I have a used DaStaco XtremA Model A-2 Calcium Reactor for sale for $1000 plus shipping.
a few relevant points -
1) The unit was purchased on 1/1/21 from Unique Corals. The purchase price was $1998 with free shipping.
2) The unit was installed on my system and ran for 3 days before I disconnected it. During this time it worked, but I did get a few alarms associated with the parasitic pump and its connections to the the sump/reactor. I made a few changes to the location and length of the rigid 1/4 inch (RO/DI like) tubing and rebooted the electronic controller and it proceeded to operate for another 24 hours or so before getting another alarm.
3) I had trouble keeping the 1/4 rigid tubing connected to the pump. The connectors are not sufficient for this type of rigid tubing. I had much more success using typical aquarium silicone airline tubing. These made for solid fail proof connections. However, in the final iteration, before disconnecting, I reverted back to the rigid 1/4 inch tubing that came with the unit, but swapped out the standard pump connectors (the yellow plastic ones) with Loc-Line push connectors (from Marine Depot) that hold this tubing in place like an RO/DI unit. These connectors do require plumbers tape on the threading to stay fastened to the pump. With this configuration, the connections to and from the pump were solid. I am including both types of connectors with this unit (both the original and the Loc-Lines).
4) In disassembling the unit, I accidently broke the 240V Eheim pump. It is not salvageable and needs to be replaced. It is approximately $100 to replace it. I can include the broken pump with the shipment if interested.
5) I am selling this because the work required to get the pump adjusted to avoid the alarms. Since the system shuts off when an alarm is triggered, the Alk and Calc could be at risk if you are away (on vacation) or whatever for a period of time. I know it is possible to work through these issues, but this is not what I want to do. I think I am happier with a manual one that I can adjust periodically in target Alk and Calc, and be assured that it won't stop working at a time that I am not around to fix it or reboot it. I have reverted back to my LifeReef reactor, and have ordered a GEO to replace it, so I can get the two chambers and a parasitic pump like that of this DaStaco.
6) The good new is that I got it running immediately. I put it together, added media, did leak test, and then turned it on and it ran for about a day before I got my first alarm. I then began making adjustments on the water inputs, reset the device and it would run for another day or so before getting another alarm. I had no issues with the CO2 regulator nor solenoid. Also had no trouble getting the needle valve adjusted to get the CO2 blue light to stay illuminated for 2 to 3 minutes upon initial set up. So overall, other than the occasional alarm, the system ran well and was raising my Alk each day toward my target value.
7) It comes with the 220V to 110V transformer and everything else that was originally shipped from Unique Corals, except for most of RO/DI tubing, as I used much of that up during my adjustment process.
8) Factoring in the like new age of this system, the original price paid, the cost of shipping to be covered by the buyer, and the cost of the replacement Eheim pump, the $1000 sales price is ~40% discount.
9) I can include the Pro Cal Pure media (20kg) as part of this sale, but note that it will drive up shipping costs because of its weight.
a few relevant points -
1) The unit was purchased on 1/1/21 from Unique Corals. The purchase price was $1998 with free shipping.
2) The unit was installed on my system and ran for 3 days before I disconnected it. During this time it worked, but I did get a few alarms associated with the parasitic pump and its connections to the the sump/reactor. I made a few changes to the location and length of the rigid 1/4 inch (RO/DI like) tubing and rebooted the electronic controller and it proceeded to operate for another 24 hours or so before getting another alarm.
3) I had trouble keeping the 1/4 rigid tubing connected to the pump. The connectors are not sufficient for this type of rigid tubing. I had much more success using typical aquarium silicone airline tubing. These made for solid fail proof connections. However, in the final iteration, before disconnecting, I reverted back to the rigid 1/4 inch tubing that came with the unit, but swapped out the standard pump connectors (the yellow plastic ones) with Loc-Line push connectors (from Marine Depot) that hold this tubing in place like an RO/DI unit. These connectors do require plumbers tape on the threading to stay fastened to the pump. With this configuration, the connections to and from the pump were solid. I am including both types of connectors with this unit (both the original and the Loc-Lines).
4) In disassembling the unit, I accidently broke the 240V Eheim pump. It is not salvageable and needs to be replaced. It is approximately $100 to replace it. I can include the broken pump with the shipment if interested.
5) I am selling this because the work required to get the pump adjusted to avoid the alarms. Since the system shuts off when an alarm is triggered, the Alk and Calc could be at risk if you are away (on vacation) or whatever for a period of time. I know it is possible to work through these issues, but this is not what I want to do. I think I am happier with a manual one that I can adjust periodically in target Alk and Calc, and be assured that it won't stop working at a time that I am not around to fix it or reboot it. I have reverted back to my LifeReef reactor, and have ordered a GEO to replace it, so I can get the two chambers and a parasitic pump like that of this DaStaco.
6) The good new is that I got it running immediately. I put it together, added media, did leak test, and then turned it on and it ran for about a day before I got my first alarm. I then began making adjustments on the water inputs, reset the device and it would run for another day or so before getting another alarm. I had no issues with the CO2 regulator nor solenoid. Also had no trouble getting the needle valve adjusted to get the CO2 blue light to stay illuminated for 2 to 3 minutes upon initial set up. So overall, other than the occasional alarm, the system ran well and was raising my Alk each day toward my target value.
7) It comes with the 220V to 110V transformer and everything else that was originally shipped from Unique Corals, except for most of RO/DI tubing, as I used much of that up during my adjustment process.
8) Factoring in the like new age of this system, the original price paid, the cost of shipping to be covered by the buyer, and the cost of the replacement Eheim pump, the $1000 sales price is ~40% discount.
9) I can include the Pro Cal Pure media (20kg) as part of this sale, but note that it will drive up shipping costs because of its weight.
