Which Calcium Reactor is best

[FeedMyJones]

Any thoughts as to which brand of calcium reactor lives up to its hype? I'm thinking of an outside of the sump reactor due to lack of room. I have lots of room and height in the cabinet under the tank. It's a 300 gal tank so it needs to put out a goodly amount of calcium.

 

[MrGone]

I haven't done much research but people seem to have good things to say about GEO

 

[Reefreak]

Tagging along here.... I also have 300 gallons tank/sump that I need to calcify. Bump...

 

[trido]

GEO 618 on my system.

 

[roscoe]

I am planning on a GEO 624 or 818 for my 350g system. The 624 is more than enough for my system but the 818 just gives more capacity and would have to be refilled less. More important than the reactor itself is a really good regulator. I've read the Reef fanatic's are great and the best from my research is the Aquariumplant.com regulator. It is Spendy but the most reliable and accurate from all the reviews. Here is a link to it.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/AquariumPlants_com_s_Electronic_Co2_Regulator_p/co2.htm

 

[roscoe]

Duane you have like a 400g system right? How often are you having to refill the 618?

 

[lvsuckerfish]

I love my K2R reactor but I hear great things about the GEO I just happened to get mine for a great price is why ZI went with this Brand.

 

[tamarindthai]

i uesed GEO 818/24lbs of media

 

[cali_reef]

Roscoe, bigger reactor means bigger recirculating pump = use more electricity to run. Changing\adding media one time more a year is easier and more cost effective IMO.

 

[cali_reef]

I would get a ProCal by MTC if I had to buy an off the shelf CaRx for a 300 gallon full blown SPS tank (high Ca consumption). It is a well built piece of equipment and one of the initial developer of the recapture and re-inject Co2 concept. The only thing I don't like about it is the down flow design, but the large media you can buy now eliminates the issue (for the most part) of media compacting.

 

[roscoe]

So Pierce In your opinion. What should I go with then? The 618 or 624?

 

[cali_reef]

I have not used any Geo equipment, but based on their web spec I would go with the CR618 because the Eheim pump (lower power consumption and MUCH quieter than the Pan World).

These reef equipment are getting expensive

 

[roscoe]

These reef equipment are getting expensive

Thanks for the input.

Tell me about it! This hobby is really enjoyable but danm expensive!!!

 

[tamarindthai]

Matts,, i think you can build it cheaper
http://www.marinetechnical.com/page12.html..j/k:D

 

[trido]

Duane you have like a 400g system right? How often are you having to refill the 618?

Give or take a few gallons.

About every six months. I refill it when its still about a 1/3rd to half full so I dont have to retweak the regulator at all.

If I had a 6x24 it would need filled at eight months the way I do it.

 

[roscoe]

Hmmmm thanks for the info Duane. Well that settles it then. I think a 618 will do for my system then.

 

[trido]

Hmmmm thanks for the info Duane. Well that settles it then. I think a 618 will do for my system then.

I dont think you will regret the desicion. With your set up, not having to worry about a little water on the floor, its only a five minute task to top it off.

 

[Maxx]

I've owned:

MRC:broke before I could use it, not impressed w/ build quality. However, to be fair, I bought it used, so keep that in mind.

Korallin C1502: Giant PITA to get dialed in and keep running with the fine media. This reactor is designed to seriously conserved CO2 by recirc'ing it hard core and keeping the internal pH pretty low. Small media dissolves quickly in this sort of environment and turns to mush easily, thus clogging the reactor. I dont think you'd have the same issue with large media, but I had decided enough was enough, and sold it to buy a Geo 612.

Geo 612: NO complaints. No really, none. I now have two of them. Doubt I will buy anything else besides a Geo. It takes longer to set up, than to dial in...30 min max.

Nick