Calcium reactor setup
- Thread starter Chrisshoup420
- Start date
I think the prevailing wisdom with peristaltic pumps is to suck the water through the CaCl2 reactor. The thinking being that if the effluent clogs, you could catastrophically rupture the chamber.
I tap off of my return pump and use a high quality needle valve. That requires regular checkign and maintenance but works pretty good. Someday I’ll break down and buy peristaltic pump
I read good things about the kamoer also the ecotech versa is a good option.
One pro tip I use is to use PE tubing (because it doesn’t stretch like airline) and as short of a piece of as practical from the regulator to the bubble counter. This reduces the lag time from regulator adjustment to bubble counter.
Also, buy a good quality Co2 check valve to protect your regulator. Just a drop of salt water can cause catastrophic damage When your Co2 tank runs out.
I tap off of my return pump and use a high quality needle valve. That requires regular checkign and maintenance but works pretty good. Someday I’ll break down and buy peristaltic pump
I read good things about the kamoer also the ecotech versa is a good option.
One pro tip I use is to use PE tubing (because it doesn’t stretch like airline) and as short of a piece of as practical from the regulator to the bubble counter. This reduces the lag time from regulator adjustment to bubble counter.
Also, buy a good quality Co2 check valve to protect your regulator. Just a drop of salt water can cause catastrophic damage When your Co2 tank runs out.
1. I’ve found it to be more efficient to push water through, either via the Kamoer, small feed pump, or tee’ed off the main with a controlled flow. The chamber should be able to withstand whatever pressure by these tiny feeds.
2. Kamoer: I bought them off AliExpress for $165, a little more now due to stupid tariffs. Kamoer works way better than Ecotech gear if you’re looking for something for continuous duty.
$272.09 | Kamoer FX-STP2 WIFI PerIstaltic Continuous Duty Dosing pump Reef Aquarium Calcium Reactor Circulation Pump Self-Priming Pumps
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrWFce7
3. CO2 regulator: I have 2 CarbonDoser.com regulators and 1 Alan Le version. I prefer the former actually - it’s very accurate and you can see what bubble/min you’re at.
4. +1 on check valve: I installed a Tunze check valve on all my CaRx!
2. Kamoer: I bought them off AliExpress for $165, a little more now due to stupid tariffs. Kamoer works way better than Ecotech gear if you’re looking for something for continuous duty.
$272.09 | Kamoer FX-STP2 WIFI PerIstaltic Continuous Duty Dosing pump Reef Aquarium Calcium Reactor Circulation Pump Self-Priming Pumps
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrWFce7
3. CO2 regulator: I have 2 CarbonDoser.com regulators and 1 Alan Le version. I prefer the former actually - it’s very accurate and you can see what bubble/min you’re at.
4. +1 on check valve: I installed a Tunze check valve on all my CaRx!
You don’t have to quit your other method of supplying the tank with the major elements cold turkey, in fact, it’s better to slowly add the CaRx into the mix by lowering your other method slightly and slowly increase the co2 into the reactor until you reach equilibrium. Your alkalinity may rise a little in the process, but don’t worry it will even out. The hydros sole is another choice for a peristaltic pump and I would “pull” instead push with a peristaltic pump as Mark has mentioned. Spend the money on a quality two stage regulator, Alan Le makes amazing regulators and they’re worth every penny. If you’re old school, you can look for an old masterflex as your feed pump. They’ll outlive your tank and probably everything else. Reborn is a good choice, but remember it adds phosphorous along with calcium and alkalinity, so if you’re nutrient poor, it’s a good option, but if you’re like me and have PO4 in abundance, there are other media choices that are “clean” which only supply calcium and alkalinity, Tunze being one of them. There’s a great thread on reef central that goes into detail about setting up a reactor, I would read it a couple times. I run mine based on the tank’s demand and not a set dkh effluent.
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All of this is good advice but remember what you have is an "all in one" system including the recirc and feed pump. Co2 is also controlled via solenoid valve (down stream of the regulator) so you need to know what the recommended setting is for the regulator. I highly recommend you find the manual (prob online) and follow it to the letter including which way the feed pump draws water.
CO2 regulators: Alan makes good ones from high quality parts but my number one gripe is how do you know your reference point? The CarbonDoser.com unit has the dial to know that the set point is x bubbles per minute. Other than that, the Alan Le ones are built to last for many years to come! The OP has a CarbonDoser.com unit from one of the pics and it’s very reliable as well
We didn't always have the carbon doser, so it's as simple as opening the valve a little bit at a time until you can count the bubbles. You usually start with a 1/4 turn and go from there. The set point is what you want it to be. You set your pressure to 8-12lbs and then open the secondary valve to achieve your desired rate. The precision of Alan's regulators is far superior to that of the carbon doser, especially when they're around the same cost. I'm not trying to shit on the carbon doser, there are tons of them out there doing the job and if the OP has one and it's working, that's great, but if you're just setting up a reactor and you want reliable, durable and precision co2 dosing, it starts and ends with a quality dual stage regulator.
@Chrisshoup420
you have everything you need. just follow these instructions:
https://www.pacific-sun.eu/pliki/Calcfeeder_Pro_manual_EN_v3.pdf
you have everything you need. just follow these instructions:
https://www.pacific-sun.eu/pliki/Calcfeeder_Pro_manual_EN_v3.pdf
The reactor you got is a dastaco knock off. I bought one of these about 8 years ago but it was a bigger size. I bought it direct from pacific sun. When it arrived the outside of the box had bubble wrap but the unit was broken inside. With them being in Poland it was the worst aquarium purchase I have ever done. After a big fight with them to replace the body 4 months later the glued separated where the thumb screws go in. The feed pump is amazing. The extra body you have for degassing is great to have. The main calcium reactor I would throw in the trash as it will cause you nothing but problems. Get a normal reef Octo, geo, or standard calcium reactor you will have a much better experience.
there is a thread on reef central that may help you if you decide to run it. I think all in that group eventually moved on to a traditional reactor.
there is a thread on reef central that may help you if you decide to run it. I think all in that group eventually moved on to a traditional reactor.
