Calcium reactors.

It's late and I'm tired so this will be short.

I have one but not using it ATM due to the fact I only have small frags that don't consumer much in terms of alk and ca.

Basically a CA reactor is going to help maintain a steady Alkalinity level by adding C02 to a reactor chamber which is full of Calcium based media. The C02 causes the water to become slightly acidic(low pH) in the reactor which slowly dissolves the media allowing the dissolved calcium back into your tank for the corals to use to grow.

Easy to use if you have a controller that maintains the pH inside the reactor. One drawback is it can cause low pH problems in tanks.

I think once setup they are the easiest way to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels.

 

Jeremy did an excellent job explaining it without going into greater detail.

Are you currently dosing by hand? Another alternative is to continue dosing 2-part except using dosing pumps on timers. It's a cheaper alternative to calcium reactors but would require frequent testing to stay on top of your parameters.

 

yup Jeremy pretty much nailed it. It is a chamber where you can drop the pH to slightly acidic with the use of co2 injection. The co2 tank has a regulator and an electronic solenoid that opens and closes the flow of co2 based on the pH within the reactor (measured by a probe in the lid (alternatively you can measure the pH of the effluent (effluent: treated saltwater))). For instance, my solenoid turns on (opens) when the pH rises above 7.00, and turns off (closes) when the pH reaches 6.8.

The reactor is equipped with 1/4" RO type tubing feeding and coming out of the reactor. This dictates a pretty slow flow rate, the output line has a needle valve so I can throttle the flow down to around 1-2 cups per minute (a good starting place). Ultimately the flow rate is dictated by my carbonate hardness. When you set up the reactor, or reevaluate your flow rate every 6-7 months (as corals grow and biological demand for calcium and carbonate increase), you want to measure the kh every 24 hours until you get it dialed in. This usually takes me 3-4 days. If the kh is too high (above 10dkh) then I turn the flow down, if the kH is still low (below 7dkh) I turn the flow up.

Once the reactor is dialed in you can forget about it for some time. Not only does it improve your calcium and carbonate levels, but also many trace elements, and if you add a few cups of dolomite (a type of granular media) you can maintain your magnesium levels at the same time with the same device. The low pH can be counter acted well with the use of a kalk stirrer, or you can just live with it. However, SPS systems cope very well with slightly anemic pH (around 7.8-7.9). This detriment (if you want to call it that) of a lowered pH, precludes the fact that your pH will be VERY stable with a steady and constant kH. kH is (essentially) a measurement of how resistant the pH is to changes. This is a good thing, the higher the better really, but corals will only tolerate up to ~12dkH (and in biopellet/carbon dosing systems aka: ULNS ultra low nutrient systems are particularly sensitive to "alk burn" above 10dkH).

Anyways. I love mine. They're a good tool. They're very expensive (especially if you don't already have a pH controller (APEX, RK Elite, Milwaukee pH controller etc.).

 

So they keep both Calcium and Alk in check?

 

Correct

 

Generally it will not drop below 7.6. The buffering capacity of the carbonate added counter acts the effect of the effluent quite a bit. If you're using it right, it won't drop below 7.8. I highly recommend a 2 chamber system for absorbing excess CO2 injected into the chamber. This will improve the quality of the effluent greatly. At a pH of 7.6 everything will be fine, but SPS will start to build skeletons made of calcite rather than calcium carbonate. Calcite is much more thin and brittle than CaCO3.

Q: Hey, do you have any sodium bromite?
A: Na BrO

 

Great explanations guys..i have ben in the hobby about a yr and a half and seem to have figured most everything out by now except reactors and controllers. The above comments have gotten me the closest to getting an understanding for calcium reactors. I did not realize they control both ca and alk. I have never had a problem with ca but have had to dose the crap out of my system to keep my alk in check for months now. Sounds like a ca reactor might be my answer. Only problem is I doubt I can afford one anytime soon. Damn they are expensive!

The highest I can get my alk is about 7. If I don't dose it quickly drops low er. Ca and mg always test fine though. I am getting very tired of dosing constantly so I was going to get dosing pumps, but maybe I should get a ca reactor instead??

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to get and what else I ned to get it going..do I ned a controller? How do they work? Again I know nothing abbot this stuff so bear with me and any help is appreciated!

 

Lots of good info here.

Regarding a controller they are nice but not necessary. You can run a calcium reactor just fine with out a controller, ph probe or solenoid valve. I use a Korallin Calcium Reactor - one of the highest rated reactors. I have a controller capable of controlling it but choose to keep it as simple as possible. You'll need a Co2 tank (a 5 lb tank will last 6 months before needing a refill and refills only cost about $10) a regulator for it with a needle valve to control the co2 down to a slow bubble rate. Tunze has a very good and affordable one that I use with the needle valve built in.

My recommendations,





Korallin C1502 Calcium Reactor with Eheim Pump

Regulator

Empty CO2 tank - shop around ebay is a good place to find cheap new or used ones. Then take it to any welding supply shop to have it filled as they can not be shipped full.

ReBorn Coarse Aragonite Calcium Reactor Media and Mag Magnesium Media if you want.





Don't worry about any of the prices that they list if you shop around and find cheaper prices just note it on the order and they will match it plus 10% of the difference.

 

Check out youtube videos of them running and how they work it will give you a better understanding as well.

 

Avast marine just came out with some new calcium reactors. I havent heard any reviews on them yet but I am a big fan of the DIY kits they sell especially there kalk stirrer. so I haven't decided yet on wether I want to buy a octopus sro-5000 dual chamber reactor or a avast seabones III and a Seabones III add on chamber for my new system. any opinions from anybody on a calcium reactor that can handle a 1000+ gal system

 

And got a good deal . Lol.

 

I have the Korallin 1502 calcium reactor also and the thing is just awesome. Just set it and forget it.I have a controller hooked up to it to shut it down if the parameters get out of whack but that thing keeps working flawlessly without any real variances.

 

Thanks for the suggestions jaime. I will check those out as well as a few you tube vids to get a better understanding of how they work. I have been avoiding reactors and controller systems so far due to price, but have begun to realize it is inevitable so I just ned to bite the bullet and get them.

Why didn't anyone warn me reef keeping might leave me homeless?! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

Ps, roman the 2nd 125g isn't helping my $ situation either haha!

 

I have the Korallin 1502 Calcium Reactor its Great