Calcium Reactor - Advanced Questions

[Ted_C]

Hi All. This is a double post and I apologize for that but I'm not getting any traction on these questions in the Lighting/Equipment forum.

I have been keeping my eyes open and reading every thread I can find on calcium reactors. I have a few advanced questions if anyone would care to take a stab at them:

In regards to these questions: Money is the least of my concerns. Low maintenance, correct operation and ease of continued use are my main concerns. I have a 120 gallon display and a 95 gallon sump which is only running about 55 gallons (so total volume is around 170 gallons). My system is coming out of cycle and is starting to grow coralline algae. After my last water change two weeks ago - I noticed my dkH and my Ca have dropped from 2.5 to 2.3 and 440 to 400 PPM respectively.

Do you mix Dolomite (Mg) with your CACO3 media or would you recommend a third chamber to house the dolomite (Mg) (i.e. - do I go two chamber MRC or three chamber Vertex)? Does the vertex and the MRC both come with recirculating pumps or are these purchased separately?

It really looks like peristaltic pumps are the way to go to feed the reactor (although I am disappointed with the maintenance requirement to replace tubing every 2-3 months). The two I have seen mentioned are cole-parmer and Watson marlow for reliable 24/7 operation. Considering my system specs - what size tubing would you recommend? Here - money is a concern - besides e-bay - has anyone seen any for sale that aren't $2000 dollars?

One other question for peristaltic pumps: They all mostly look like they have a big box as a driver for the head. My space is limited and would like to make some sort of mounting solution so it can attach to the wall of the stand inside the sump area. Do you know of a model that allows mounting of the driver / head on a wall or will I need to build shelf?

Do you use a push to or pull from to feed for the reactor?

I plan on placing the reactor inside of my return well which also houses an eheim 1262, a 300W heater and my system pH probe. Do I return the effluent to my skimmer well (the first well in my system) or back into the return well? Where do I put the feed for the reactor?

pH monitoring - I will be using a Neptune Apex Lite to monitor pH of the system + reactor. Do I probe the reactor at the probe port in the reactor or at the effluent?

Finally - I will be taking the fine advice from all other threads I have read and going with the aquarium plants controller. Which one on the page? All I have currently is a 20# CO2 tank. So I need a regulator and a box. These look like the two possibilities: CarbonDoser Electronic Co2 Regulator or Electronic Co2 Regulator (with 8 digit LCD Counter)

[bhuddafunk]

Not sure just use Caribsea Coarse ARM, Reactor should maintain balance of ca alk and mg

I have a rio 600 as a booster pump to my Ca Reactor and it is all roughly 1/4 inch tubing

Can't answer push or pull, i'm pretty sure pull in my case since the booster pump pulls in the water which then goes to a Mag pump attached to my reactor

my effluent is actually pumpled into my skimmers bubble chamber to help rid of excess co2

Witch my apex I have a ph probe in the sump and I have a ph probe holder on my reactor. The apex maintains the ph in my reactor between 6.4 and 6.8 by turning on an off the solenoid. At night it keeps the reactor at about 6.8 as I don't run it at night at this time

This is the regulator I purchased:
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_CO2_Regulator_with_Lighted_Solenoid_CO2_Regulators_for_Aquariums-AquaticLife-AK01217-FICORE-vi.html


I didn't answer all the questions but hope some of my answers help. I'm new to the ca reactor as well and only been running it for about 3 months with good to great results at this time.

[nhbsab]

I agree with Robert on the balance, tubing size, and as far as push or pull most people push and use a gate valve to refine their return. You need to keep it consistent so you can calibrate your CO2. And you have the right idea on where to place your effluent.

[bigt0706]

I've always seen with push I ran mine with a maxi 12 ,an as far as dolinmite I didn't like running it together but I only had on chamber and it would gum up , defently go with the aquarium plants regulator

[bigt0706]

And as far as the regulator it's how much u want to spend both that u listed are the rite ones ,I have an older style one if your interested in it pm me

[nhbsab]

I have a brand new (in box) milwaukee with bubble counter. They are inexpensive but reliable. I am not using it. We can work something out if you want it.

[rogergolf66]

Wow lots of questions I think most have been answered, but u r welcome to call me I can try and answer any questions also. U have my number. Can't type that much right now. Aquarium plants regulator hands down.

[Ted_C]

Thanks for all the advice. To refine the push/pull question: Some people put a pump on the other side of their reactor (the effluent side) and pull water through from their sump - through their reactor throught he pump then back into the sump. It's supposed to help eliminate clogging of needle valves or some such thing (so say the internet rumors).

I'll keep my eyes out on ebay for a cole parmer I guess and build a shelf inside the stand to support it.

[aguila88psi]

Based on what I've read and my own thoughts....

The dolomite is mixed with calcium carbonate, extra chambers are used to make the reactor more efficient by using up the excess co2, having the dolomite in a separate chamber I think would allow for better tuning of magnesium concentration as making additions or subtraction would be much easier, in the end you'll use less dolomite which may or may not be a big deal.

My mind is telling me that a push configuration would be best for maintenance purposes as the tubing will probably last longer pushing seawater alone rather then effluent and seawater, however in a pull configuration the valve would more precisely control the flow initially, once the lines get clogged up or have a reduction in inner diameter then either the push or pull configuration will yield the same results, this is because of the flow rate reduction caused by a reduction in inner diameter, just my thinking here.

Find a quality pump that uses cheaper replacement tubing would be good.

You'll probably have to come up with your own mounting fixture.

Hope I helped.

[Charlene]

If money is no object I would buy the DiStaCo. Arguably the finest reactor available however the only dealer is in the UK. They do ship to US.
http://************.com/2011/08/25/dastaco-calcium-reactor/

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u242/jawsee/Dastacoupgrade7-20100021600x1200.jpg

This is the one I plan on buying. It's very stable with no pH monitor required and its own built in dosing pump. Unit has an advanced controller not found on any other units.