? Are these any good?

03/01/2008, 07:24 PM	#1
Tajjo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 1,039	cheap calcium reactor Will this work? new q Hi everyone, my brother is looking for a CR, is this alright for a 55 gal with a 30gal sump? He has a 75 gal RR he is going to build a stand for. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~ES33504.html They seem alright for the price, What kind of media would you say he should buy? the thin stuff of the thick stuff? thanks! What about the http://www.coralvue.com/octopuscalcium.html calc reactor? Are these any good? Last edited by Tajjo; 03/01/2008 at 08:20 PM.

03/01/2008, 07:26 PM	#2
Tajjo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 1,039	This will be for SPS / Zoa tank. He has 6x54 t5 HO tek light, and has 2 250 mh waiting for his new tank. __________________ Expect the worst and hope for the best! Current Tank Info: 75 gal display, 40 breeder sump. 1 Tunze 6105, 1 Maxi Jet mod, octopuss nw 200, 618 GEO calcium reactor, 2 250w mh icecap pendant with icecap ballast, pheonix bulbs, with 4 t5 VHO actinic

03/01/2008, 07:36 PM	#3
Tajjo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 1,039	Does a CR help SPS or other animals grow faster? __________________ Expect the worst and hope for the best! Current Tank Info: 75 gal display, 40 breeder sump. 1 Tunze 6105, 1 Maxi Jet mod, octopuss nw 200, 618 GEO calcium reactor, 2 250w mh icecap pendant with icecap ballast, pheonix bulbs, with 4 t5 VHO actinic

03/01/2008, 07:49 PM	#4
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	I've heard that they're OK, but the expense is not in the unit itself, but the CO2 accessories.... It should help coral growth if set up properly. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

03/01/2008, 07:58 PM	#5
Tajjo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 1,039	He has a freshwater planted tank, he has a co2 set up, a regulator and has 2 milwaukee ph controllers. thanks m2434. __________________ Expect the worst and hope for the best! Current Tank Info: 75 gal display, 40 breeder sump. 1 Tunze 6105, 1 Maxi Jet mod, octopuss nw 200, 618 GEO calcium reactor, 2 250w mh icecap pendant with icecap ballast, pheonix bulbs, with 4 t5 VHO actinic

03/01/2008, 08:07 PM	#6
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	the ca reactor dissolves solid calcium media into soluable calcium. the corals that build calcium skeltons (sps, lps) are then able to utilize the liquid calcium created by the reactor to help build thier skeletons. from what ive read, the reactor should not increase the amount of calcium in the tank, but instead maintain a certain amount of calcium. for example, you can use an additive like b-ionic, or straight calcium hydroxide to raise ca in the tank to 420ppm, and then set the effluent from the reactor at a rate that maintains that 420ppm ca, without lowering or raising. i dont know what im talking about because ive never used one, but here is a link that should help. at the bottom of the page there is another link to a helpfull artical as well. http://www.melevsreef.com/calcium_reactor.html as for that specific reactor, i have no idea? __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

03/01/2008, 08:20 PM	#7
Tajjo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 1,039	What about the http://www.coralvue.com/octopuscalcium.html calc reactor? Are these any good? __________________ Expect the worst and hope for the best! Current Tank Info: 75 gal display, 40 breeder sump. 1 Tunze 6105, 1 Maxi Jet mod, octopuss nw 200, 618 GEO calcium reactor, 2 250w mh icecap pendant with icecap ballast, pheonix bulbs, with 4 t5 VHO actinic