Calcium Reactors -- are you using them and why (not)

[Deleted member 20245]

I've been using a calcium reactor for more than a decade and it's been a great solution for a lazy reefer like me. I've even signed up a membership at my local beer pub for easy exchanges of CO2 (ok, yes -- for those tap brews as well). Anyway, I'm curious if you guys are using calcium reactors, are you happy with them, and why?

As for me -- until last month, I had a calcium reactor hooked up to each tank. I've been slowly converting back to balling method for precise dosing of alk & calcium.

What do you do?

 

[Tommy Ngo]

On my system I don’t have aquarium controller, because it kinda expensive to have one. I opted out on it to buy expensive corals instead. Without a controller it’s hard to run a calcium reactor efficiently. I have been doing 3 parts from the beginning. It lesser work for me where I don’t really have to maintain the equipments that much.

 

[wishntoboutside]

My last few systems have had calcium reactors .i am a huge fan of larger systems it can be more economical as well. To me they are not a calcium reactor but an alkalinity reactor. It is used to maintain you alk and if it is balanced it will stay great way. Once can also use mag chips to help balance magnesium but most it is never melts down and it is thrown away. On my system my calcium reactor maintains my alk at 7.5 . My ph in the reactor is 7 to 7.2. I use large reborn. Many will say you need to maintain the ph at 6.7 or lower to maintain things I disagree. One may not need a controller but it is easier to dail in with one

 

[joseserrano]

Any grow out or large system with Sps I would only do ca reactor.

 

[ndrwater]

@wishntoboutside couldn't have explained it any better.
I started using a reactor when i got sick of paying for 3-part B-Ionic. I was going through 8 gallons a month ..
B-Ionic works great, but with a larger system full of SPS there really isn't a better way to keep things super stable in my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 20245]

On my 450gal, I have a RO 5000D with Reborn. I control the effluent using a Kamoer FX-STP2. pH inside the reactor is more informational and safety. It’s currently still plumbed into the system but offline since my alk/ca are out of balance. The challenge with carx is that it WILL dissolve and release in equal amount.

Therefore, I think the best of both worlds would be a CaRx and supplement with 2-part?

 

[Deleted member 20245]

On my system I don’t have aquarium controller, because it kinda expensive to have one. I opted out on it to buy expensive corals instead. Without a controller it’s hard to run a calcium reactor efficiently. I have been doing 3 parts from the beginning. It lesser work for me where I don’t really have to maintain the equipments that much.

The most important piece of “controller” is the CO2 regulator, not the “controller”. I throttle the effluent rate based on alk and cut off CO2 when you get too low. You don’t need an Apex/Hydros for this. However, it’s cool to see all these pararams and you can control your alk from across the world, esp on long vacations!

 

[Tommy Ngo]

I agree when you get to a certain size like 120g or bigger that is SPS dominant a calcium reactor would be best. 3 parts on larger system can be expensive and you have to keep an eye on your salinity creeping up as well.

 

[drexel]

It’s not necessarily the size of the system, but the demand the corals have that dictates whether a CaRx is cost effective or not. I agree, the most important part of the reactor is the regulator, don’t skimp on that piece. I have a custom Alan Le dual stage regulator and it’s awesome! The other part is the feed pump. My masterflex died on me and I picked up the hydros sole. I like the sole, but if I can find another brushless masterflex for a good price, I would swap out without question.
You don’t need a controller for a CaRx, I don’t use one, but I monitor the pH to see trends, but it doesn’t control it. I run mine 12hr on during the photo period, then dose kalk at night to balance out the pH. I tune the reactor to my tanks need/demand. I use Tunze calcium carbonate media, which melts nice and clean and gives me alk and calcium, that’s it. The thing to remember when using reborn is, if you have high phosphates, reborn will contribute even more, as phosphate is bound to coral skeletons, so phosphates can increase even more than you think. There are very few trace elements that actually get absorbed by the skeleton, so don’t count on that media to add much, if any trace elements at all.
The new Geo’s with the degassing chamber are really nice, when I get some extra cash, I plan on getting the upgrade kit for mine.


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[Jimbo327]

I haven’t had enough demand to run one.

Still using DIY 2 part. I’m running about 120ml of each per day. Baking soda, laverda cal bucket…it’s really economical to make. If it gets past 200-250ml/day, I’ll probably add calrx and still run the 2 part. 80/20

 

[Deleted member 20245]

It’s not necessarily the size of the system, but the demand the corals have that dictates whether a CaRx is cost effective or not. I agree, the most important part of the reactor is the regulator, don’t skimp on that piece. I have a custom Alan Le dual stage regulator and it’s awesome! The other part is the feed pump. My masterflex died on me and I picked up the hydros sole. I like the sole, but if I can find another brushless masterflex for a good price, I would swap out without question.
You don’t need a controller for a CaRx, I don’t use one, but I monitor the pH to see trends, but it doesn’t control it. I run mine 12hr on during the photo period, then dose kalk at night to balance out the pH. I tune the reactor to my tanks need/demand. I use Tunze calcium carbonate media, which melts nice and clean and gives me alk and calcium, that’s it. The thing to remember when using reborn is, if you have high phosphates, reborn will contribute even more, as phosphate is bound to coral skeletons, so phosphates can increase even more than you think. There are very few trace elements that actually get absorbed by the skeleton, so don’t count on that media to add much, if any trace elements at all.
The new Geo’s with the degassing chamber are really nice, when I get some extra cash, I plan on getting the upgrade kit for mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have 2 Alan Le and 2 CarbonDoser.com regulators. While the custom regulators are consistent, they lack an indicator so you have no idea! That’s why I love the CarbonDoser.com units. You know you’re at 6 (whatever) per minute, for example.

If you’re down in OC, I have a Masterflex that I no longer use with your name on it. You might need to fix/replace the tubings. I use Wi-Fi capable Kamoers instead and they are tiny compared to the Masterflex!

 

[Deleted member 20245]

I haven’t had enough demand to run one.

Still using DIY 2 part. I’m running about 120ml of each per day. Baking soda, laverda cal bucket…it’s really economical to make. If it gets past 200-250ml/day, I’ll probably add calrx and still run the 2 part. 80/20

Yup — likely that’s what I’ll do. Right now, I’m at only 70mL/day to keep alk at 8.2dKH. When my colonies take off, it should be as easy as flipping on a switch. CaRx is not as daunting as people made it.

 

[Tommy Ngo]

On my system I would do 2000ml/day of kalk on a stirrer and supplement the rest with 3 parts of ESV (alk/ca ~56ml/day, mag ~20ml/day). It’s not worth to go CaRx on my system and also I just don’t have the space for the additional equipments.

 

[Deleted member 20245]

On my system I would do 2000ml/day of kalk on a stirrer and supplement the rest with 3 parts of ESV (alk/ca ~56ml/day, mag ~20ml/day). It’s not worth to go CaRx on my system and also I just don’t have the space for the additional equipments.

Your pH would be awesome! I also have an Avast K2 kalk stirrer plumbed but not dosing kalk atm. When I was doing it before, my lowest pH was 8.2! The challenge with kalk is that you’ll need to add every week/two - gets messy. Otherwise, I totally agree.

 

[drexel]

I have 2 Alan Le and 2 CarbonDoser.com regulators. While the custom regulators are consistent, they lack an indicator so you have no idea! That’s why I love the CarbonDoser.com units. You know you’re at 6 (whatever) per minute, for example.

If you’re down in OC, I have a Masterflex that I no longer use with your name on it. You might need to fix/replace the tubings. I use Wi-Fi capable Kamoers instead and they are tiny compared to the Masterflex!

View attachment 131872

Dude, that's awesome! I still have tubing and I have an easy load head as well. I'll reach out to you.

 

[Deleted member 20245]

Speaking of peristaltic pumps, Kamoer just came out with the new STP3, not available in the States yet. You can buy one from AliExpress, which can be a high risk in terms of support. Looks like they changed the front rotor/plates and the orientation of the inlet/outlet. Otherwise, why the need to change anything - these things are rock solid!