Calcium reactor help

hypnoj · 04/28/2013, 07:07 PM

It's time for me to buy a calcium reactor for my 240 gallon SPS tank. Please lend me any advice you have on which brands to go with for all of the individual components. I want the system to be as trouble free as possible.

Thanks.

James77 · 04/28/2013, 07:54 PM

Are you working with any type of budget here?

You cannot go wrong with a Geo reactor, I'd guess the 624. For a regulator, I would go with the Aquarium Plants electronic one, I have owned a couple on both SPS and planted tanks, and cannot say enough how reliable they are. Another company to consider, though I have no experience with, is Greenleaf Aquariums. They sell high quality regulators. Feed pump is the other main thing. Most get by with a simple manifold off their main pump, others a power head. Both work. But I have found the most reliable to be a continuous duty peristaltic pump like Master flex. All can add up quickly in price, though with patience and research, can be had pretty cheap.

If you can only splurge on one item, it should be the regulator. By far the most important piece of equipment for a stable CA reactor setup./

hypnoj · 04/28/2013, 09:17 PM

thanks for the input. That was sorta what my research had led me to believe as well. The feed pump your talking about, I'm not quite sure what that is. Is that just another pump besides the circulation pump that runs the effluent out of the reactor?

James77 · 04/28/2013, 09:33 PM

Yes. All reactors will have a pump that circulates the water in the reactor to dissolve the media. You need a separate pump to push a small amount of water through it. It can be done with a $10 powerhead. But IME, if you are looking for as close to fail proof as you can get, a peristaltic pump is best. It gives you both consistency and control. I have run 3 types of feed...a powerhead, a manifold off my main pump, and a masterflex peristaltic pump( my current). By far the best has been the peristaltic pump. Next would be the manifold, last would be powerhead. Actually it is more the needle valve that is used to control effluent that has been my problem. Any little spec of whatever clogged mine up. There have been no clogs in several months with my current setup.

badonkadonk · 04/30/2013, 06:49 PM

You should also consider a controller to monitor pH in the reactor to shut off the flow of CO2 at a minimum pH such as 6.5 to prevent the media from turning to mush. Best bet would be an Apex, though you could also go with a simple pH controller. I also second the regulator as being the most important link - I struggled with needle valves to maintain a constant bubble rate for a couple of years, then finally got the Aquarium Plants electronic which is 100% stable.

Adamc1303 · 04/30/2013, 11:57 PM

+ 1 on the aquarium plants regulators!

04/28/2013, 07:07 PM	#1
hypnoj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 952	Calcium reactor help It's time for me to buy a calcium reactor for my 240 gallon SPS tank. Please lend me any advice you have on which brands to go with for all of the individual components. I want the system to be as trouble free as possible. Thanks.

04/28/2013, 07:54 PM	#2
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Are you working with any type of budget here? You cannot go wrong with a Geo reactor, I'd guess the 624. For a regulator, I would go with the Aquarium Plants electronic one, I have owned a couple on both SPS and planted tanks, and cannot say enough how reliable they are. Another company to consider, though I have no experience with, is Greenleaf Aquariums. They sell high quality regulators. Feed pump is the other main thing. Most get by with a simple manifold off their main pump, others a power head. Both work. But I have found the most reliable to be a continuous duty peristaltic pump like Master flex. All can add up quickly in price, though with patience and research, can be had pretty cheap. If you can only splurge on one item, it should be the regulator. By far the most important piece of equipment for a stable CA reactor setup./ __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

04/28/2013, 09:33 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Yes. All reactors will have a pump that circulates the water in the reactor to dissolve the media. You need a separate pump to push a small amount of water through it. It can be done with a $10 powerhead. But IME, if you are looking for as close to fail proof as you can get, a peristaltic pump is best. It gives you both consistency and control. I have run 3 types of feed...a powerhead, a manifold off my main pump, and a masterflex peristaltic pump( my current). By far the best has been the peristaltic pump. Next would be the manifold, last would be powerhead. Actually it is more the needle valve that is used to control effluent that has been my problem. Any little spec of whatever clogged mine up. There have been no clogs in several months with my current setup. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

04/30/2013, 06:49 PM	#5
badonkadonk Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malibu, CA Posts: 227	You should also consider a controller to monitor pH in the reactor to shut off the flow of CO2 at a minimum pH such as 6.5 to prevent the media from turning to mush. Best bet would be an Apex, though you could also go with a simple pH controller. I also second the regulator as being the most important link - I struggled with needle valves to maintain a constant bubble rate for a couple of years, then finally got the Aquarium Plants electronic which is 100% stable. Last edited by badonkadonk; 04/30/2013 at 06:59 PM.

04/30/2013, 11:57 PM	#6
Adamc1303 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 964	+ 1 on the aquarium plants regulators! __________________ Metal Halide Connoisseur!

04/28/2013, 09:17 PM	#3
hypnoj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 952	thanks for the input. That was sorta what my research had led me to believe as well. The feed pump your talking about, I'm not quite sure what that is. Is that just another pump besides the circulation pump that runs the effluent out of the reactor?