Considering Calcium Reactor

[seattlereef]

I'm starting to look into setting up a Calcium reactor. Currently I'm using kalkwasser but as I add more coals I've noticed my Calcium starting to dip. Hoping you guys can give me some feedback / answer questions.

1) Reactor recomendation? I'm currently leaning toward the GEO 618.
2) Tank PH target with Calcium reactor. I currently have my PH targeted between 8.2 and 8.4 (8.3 avg). The research I've done says that the reactor will depress these values. Should I have my controller turn off the feeder pump if the Display tank PH gets out of range? How low should I allow the PH to go in the DT?
3) I'm planning on running two PH probes into the reactor with my Neptune Apex. One in the reactor which will control the amount of CO2. The other in the DT which will disable the feed pump if the PH gets too low. Does this sound right?
4) How often on avg do you need to replace the CO2 and Calcium media? I know this will vary per setup but was wondering what peoples avg's are.

Thanks!

 

[Boomer]

1) Reactor recomendation? I'm currently leaning toward the GEO 618. OK

2) Tank PH target with Calcium reactor. I currently have my PH targeted between 8.2 and 8.4 (8.3 avg). The research I've done says that the reactor will depress these values. Should I have my controller turn off the feeder pump if the Display tank PH gets out of range? How low should I allow the PH to go in the DT? Yes, that is correct, due to unused CO2 which suppresses the pH. This can be reduced by having the effluent pH raised by running the effluent through a second column of more reactor media or buying what is called a Dual Reactor. Here is an example of a Dual-R

Minical by MTC
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3) I'm planning on running two PH probes into the reactor with my Neptune Apex. One in the reactor which will control the amount of CO2. The other in the DT which will disable the feed pump if the PH gets too low. Does this sound right? And if you do that the Calcium will fall as will the Alk. Meaning, your pH , Alk and Calcium will be going up and down like a yo-yo. Without a Dual expect that pH of 8.3 to drop to 8.

4) How often on avg do you need to replace the CO2 and Calcium media? I know this will vary per setup but was wondering what peoples avg's are. That is still hard to say as the are different size CO2 cylinders also and all media is not the same on its dissolution rate. A 5 lb cylinder on say 150 gallon of water, 6 months. And do not take this an run with it.

 

[seattlereef]

Thanks for the response Bommer. What would run in the second column to raise Ph?

 

[Boomer]

You run the same media you use in the main reactor.

 

[returnofsid]

You could also run your affluent into a small container, which drips or drains into the sump, aerating the affluent, which would help raise the pH of the affluent. It's as simple as the affluent dripping into a plate or bowl, which is set over the sump.

 

[jrgilles]

I am using a Geo612 and love it.

I haven't noticed a huge pH depression from it. I also add kalk through a TLF KW300 reactor. pH stays pretty high with that setup.

I have mine on an apex. One probe in the reactor, that keeps the pH steady. I dial it in with the bubble counter, but have the probe there also to keep it locked in tight. As my corals grow and use up more alk, I lower the pH slightly to keep it synced.

I have a second probe in my sump. I have this set to disable to reactor sulinoid (sp) if the pH in my sump gets below 7.8 or something like that. NEVER happened, but it is there incase the reactor goes haywire or something.

I have a 5 lb CO2 tank and seems to last 6-12 months. Consuming more now that my corals are growing in, but my last change was about a year. I have 3 tanks, so a backup and a backup for the backup. Saves me from having to mess with refilling too often. I got 2 tanks with the reactor I bought used, and the third is from homebrewing.

Anyway, love the Geo. I did a lot of research and thought it was the best. Got lucky and got a sweet deal on a used one, and no complaints at all. Haven't used any others though. Very happy with the investment. Nice not to have to worry about dosing alk. BTW, reactors are not good for raising the KH, but maintaining it. So, you will have to dose to do adjustments, then you dial it in and try to hold it at that spot. Takes a bit of monitoring while you dial it in, but the KH test is quick and easy.

 

[seattlereef]

Thanks for all the feedback! What do use as a feeder pump, my understanding is that you just run it 100% of the time and use the output valve to control how much comes out

 

[Aquanaut]

I run a Geo618 using a maxijet 1200 on the feed. I do recommend suplementing Magnezium crystals in the reactor. An idea for the second controler is to maintain salinity swings caused by ATO going nuts if skimmer removes to much. Can show more if you want to see my setup, here in Renton.
Pm # for extra help.

 

[seattlereef]

Thanks. I've got salinity and PH swings under control with dual float switches, a timer limitation on my ATO / Kalkwasser and a max PH clause on my ATO's. So far I've been really happy keeping my PH in the 8.3 range, I guess with the Calcium reactor I'll just get used to the lower Ph.

I'm currently doing a drip dose of BRS magnesium to keep my magensium levels up. Do you just add yours to your Ca reactor?

 

[Aquanaut]

Yes, I started with 1/2 portion of mag rock crystals and added that to the reactor and add more when my tests need a bump up. I have consistant read of 1350, Kind a set and forget. Local stores stock it. Only added when time to clean reactor around 6mths, no worries.

 

[kpiotrowski]

Tagging along as I too am ready for a ca reactor, came back from 2 weeks vacation and ca dropped from 450 to around 200, and mag from 1350 to 1000....so yeah, time for a reactor. I was looking at the vertex RX-6 DUO for my 180 gallons total water volume. any thoughts if this is overkill or not? I figured if I'm gonna spend the bucks on everything else that goes with a reactor I may as well spend the extra 80 bucks on the duo rather than a single 6 inch.

 

[seattlereef]

I looked at the Vertex too but seemed like a lot of places for it to leak. The reason I'm looking at the GEO is primarly about build quality.

 

[seattlereef]

Decided to try the Vertex. I'll update the thread with how things go. I liked the ability to run multipule media's in the different chambers. Hopefully my fear of all the unions won't materialize I'll pick up some new teflon tape and go from there.