Calcium Reactor suggestions - GEO vs REEFMANIA

[JuniorMC8704]

I have a 300 gallon display, 120 gallon prop tank, and tons of extra water volume to the tune of 800 gallons total.

I am looking at 2 different reactors, and am torn between the two.

First is the GEO 818...i had a 624 before and loved it, but a couple things i wasnt nuts about. I really would prefer an effluent chamber, and i didnt like the soft tubing and hose barbs that made the connection for the panworld pump to the reactor.

Second up is the Reef Mania CR600, everything about this thing looks fantastic, it holds quit a bit more media than the 818, and has higher quality plumbing being used throughout.

Also includes a glass flow meter on the effluent line to allow for easier calibration.


Prices are not important, going for what is going to be the better reactor.

I know i can add a geo media reactor as a effluent chamber, so thats not too much of a concern as well.

The main concern i have with the reef mania reactor is that it is suspended off the main platform by three acrylic legs. It looks solid, but i have my concerns about 50lbs of media being in there. If is has to be emptied while its full of media, i am worried about the stress on the legs.

Please give me your thoughts on these please.

we all know about the 818, and here is a link to the reef mania one.

http://reefmania.net/cr600.php

 

[Poseidon]

I like the simplicity of the Geo myself Paul. I redid the plumbing on my DIY one to match that of a GEO reactor, over what I had before. I can now use a much smaller recirc pump, and I don't seem to be burning through CO2 as fast.

I do have to redo my lid, but that is my fault, not the designs.

 

[cparka23]

Looks to me like the reefmania unit is made of extruded acrylic.

Don't know if that means anything to you, but it might be something to consider if the strength of the legs are an issue.

 

[Dave2]

Give me your collection of corals and you wont have to worry about calcium uptake. Its a win-win situation. :wink:

Seriously though, I have heard really good stories of the Geo reactors!

 

[SaraB]

I too have heard really good things about the Geo CA Reactors and their ease of use.

 

[BenjieC]

But Sara only uses Deltec reactors. ;p

 

[JuniorMC8704]

if you look at the function of the reefmania, its the same exact thing basically.

Also, my dad just noticed that there is also clear acrylic supports under the cylinders, that i totally missed. If you look close you can see the glare.

Like i said, i like the GEO, but honestly wasnt all that impressed with my 624.

Its certainly in need of an effluent chamber IMO.

Jar_Head (steve) on RC said he was VERY impressed with the quality of his reefmania equipment. Also, Cherry Corals has a lot of their custom stuff done by them.

Im feeling better about the RM reactor now...still hard to pull the trigger though.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Just come on by with some bags....

Give me your collection of corals and you wont have to worry about calcium uptake. Its a win-win situation. :wink:

Seriously though, I have heard really good stories of the Geo reactors!

 

[Poseidon]

Ah, I see what he is talking about. I think either is a good choice.

 

[cparka23]

[...]Also, my dad just noticed that there is also clear acrylic supports under the cylinders, that i totally missed. If you look close you can see the glare.[...]

Now that you mention it, they look like 3 vertical strips to me. It's the flash and the angle that makes it look white like the background. I think the clear ones are actually the flash reflecting off the surface of each strip. Should be sturdy on the bottom.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

I sent them an email, and I am going to wait to hear back from them.

As they are built to order, i may ask them to box it in, and make the top piece square to give it some extra beef. Might even ask them to use 1/2" for the supports.

 

[bigsink]

I run the Geo 618 and I love it. It is sturdy very functional. However, I am not a big fan of tubing and needle valves.

 

[SaraB]

But Sara only uses Deltec reactors. ;p

I don't actually use them, I just line them up and pretend that I do! :tongue:

 

[BenjieC]

I don't actually use them, I just line them up and pretend that I do! :tongue:

You use them....as long as someone else plugs them in. :bigsmile:

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Well i heard back from reef mania.

All acrylic is CAST acrylic. The cyclinder is 1/8", and ALL other pieces are 3/8"

There is no holes drilled in the cylinder what so ever, all plumbed through the top and bottoms.

The plumbing has also be redone for better function.

There is no back brace currently, but he is happy to put a continuous piece from top to bottom, connecting all three legs, base, and cylinder base together.

Also modifying another small thing for me.

Im pretty excited about this. Will likely order it tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Poseidon]

Sounds like what you want/need, can't beat that!

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Ordered it about an hour ago.

He's upgrading the flow meter, and also is adding a bunch of extra reinforcement to ease my mind...at no extra charge i might add.

This thing holds around 60 lbs of media from my calculations...should be BEAST!

Bob over at Reef Mania was awesome to deal with, and couldn't be more accommodating.

 

[Poseidon]

Very cool!

 

[chadfarmer]

i am looking at the 818 also

can i ask what this is costing u

 

[JuniorMC8704]

$870, but if you factor in the cost of adding an effluent chamber to the GEO (which i would have for SURE) its actually cheaper, same build quality, and i find the design to be much better.

I love not have any holes drilled in the cylinders. And i like not having cheap flexible holes connecting the pump to the system. and hard plumbed with sch 80 pvc. HIGH quality ball valves, and unions.