Let's talk calcium reactors

[Dorado]

Do you pre mix your kalk then dose off a doser? I've been thinking of doing this when I set the reactor back up.

Yes I do, it's been working great. If my tank evaporated more water, I would just keep upping my kalk dosage.

 

[Smite]

Yes I do, it's been working great. If my tank evaporated more water, I would just keep upping my kalk dosage.

I'll give it a go. What brand kalk are you using? Have you decided on a media brand for the calcium reactor yet?

 

[Dorado]

I just buy the bulk BRS kalk. I was planning on using ARM because that's what I used back in the day, but I know that you suggested against it. If you're saying that reborn has a higher ph melting point, then I'll try that out.

 

[Jimbo327]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but is there a consensus on which calcium media is affordable and good? I bought an used/broken Dastaco for cheap, and fixed it up recently. I'm not sure I want to use the Dastaco media because they say it is better to run the chamber at pH 6 because their media is very dense.

Just trying to see if there are any local sources of media for a good price. Dastaco wants $120 for 20kg of media, but I think most of that cost is the shipping.

 

[joseserrano]

if you are actual running the datstaco as its intended to, you have to run their media.

 

[Jimbo327]

if you are actual running the datstaco as its intended to, you have to run their media.

Is that really true though? I've seen online other Dastaco owners that uses different media. But I know what you mean, but when you run the other media, you just have to adjust the knob up and down anyways to control alk.

The Dastaco media is a extra hard limestone. So it needs a lower pH to melt. That concerns me a little bit with dropping the pH of the tank.

I don't actually mind getting the Dastaco media as it looks good and pure, and the price is okay. Mostly shipping though. But if there are other great media locally, then I would prefer getting it.

 

[joseserrano]

Is that really true though? I've seen online other Dastaco owners that uses different media. But I know what you mean, but when you run the other media, you just have to adjust the knob up and down anyways to control alk.

The Dastaco media is a extra hard limestone. So it needs a lower pH to melt. That concerns me a little bit with dropping the pH of the tank.

I don't actually mind getting the Dastaco media as it looks good and pure, and the price is okay. Mostly shipping though. But if there are other great media locally, then I would prefer getting it.

Yes, the destwco float operates at a low ph. Most media will melt. The media they use is closer to a marble, which melts at low ph.

 

[Jimbo327]

Yes, the destwco float operates at a low ph. Most media will melt. The media they use is closer to a marble, which melts at low ph.

Will that mean a lower pH in the tank since the effluent will be lower pH as well.

 

[Emac909]

I can’t speak on a Dastaco reactor. But I can speak on my observations with my custom calcium reactor that I built.
It stands 2 feet tall, the chamber is 8” diameter, and holds about 40lbs of media when full.
When I set it up I filled it a little more then half way and 25lbs of media. I run my effluent at a beaded stream. Meaning when the effluent comes out it streams for about 2 inches then starts to bead into drops. My tank is 90% sps so I have a high compression rate. The tank can eat a full dKh point in one day. My calcium reactor is so over sized for my system that I only have to run my pH in the reactor at 7.0-6.9 to keep up with the demand.

Calcium reactor

 

[pirate2876]

Yes, the destwco float operates at a low ph. Most media will melt. The media they use is closer to a marble, which melts at low ph.

Correct, Triton and Dastaco use natural marble which needs a lower PH to break down. When I tried the Triton media I ran through the CO2 bottle in a week.

I use extra coarse ARM and it works.

 

[Jimbo327]

I can’t speak on a Dastaco reactor. But I can speak on my observations with my custom calcium reactor that I built.
It stands 2 feet tall, the chamber is 8” diameter, and holds about 40lbs of media when full.
When I set it up I filled it a little more then half way and 25lbs of media. I run my effluent at a beaded stream. Meaning when the effluent comes out it streams for about 2 inches then starts to bead into drops. My tank is 90% sps so I have a high compression rate. The tank can eat a full dKh point in one day. My calcium reactor is so over sized for my system that I only have to run my pH in the reactor at 7.0-6.9 to keep up with the demand.

Calcium reactor

what media brand are you using?

 

[Jimbo327]

Correct, Triton and Dastaco use natural marble which needs a lower PH to break down. When I tried the Triton media I ran through the CO2 bottle in a week.

I use extra coarse ARM and it works.

Do you mean you use coarse ARM in a Dastaco? Or another brand calcium reactor?

 

[joseserrano]

Will that mean a lower pH in the tank since the effluent will be lower pH as well.

Yes

 

[pirate2876]

Do you mean you use coarse ARM in a Dastaco? Or another brand calcium reactor?

I'm sorry, I use ARM in another type of reactor. You could reach out to Unique Corals and ask them what they recommend for your reactor.

 

[joseserrano]

I'm sorry, I use ARM in another type of reactor. You could reach out to Unique Corals and ask them what they recommend for your reactor.

I’ve spoken and know joe (owner of unique), you need to use the marble if you are using the dastaco in its original design

 

[125mph]

ARM coarse will last a long time. use it on mine.