Calcium Reactor Media (South Sound)

[reeftank1]

I wondered if anyone knows where I may find Korallin or another great quality media in the Tacoma or South sound area. Both LFS have only the caribsea type. I am really trying to keep down the Phosphates.
thanks.

 

[angelfish]

recommended reading
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/short.htm

 

[DonW]

recommended reading
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/short.htm

There are good batches and bad batches no mater what brand it is. Lately Ive had nothing but bad with the larger media. It pays just to add some sort of gfo after the reactor then you dont need to worry so much.

Don

 

[JaxReef]

deltec (Rowaphos) now offers media for ca reactors, have not used it yet so I can not comment. I still use the ARM media

 

[reeftank1]

Wow, thanks. I must have had a bad batch. I have a new can of ARM so here goes.

Don, thanks for the heads up on the GFO because i bought a new one and just not remembered tochange it yet.

Brian

 

[DonW]

Wow, thanks. I must have had a bad batch. I have a new can of ARM so here goes.

Don, thanks for the heads up on the GFO because i bought a new one and just not remembered tochange it yet.

Brian

Its mostly just dead coral anyways, no real way to control the "quality" of a corals waste product.

Don

 

[JaxReef]

some people soak the media in ro/di 24 hrs before use

 

[angelfish]

according to the review, ARM suppose to be the better substrate for CA. i used it once and there's hair algae grow qall over my tank (still have 3/4 can with me). changed to TUNZE Hardness Granules and hair algae getting lesser now.

 

[reeftank1]

So what is the best media to use?

 

[DonW]

So what is the best media to use?

The arm tested well in the study from 2003 three years ago. You can pretty much count on the fact that it now comes from a different source / collection area. I'm sure they try to get the best they can but it is a natural product that no one has control over. Makes it pretty hard to say which is the "best" or claims to be. Use of gfo for the reactor effluent is just cheap insurance.

Don

 

[reeftank1]

I have rowaphos in my sump just before the return line to the main tank. Should I split it up maybe to somehow let the eff. flow over or through the mesh? I know they have the different chambers and that might be the way to go. Has anyone ever made a DIY type chamber? I could be easy enough to use some PVC and build a simple chamber I would think.

 

[DonW]

I have rowaphos in my sump just before the return line to the main tank. Should I split it up maybe to somehow let the eff. flow over or through the mesh? I know they have the different chambers and that might be the way to go. Has anyone ever made a DIY type chamber? I could be easy enough to use some PVC and build a simple chamber I would think.

These work great. My reactor output goes through one with rowa and another with carbon.

 

[reeftank1]

Thanks Don,

The photo helps a whole lot. Now I just got an idea about a kent ro/di unit. I am wondering if I could use it somehow to do the same. A double chamber with the top chamber empty. I could throw in rowa in one and the carbon in the second. It is an unused unit that I may rig to work. I have never really opened one but I would think the water flow inside could be channeled to the bottom and flowed through media to the outlet of each chamber. I will have a look when I get home. Another crazy idea!!!!!!!

Don, where did you get that chamber? Are they reasonable priced? I could always spring for a 2LF Phos chamber but figure if I can make something else work as well or better - why not.

 

[DonW]

They are inline di chambers from the filter guys.

Don

 

[ROWAUSA]

Just a reminder that if the calcium level is much above 400-450, your ROWAphos will harden.

 

[DonW]

Just a reminder that if the calcium level is much above 400-450, your ROWAphos will harden.

As long as you keep the ph low (6.7) and pull the water through the cartrige not exposing it to air it wont precip and turn hard. It turns hard quick if you just drip it into a container.

Don

 

[class clown]

I use Gen-X. I really didn't know that phosphates were much of a concern with these things. When I get home, I'll test the phosphate levels of the effluent to see if there are any noticable traces.

Here's the stuff I use:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...PROD&Product_Code=PC-CRM&Category_Code=cmedia

Brian - did you do any phosphate tests on the effluent of the ARM? if no, can you and report back.

 

[DonW]

I use Gen-X. I really didn't know that phosphates were much of a concern with these things. When I get home, I'll test the phosphate levels of the effluent to see if there are any noticable traces.

Here's the stuff I use:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...PROD&Product_Code=PC-CRM&Category_Code=cmedia

Brian - did you do any phosphate tests on the effluent of the ARM? if no, can you and report back.

The current batch of genx I'm using measured .01 on the hanna colormeter. The one before that was at almost 2. and before that was .8 So its hit and miss.


Don

 

[class clown]

The current batch of genx I'm using measured .01 on the hanna colormeter. The one before that was at almost 2. and before that was .8 So its hit and miss.


Don

Hanna colormeter -cool. I'll have to check one of those do-dad's out. Haven't seen one before. I used salifert phosphate and my effluent measured 0. Must have a good batch.