CO2 Systems and Components, CO2 Regulator, CO2 Tank, etc.

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 12:13 PM

We are looking to purchasing a calcium reactor.

I am so confused on what to buy.
what do I buy?
do you need all the accessories?

If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

We are currently manually dosing oceans blend 1 & 2.

javajaws · 10/02/2007, 12:21 PM

You will need:

calcium reactor
ca reactor media
CO2 tank (5lb or 10lb)
CO2 regulator w/solenoid
Needle valve
CO2-safe check valve
pH Controller
CO2-safe tubing
bubble counter (some ca reactors include one)

You can usually get a regulator with an attached solenoid and needle valve (and possibly bubble counter).

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 12:32 PM

OK, this is a dumb question (I think)
what about the ph/alkalinity?
how is that now dosed?
there is so many product names out there which one is best?
or better than the others?

javajaws · 10/02/2007, 12:38 PM

The calcium reactor will keep up your calcium and alkalinity. You typically don't control pH in the tank directly. If your water chemistry is correct your pH will be just fine.

There are lots of different brands available that will work...just different quality levels and different price points.

For a good setup...something like a GEO calcium reactor, JBJ regulator w/solenoid and needle valve, and a pinpoint pH controller will work great. But there are so many other options out there that will work just as well.

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 01:49 PM

anyone else?

wife no likey · 10/02/2007, 01:55 PM

you don't need to use a ph controller.

The most important components are the feed pump and your regulator IMHO.

Personally, I use an Iwaki bellows pump (which is extremely consistent) and a dual stage regulator I got off ebay.

chem-e · 10/02/2007, 02:08 PM

If you looking for some general information, check out this article from Reef Keeping. This is just some general info on a calcium reactor and what it involves.

Hope this helps

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 02:09 PM

Thanks, wife no likey & javajaws
I'm still confused. like I said there are so many to choose from, the LFS just wants you to buy something, or lead you down the wrong road for something else.

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 02:19 PM

chem-e
Thanks, that link was good one.
It's a little scary that the co2 could explode in your house

javajaws · 10/02/2007, 02:47 PM

Having a CO2 tank explode is an extremely rare thing - nothing I'd lose sleep over. The more possible problem is that the pressure safety valve would pop. Generally, the only risk of that happening is when the tank is just filled. And just remember to keep the tank upright - especially when it is just filled.

And although you CAN setup a CA reactor without a pH controller (and thus wihtout a solenoid), I wouldn't suggest it because you run the risk of having a meltdown in your CA reactor due to too much CO2 and crashing your tank. Life is too short to have to worry about that happening.

edandsandy · 10/02/2007, 06:12 PM

Well, we went to our LFS today tom talk about the CA reactor, guess what?, they didn't even have one in stock!

javajaws · 10/02/2007, 06:52 PM

I don't think I'd buy this type of equipment locally unless you have a store that specializes in saltwater. Most other LFSs will just charge you an arm and a leg for sub-standard equipment (if they can help you at all). I'd suggest checking out one of the forum sponsors like Premium Aquatics. Small stores like PA will be able to help you on the phone or email to get you what you need.

10/02/2007, 12:13 PM	#1
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	CO2 Systems and Components, CO2 Regulator, CO2 Tank, etc. We are looking to purchasing a calcium reactor. I am so confused on what to buy. what do I buy? do you need all the accessories? If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. We are currently manually dosing oceans blend 1 & 2.

10/02/2007, 12:21 PM	#2
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	You will need: calcium reactor ca reactor media CO2 tank (5lb or 10lb) CO2 regulator w/solenoid Needle valve CO2-safe check valve pH Controller CO2-safe tubing bubble counter (some ca reactors include one) You can usually get a regulator with an attached solenoid and needle valve (and possibly bubble counter). __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

10/02/2007, 12:32 PM	#3
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	OK, this is a dumb question (I think) what about the ph/alkalinity? how is that now dosed? there is so many product names out there which one is best? or better than the others? __________________ Sandy ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> .¸¸.><((((º>•.¸. , . .•><((((º>.¸¸. Current Tank Info: 375 Reef, 4) Radion LED lights X30 pro, Apex Fusion, Octo Regal 300 E Skimmer, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor 2) Reeflo Snapper pumps, 2)50g refugium, 2) MP 40's

10/02/2007, 12:38 PM	#4
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	The calcium reactor will keep up your calcium and alkalinity. You typically don't control pH in the tank directly. If your water chemistry is correct your pH will be just fine. There are lots of different brands available that will work...just different quality levels and different price points. For a good setup...something like a GEO calcium reactor, JBJ regulator w/solenoid and needle valve, and a pinpoint pH controller will work great. But there are so many other options out there that will work just as well. __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

10/02/2007, 01:49 PM	#5
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	anyone else? __________________ Sandy ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> .¸¸.><((((º>•.¸. , . .•><((((º>.¸¸. Current Tank Info: 375 Reef, 4) Radion LED lights X30 pro, Apex Fusion, Octo Regal 300 E Skimmer, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor 2) Reeflo Snapper pumps, 2)50g refugium, 2) MP 40's

10/02/2007, 01:55 PM	#6
wife no likey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 647	you don't need to use a ph controller. The most important components are the feed pump and your regulator IMHO. Personally, I use an Iwaki bellows pump (which is extremely consistent) and a dual stage regulator I got off ebay.

10/02/2007, 02:08 PM	#7
chem-e Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,350	If you looking for some general information, check out this article from Reef Keeping. This is just some general info on a calcium reactor and what it involves. Hope this helps __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: Elos [~] 70 powered by Profilux

10/02/2007, 02:09 PM	#8
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	Thanks, wife no likey & javajaws I'm still confused. like I said there are so many to choose from, the LFS just wants you to buy something, or lead you down the wrong road for something else. __________________ Sandy ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> .¸¸.><((((º>•.¸. , . .•><((((º>.¸¸. Current Tank Info: 375 Reef, 4) Radion LED lights X30 pro, Apex Fusion, Octo Regal 300 E Skimmer, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor 2) Reeflo Snapper pumps, 2)50g refugium, 2) MP 40's

10/02/2007, 02:19 PM	#9
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	chem-e Thanks, that link was good one. It's a little scary that the co2 could explode in your house __________________ Sandy ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> .¸¸.><((((º>•.¸. , . .•><((((º>.¸¸. Current Tank Info: 375 Reef, 4) Radion LED lights X30 pro, Apex Fusion, Octo Regal 300 E Skimmer, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor 2) Reeflo Snapper pumps, 2)50g refugium, 2) MP 40's

10/02/2007, 02:47 PM	#10
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	Having a CO2 tank explode is an extremely rare thing - nothing I'd lose sleep over. The more possible problem is that the pressure safety valve would pop. Generally, the only risk of that happening is when the tank is just filled. And just remember to keep the tank upright - especially when it is just filled. And although you CAN setup a CA reactor without a pH controller (and thus wihtout a solenoid), I wouldn't suggest it because you run the risk of having a meltdown in your CA reactor due to too much CO2 and crashing your tank. Life is too short to have to worry about that happening. __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

10/02/2007, 06:12 PM	#11
edandsandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NE Florida Posts: 2,380 Blog Entries: 2	Well, we went to our LFS today tom talk about the CA reactor, guess what?, they didn't even have one in stock! __________________ Sandy ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> .¸¸.><((((º>•.¸. , . .•><((((º>.¸¸. Current Tank Info: 375 Reef, 4) Radion LED lights X30 pro, Apex Fusion, Octo Regal 300 E Skimmer, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor 2) Reeflo Snapper pumps, 2)50g refugium, 2) MP 40's

10/02/2007, 06:52 PM	#12
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	I don't think I'd buy this type of equipment locally unless you have a store that specializes in saltwater. Most other LFSs will just charge you an arm and a leg for sub-standard equipment (if they can help you at all). I'd suggest checking out one of the forum sponsors like Premium Aquatics. Small stores like PA will be able to help you on the phone or email to get you what you need. __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled