Calcium Reactor for a 90gal

heartbreak7 · 03/20/2006, 02:57 PM

Hello all, I'm looking for the best, most low maintenance calcium reactor for a 90 gallon tank about 60% sps dominated. I am not too familiar with the setup and use of a Calcium Reactor, so ease of use/setup should also be a factor to consider in your recommendations.

Thanks for the help

cyclgrl · 03/20/2006, 03:25 PM

I use a Knop C that I bought used. It's pretty easy to maintain and compact in size, which is what I like. That said, if I was going to buy one new, I'd probably look at a Schuran.

Bebo77 · 03/20/2006, 04:20 PM

i like my Aquatic Systems Design calcium reactor.. great price works well and if you want a custom size scott can make you one no problem....

heartbreak7 · 03/20/2006, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, anyone have experience with the Korallin series?

51504reef · 03/20/2006, 09:45 PM

I was not familiar with Calcium Reactors (dosing for years), but I went with a MRC -2(my reef creation) and have been completely satisfied with how easy it was to setup and the results are great. IMO-they are priced very reasonable as well. Hope that helps.

heartbreak7 · 03/20/2006, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the reply. What size tank are you using the myreef on? Do the MRC's come with pretty detailed installation instructions? Did you get a Ph monitor with it?

Thanks

51504reef · 03/20/2006, 11:47 PM

Its on a 120 gallon tank-50 gallon sump. It came with very easy to read directions that were fairly self explanatory-it did not come with a ph monitor but I bought a milwaukee controller just to keep an eye on things. I noticed a big difference in growth rates in my SPS.

maxxII · 03/21/2006, 12:53 AM

I'm running a Korallin 1502 on my 75 gallon SPS/Clam system.
Its the only reactor I've ever used so my experiance is kinda biased, but I'm not seeing anything I dont like from it.

I've only had it up and running for about a month, but my settings are very stable, and my tank parameters are solid. I have 3 clams in the tank, one of which is a small Derasa (about 6-7 inches in length). The Derasa has been draining my Dkh and Ca levels rapidly each day....I was having trouble keeping up w/ Kalk and two part additions. Not anymore.

It took about a week to get my reactor dialed in, but that is primarily due to the needle valve I have for my reactor. I would suggest buying the best one available.....skimping there means aggravation later. I'm only running a Pinpoint pH monitor on the reactor, but I'm dripping the effluent into the first compartment of my sump which has a fairly high influx of bubbles from the overflow and is also where my skimmer sits. This should help off gas any excess CO2.

The only comlaint I have about the Korallin reactors is the instruction manual that comes with them. They're about as useful as a Sear's instruction manual...'Placing hand of first on knob of left, push until rotation stops....."

I found this thread here on RC...Korallin Calcium Reactor

That really helped me dial this in.

Here are the instructions/hints from Dragon Slayer condensed and easily understood....Korallin Ca Reactor Setup Instructions

I was kinda apprehensive about setting this thing up...what if I screw it up, what if I drop the pH of my tank and kill everything, etc.......It was really a piece of cake. No where near the hassle I thought it would be.

Nick

elephen · 03/21/2006, 07:56 AM

I second the www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com reactors. I own 2 and absolutely love them. I havn't had to mess with either one of them in about 9 months now. Almost time to replace the CO2 tank.

03/20/2006, 02:57 PM	#1
heartbreak7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 165	Calcium Reactor for a 90gal Hello all, I'm looking for the best, most low maintenance calcium reactor for a 90 gallon tank about 60% sps dominated. I am not too familiar with the setup and use of a Calcium Reactor, so ease of use/setup should also be a factor to consider in your recommendations. Thanks for the help

03/20/2006, 04:20 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	i like my Aquatic Systems Design calcium reactor.. great price works well and if you want a custom size scott can make you one no problem.... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

03/21/2006, 12:53 AM	#8
maxxII Super Housemonkey! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 4,442	I'm running a Korallin 1502 on my 75 gallon SPS/Clam system. Its the only reactor I've ever used so my experiance is kinda biased, but I'm not seeing anything I dont like from it. I've only had it up and running for about a month, but my settings are very stable, and my tank parameters are solid. I have 3 clams in the tank, one of which is a small Derasa (about 6-7 inches in length). The Derasa has been draining my Dkh and Ca levels rapidly each day....I was having trouble keeping up w/ Kalk and two part additions. Not anymore. It took about a week to get my reactor dialed in, but that is primarily due to the needle valve I have for my reactor. I would suggest buying the best one available.....skimping there means aggravation later. I'm only running a Pinpoint pH monitor on the reactor, but I'm dripping the effluent into the first compartment of my sump which has a fairly high influx of bubbles from the overflow and is also where my skimmer sits. This should help off gas any excess CO2. The only comlaint I have about the Korallin reactors is the instruction manual that comes with them. They're about as useful as a Sear's instruction manual...'Placing hand of first on knob of left, push until rotation stops....." I found this thread here on RC...Korallin Calcium Reactor That really helped me dial this in. Here are the instructions/hints from Dragon Slayer condensed and easily understood....Korallin Ca Reactor Setup Instructions I was kinda apprehensive about setting this thing up...what if I screw it up, what if I drop the pH of my tank and kill everything, etc.......It was really a piece of cake. No where near the hassle I thought it would be. Nick __________________ A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun!"

03/20/2006, 03:25 PM	#2
cyclgrl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,266	I use a Knop C that I bought used. It's pretty easy to maintain and compact in size, which is what I like. That said, if I was going to buy one new, I'd probably look at a Schuran.

03/20/2006, 08:45 PM	#4
heartbreak7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 165	Thanks for the suggestions, anyone have experience with the Korallin series?

03/20/2006, 09:45 PM	#5
51504reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 62	I was not familiar with Calcium Reactors (dosing for years), but I went with a MRC -2(my reef creation) and have been completely satisfied with how easy it was to setup and the results are great. IMO-they are priced very reasonable as well. Hope that helps.

03/20/2006, 11:22 PM	#6
heartbreak7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 165	Thanks for the reply. What size tank are you using the myreef on? Do the MRC's come with pretty detailed installation instructions? Did you get a Ph monitor with it? Thanks

03/20/2006, 11:47 PM	#7
51504reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 62	Its on a 120 gallon tank-50 gallon sump. It came with very easy to read directions that were fairly self explanatory-it did not come with a ph monitor but I bought a milwaukee controller just to keep an eye on things. I noticed a big difference in growth rates in my SPS.

03/21/2006, 07:56 AM	#9
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	I second the www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com reactors. I own 2 and absolutely love them. I havn't had to mess with either one of them in about 9 months now. Almost time to replace the CO2 tank.