Calcium Reactor for nano

[Surfandturf]

So I just bought a small calcium reactor online for $99. I have a 10 gal with a lot of coral and ph and calcium are always an issue. I bought the innovative all-in-one media reactor desktop. Do you think I will benefit or did I just waste money?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Following

 

[Pola0502ds]

I was just gonna say, i think 2 part will be just fine. You need a calcium reactor when 2 part cant keep up with it. Plus i dont think you can jamb enough coral in there for 2 part not to keep up. Being that its expensive and there are more risks involved with the reactor, maybe it wasnt the right way to go.

If PH is always an issue you will have more of a PH problem with the reactor because it uses CO2 to melt the media which ultimately ends up in your tank and the CO2 drops your PH.

How are you doing now and what exactly is your problem?

 

[Surfandturf]

Hmm thats interesting because I read that it helps stabilize both ph and calcium.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It will be a cool experiment. Go slow with the addition and get the tests and ph meter warmed up.

What model did you get. I was looking at the tunze for mine.

 

[Surfandturf]

It will be a cool experiment. Go slow with the addition and get the tests and ph meter warmed up.

What model did you get. I was looking at the tunze for mine.

Innovative marine all in one desktop.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Innovative marine all in one desktop.

Cool I'll look at that one. The gas bottle was what stopped me. Silly small house.

 

[Tori]

Following! The only thing that scares me about calcium reactors is the affect they have on pH.

 

[hybridazn]

If you run a 2nd chamber on your calcium reactor it will help keep ph stable by scrubbing the co2 out before the water gets back to the tank.

When you say you are having ph issues, do you mean it's lower? If so 2 part might be a better way to go, it will help boost your ph

 

[gus6464]

Adding a second chamber to my carx with the smallest ARM media did wonders for the pH in the reactor. The solenoid fires less often and my tank ph is barely affected. If you are doing a scrubbing chamber you want to get the smallest media you can find.

I use reborn with kz mag on the main chamber and the tiny ARM on the second.

 

[Water Dog]

Innovative marine all in one desktop.

I think you're confusing media reactor and calcium reactor, two very different things. The IM desktop reactor runs carbon, GFO or biopellets. A calcium reactor is a whole different animal where you'll need a pH controller, CO2 tank and regulator.

If this is in fact the case, your money is not lost as a media reactor can be useful on your small tank. For Alkalinity and Calcium supplementation, 2 part dosing or using Kalkwasser for such a small volume is probably the better option.

 

[Scottsquatch]

Interesting post. I have a small system (65 gallons total) I'm currently building for the dining room and I was wondering if a calcium reactor would be easier than messing with a doser. (After its dialed in of course). I can think of several folks I follow here on R2R that go with only a skimmer, calcium reactor, and maybe a refugium. They claim the low tech simple set ups are lower maintainence very successful. I see the logic in that. Thoughts?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Interesting post. I have a small system (65 gallons total) I'm currently building for the dining room and I was wondering if a calcium reactor would be easier than messing with a doser. (After its dialed in of course). I can think of several folks I follow here on R2R that go with only a skimmer, calcium reactor, and maybe a refugium. They claim the low tech simple set ups are lower maintainence very successful. I see the logic in that. Thoughts?

IMO. You have to mess with both lol. So no cost benitift there..lol.

The long term however is less expensive for a ca RX. And there are a few smaller units avail. Total start up on the low end is about $300.

And yea, I’d go with the ca Rx. Just got a small one infact at a reef club raffle. Still need media gas and valve.

 

[virginreef]

Adding a second chamber to my carx with the smallest ARM media did wonders for the pH in the reactor. The solenoid fires less often and my tank ph is barely affected. If you are doing a scrubbing chamber you want to get the smallest media you can find.

I use reborn with kz mag on the main chamber and the tiny ARM on the second.

What size is your tank?

 

[virginreef]

I have a 50 Gollan internal overflow tank and I was wondering if 2part dosing or a c-reactor is best for the tank. Any feedback will be helpful.

 

[Water Dog]

What do you have or plan on having in terms of coral livestock in your 50 gallon tank?

2 part dosing for a 50 gallon tank would by far, be the more economical solution in terms of set up cost. However, if you have some money to burn, plan on wall to wall SPS and plan to expand your system in the future, then a calcium reactor is a worthwhile investment IMO.

I currently run a 57 gallon system with 2 part but have a calcium reactor waiting in the wings for when my tank matures and Alk & Ca consumption increases.

 

[Rimsky]

@Surfandturf anything to add to your thread? Were you talking about a Calcium Reactor or a Media Reactor as @Water Dog noted?