Calcium Reactor Media

[KrisReef]

wow, My Calc Rx runs between 6.4 and 6.45 I am also using the media below.

Aragonite Reactor Calcium Reactor Media

From one of the most trusted names in reef additives comes the perfect pairing for calcium reactor users! KZ's Aragonite Reactor CaRx Media is a coarse grain aragonite media designed for use in calcium carbonate reactors. Aragonite Reactor media is a very pure source of calcium and carbonate...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I had both old ARM and KZ in my reactor and recently lowered the pH to 6.5 (from 6.8) and adjusted the flow to accommodate the increase in dKh coming out of the reactor.

 

[TAHK]

Hi folks,
I am having issues with my Aquarium Engineering reactor that I had filled with ReBorn. I am planning the switch to either Deltec or Dastaco. Can I use the same reactor
Media in these two or should I use the one mentioned on the reactor website.
I really liked the coral growth with the media I use currently right up until the crash…
I wonder if the “natural” media puts some other trace elements in the aquarium that the man-made media lacks?

 

[KrisReef]

Hi folks,
I am having issues with my Aquarium Engineering reactor that I had filled with ReBorn. I am planning the switch to either Deltec or Dastaco. Can I use the same reactor
Media in these two or should I use the one mentioned on the reactor website.
I really liked the coral growth with the media I use currently right up until the crash…
I wonder if the “natural” media puts some other trace elements in the aquarium that the man-made media lacks?

Not sure what issues you think are related to Reborn? The media used in these reactors is mined or collected from different locations on earth so there will be different chemical properties but hopefully the same results for the reef. The different media may/will require adjustment of pH to allow proper dissolution of the media. In my experience, reborn dissolved at a higher pH than other media but the results was similar, ie calcium and alk was provided to the tank critters. Changing media required adjustments to pH and flow to provide a stable input to the tank. hth.

 

[TAHK]

Not sure what issues you think are related to Reborn? The media used in these reactors is mined or collected from different locations on earth so there will be different chemical properties but hopefully the same results for the reef. The different media may/will require adjustment of pH to allow proper dissolution of the media. In my experience, reborn dissolved at a higher pH than other media but the results was similar, ie calcium and alk was provided to the tank critters. Changing media required adjustments to pH and flow to provide a stable input to the tank. hth.

I am sorry I was not clear - I do not have issues with ReBorn at all. The problem I have is with the with the reactor. I can't seem to find where the CO2 is leaking from but a 5 lbs bottle lasts 3 days. There is a leak in the system somewhere and I am at my wits end not being able to find it.
I have resolved to buying another automatic reactor. Dastaco and Deltec are both operating at pH about 6. My question is - if I put ReBorn media in either one of the two would it just turn to mush at this pH, or can I use it in these reactors.

 

[KrisReef]

I am sorry I was not clear - I do not have issues with ReBorn at all. The problem I have is with the with the reactor. I can't seem to find where the CO2 is leaking from but a 5 lbs bottle lasts 3 days. There is a leak in the system somewhere and I am at my wits end not being able to find it.
I have resolved to buying another automatic reactor. Dastaco and Deltec are both operating at pH about 6. My question is - if I put ReBorn media in either one of the two would it just turn to mush at this pH, or can I use it in these reactors.

Have you tried putting soapy water onto the connection points and on the regulator, etc to try and locate the leak? I've had to do that before and it is really frustrating emptying a CO2 tank because of a leak. Hope you locate it. Also, look for cracked hoses, the CO2 is harsh on typical hose material.

 

[TAHK]

Have you tried putting soapy water onto the connection points and on the regulator, etc to try and locate the leak? I've had to do that before and it is really frustrating emptying a CO2 tank because of a leak. Hope you locate it. Also, look for cracked hoses, the CO2 is harsh on typical hose material.

good point on the hoses - I didn’t check them. I did do the soapy water check. I guess I will open the controller and solenoid boxes tomorrow to see what’s up. Thank you.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

@TAHK how often is your ACR solenoid cycling on and off? This should help to determine where the CO2 leak is. I am not sure if you have opened the valve box before, but inside it is 2 solenoids, back to back, with a check valve in between. So if the leak is after the check valve, I would expect a fair bit of cycling as the float switch triggers to compensate for the leak. If the solenoid is triggering only a few times per day, then the leak should be before the check valve.

Dennis

 

[chicago]

thought I would resurrect this one.. and see if any updates using the reborn... I have a three stage reactor.. had one stage filled with ARM and it is still all there after a year.. the larger chamber was filled with shur media ... from years ago i had a bunch.. basically the older reborn we all are looking for.. in summary the ARM does not melt while the coral skeltons of the Shur (schuran) does... I need more media and got the RE-born .. and of course it is full of snail shells and is much smaller.....

any significant thoughts or updates ?

 

[X-37B]

When I run out of my 100lbs of bones I was lucky enough to get 6+ months ago before it dried up I will just use manmade.
I ran Tunze manmade for over a year with excellent results.
It dissolves around 6.6 and is small but very uniform in size.

 

[Yodeling]

Been using ARM extra coarse without problems. It dissolves at lower PH but once you find the sweet spot, it works great. I have mine set at 6.35. I like ARM because it’s clean and you know exactly what you’re getting, as opposed to TLF which had been a complete crapshoot. My corals don’t need cigarette butts to grow. For medium/small reactors, I probably wouldn’t use the extra coarse since it has less surface area.

Btw I use it in both chambers so I don’t have the issue of different media melting at different PH.

 

[PeterC99]

Been using ARM extra coarse without problems. It dissolves at lower PH but once you find the sweet spot, it works great. I have mine set at 6.35. I like ARM because it’s clean and you know exactly what you’re getting, as opposed to TLF which had been a complete crapshoot. My corals don’t need cigarette butts to grow. For medium/small reactors, I probably wouldn’t use the extra coarse since it has less surface area.

+1 on the 6.35 on ARM extra coarse!

 

[chicago]

So perhaps... i need to drop my ph in the reactor from 6.32. To lets say 6.25 and that should do the trick and start melting the ARM

 

[Yodeling]

So perhaps... i need to drop my ph in the reactor from 6.32. To lets say 6.25 and that should do the trick and start melting the ARM

IMHO drop it (slowly) until it starts meeting your alk demands. There are many factors at work such as PH probe calibration, size of reactor chamber, flow through reactor, etc etc. I do know that 6.1-6.2 is a safe range for ARM (it will not liquify at that ph). But it might dump a lot of alk into your system if you drop it too fast.

Alternatively, if you’re just trying to see if your media is dissolving, you can do an effluent test. Collect some effluent and dilute it 2:1 with RO water (2 parts water to 1 part effluent). Then measure the alk and multiply by 3.

 

[chicago]

Thank you for that suggestion....

 

[JMetaxas]

Nothing wrong with less coarse TLF Reborn. Years ago all there was was crushed coral and everyone used it in their CA Reactors.

 

[brahm]

I’m using my reborn in the second chamber and kz in the first. Seems to work well for me as the lower ph required by the kz is offset by the reborn in the second chambers, helped my ph when in the tank when I switched to this combo.

 

[chicago]

Interesting.. I might try this... i have mine set up in reverse right now.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

I have seen reports of reactor media turning to mush when ran at too low of a PH, but that has not been my experience. I have a saturation style reactor, A.E. ACR, that runs a PH < ~6.0. I use old school TLF in it. For a secondary chamber, I use a Geo 618, with no CO2 hookup, just the circulation pump running, and it's PH hovers between 6.1 and 6.13. In the Geo I have 90% TLF with a thin layer of TLF ReMag, ARM Coarse and SeaChem Reactor. The flowrate through the CaRx is a very low 1.3 ml/min.

I decided to add the extra media types in the secondary chamber just to try to see how they melted compared to each other, also they each claim to be particularly good for different elements (ARM, extra Strontium, Seachem, extra Potassium, ReMag, obviously magnesium).

Just from visual inspection of the layers, the ReMag is definitely, melting the fastest. It's layer is merging into the ARM. The ARM appears to be next for the amount melted, followed by the Seachem. The ARM and Seachem have become noticeably smoother, sharp corners and edges melted away. The TLF Reborn in the CaRx and the secondary hasn't changed in appearance, or volume at all that I can see.

My conclusion is that any issues with media breaking down, turning to mush, has more to do with the waterflow through the media, than the PH that the media is ran at. Both my CaRx and secondary are up flow, and have a good amount of circulation through the media.

Dennis