Calcium Reactor Media

[FMF0331]

the reborn media they are shipping now is not the same larger size like the previous batches before they went out of stock, its much smaller and not like the pictures advertised on most sites.

I was able to get 2 8.8 lbs bags ( marked large ) it was smaller than advertised. What a joke, but if that's all they got , i'll deal with it

 

[TMB]

I’m curious whether, in the litany of complaints, anyone’s actually used the new reborn supply and concluded that it is inferior? The new source of supply is certainly different; it’s not sand LOL, but the coral pieces are smaller. I’m about to replenish my CaRx. I don’t see shells or rocks.

I haven't used it yet, I just got it Sunday. I'm sure it will work, but it should be labeled as the small granule size - not large.
When I get home from work I'll post pictures of the "media" and let everyone judge for themselves what's in it.
The other stuff in there is what has me looking for something else.
I really don't want or need to be breaking down shells and what not, and adding the phosphates and other things from my Carx. That is what was really nice about the previous product, it was washed, clean, and mostly free of foreigh objects.
This new stuff is so fine that with a 8x24 reactor to fill, I'm not about to going sifting through all that to clean it up.

 

[ca1ore]

I haven't used it yet, I just got it Sunday. I'm sure it will work, but it should be labeled as the small granule size - not large.
When I get home from work I'll post pictures of the "media" and let everyone judge for themselves what's in it.
The other stuff in there is what has me looking for something else.
I really don't want or need to be breaking down shells and what not, and adding the phosphates and other things from my Carx. That is what was really nice about the previous product, it was washed, clean, and mostly free of foreigh objects.
This new stuff is so fine that with a 8x24 reactor to fill, I'm not about to going sifting through all that to clean it up.

I did that back in August ......

Old above, new below. I fail to see the source of all the handwringing frankly.

 

[TMB]

Haha... I would be super happy if it looked anything like that! Can't wait to show what it is now. Or maybe it's only the top of the bag. Either way - when I get home I'll let everyone know and post pics.

 

[TMB]

So here is what’s in the box I received over the weekend. No it’s not quite as small as sand/crushed coral, but it’s not like what @ca1ore posted either.

Here’s the box and label “large”:

This is what it looks like in the box - the bag is different now and can’t be reclosed No biggie, but but new packaging makes me wonder the source.

Here is the granule size and the other stuff. Shells and quartz can clearly be seen.

And here’s a side by side of the last box I got and the new.

Will I be using this? I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll mix it with something else to use it up. But I certainly will not be filling my reactor with this top to bottom. Everyone can decide for themselves though. Just wanted to let everyone know what they’re getting into with Reborn - unless it’s in a bag that you can see before you buy.

 

[JAIME_MTY]

So here is what’s in the box I received over the weekend. No it’s not quite as small as sand/crushed coral, but it’s not like what @ca1ore posted either.

Here’s the box and label “large”:

This is what it looks like in the box - the bag is different now and can’t be reclosed No biggie, but but new packaging makes me wonder the source.

Here is the granule size and the other stuff. Shells and quartz can clearly be seen.

And here’s a side by side of the last box I got and the new.

Will I be using this? I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll mix it with something else to use it up. But I certainly will not be filling my reactor with this top to bottom. Everyone can decide for themselves though. Just wanted to let everyone know what they’re getting into with Reborn - unless it’s in a bag that you can see before you buy.

WOW! Honestly I wouldn't put any of that in my reactor who knows what side effects that might cause. Probably wouldn't even use it for substrate.I would contact two little fishes and see what they say about it.

 

[TMB]

WOW! Honestly I wouldn't put any of that in my reactor who knows what side effects that might cause. Probably wouldn't even use it for substrate.I would contact two little fishes and see what they say about it.

I didn’t mean to derail your thread but felt like I needed to post pics of what I had received.
Back on topic - looking for different media now and feeling kinda lost. I want to run Reborn, just not this. Seachem makes a media that looks interesting to me. I’m thinking about getting some from BRS and checking it out.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Saw this thread and just peeked in one of my boxes, in this small amount I pulled out I found four rocks. for some reason the box I got this weekend wasn’t even labeled with a reborn label. I ordered it from BRS and it looked like someone backed a truck over it. The box a got a few weeks ago looked like my original reborn box, I’ll have to look inside and see what the media looks like in that one. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this, I’m definitely not as satisfied as I thought I would be.

 

[RVA REEF]

there was another good thread with lots of replys bringing attention to this issue but it got deleted because it was in the vendor feedback area instead of general discussion, glad this hasnt gotten deleted yet...BRING BACK THE OLD REBORN!!!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I'm in the same boat. Recieved my 44lb box a few weeks ago and topped off my new reactor with it.

I definitely noticed all the shells and concluded that its repackaged crushed coral...

A third of my reactor is filled with the old reborn. And the rest with the new stuff... I guess we will see how it turns out..

 

[Deezill]

I'm in the same boat. Recieved my 44lb box a few weeks ago and topped off my new reactor with it.

I definitely noticed all the shells and concluded that its repackaged crushed coral...

A third of my reactor is filled with the old reborn. And the rest with the new stuff... I guess we will see how it turns out..

That looks like a plate of Rice Krispies Cereal lol.

 

[jda]

What does everybody have against ARM? :) It is calcite, which is a natural media. I doubt that many could tell much of a difference between it and reborn once you got your reactor tuned.

 

[Reefahholic]

I did that back in August ......

Old above, new below. I fail to see the source of all the handwringing frankly.

@ca1ore do you know the melting point on the Reborn. If I recall correctly it has a much higher melting point than other media’s. Maybe I should use the word dissolve. We know it doesn’t really melt. :-)

I saw Triton’s media melts at like 6.2-6.0. Can you imagine the CO2 dumping into your tank with a melting point that low.

Does anybody know where ARM melts at?

 

[Reefahholic]

What does everybody have against ARM? :) It is calcite, which is a natural media. I doubt that many could tell much of a difference between it and reborn once you got your reactor tuned.

I’ll probably be using ARM because I don’t want to be sitting and hoping that somebody over at TLF will finally ramp up production or get the old good size bones back. Unstable/unpredictable products really stress me out.

 

[jda]

Melting point is going to depend on the porosity of the media, first and foremost. Even when using the same kind of media, the required co2 can be different each time. There is nothing universal about this. The smaller reborn stuff could required a significantly different amount of co2 to melt than the old stuff.

 

[jda]

Also, if your reactor is properly tuned and not allowing undissolved co2 into your sump or display, then it won't matter much at all if your effluent ph is 6.0 or 7.0. The undissolved/wasted co2 is what makes tank pH drop, not the effluent. This is why is is SOOOOO important to get a good tune.

 

[Deezill]

What does everybody have against ARM? :) It is calcite, which is a natural media. I doubt that many could tell much of a difference between it and reborn once you got your reactor tuned.

The arm that I always see is enriched with mag. My mag seems to be fine I just want the all and Ca

 

[X-37B]

I have been using Tunze media
It is manmade and small, 4-6mm.
It has worked well for me for a year now. I run no controller or ph probe and I have no issues with ph in my tank.
I cleaned it out after 9 months and it really did not need it. Just a little bit of powdery residue.
I dont measure my effluent but it runs a ph of 6.5 and around 25 dkh for reference.
Reference pic;

 

[Deezill]

ok, so I am ready to set my calcium reactor up. I am using the media in the link
as I rinse it, the water looks like milk. is this normal? I kept rinsing until it was somewhat clear now I have it soaking a for a bit. who was using this? As you can see I am a first time calcium reactor user as well as the media that goes with it.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aragonite-reactor-calcium-reactor-media-korallen-zucht.html

 

[Deezill]

I just added Korallin-Zucht calcium reactor media (on top of the dwindling reborn in the chamber. It's melting and putting out alk & Ca as needed.

edit; Purchased from BRS.

What is the pH of your calcium reactor?