Calcium RX setup (1 Viewer)

[mitchell77546]

I'm thinking of going with a calcium RX since my tank size just doubled and I'm considering adding some stoney corals. Not sure my uptake is enough to warrant the need for it at this time but I'm doing as much research as possible before I delve into this thing. I found a link to this video on a website and what he is talking about makes a lot of sense. I anyone using this method. Any precautions? I found coding for APEX on the website as well I will be using. Maybe the stand alone controller is the better option since i already have one...

 

[Reefahholic]

I'm thinking of going with a calcium RX since my tank size just doubled and I'm considering adding some stoney corals. Not sure my uptake is enough to warrant the need for it at this time but I'm doing as much research as possible before I delve into this thing. I found a link to this video on a website and what he is talking about makes a lot of sense. I anyone using this method. Any precautions? I found coding for APEX on the website as well I will be using. Maybe the stand alone controller is the better option since i already have one...

I’ve used Kevin’s method. You can also filter your intake and output.

IMO no tank is too small for a reactor if you have enough demand. Demand meaning being able to run the reactor at its most minimal setting which for me would be the bottom end of a carbon doser that barely injects a low level of CO2 into the reactor. Say 1 bubble every 10 seconds vs every 1 second.

I think controlling with Apex is a great way to do it, but you’ll need to also understand how to control it by measuring your effluent or pH inside the reactor incase the Apex goes offline.

 

[mitchell77546]

Maybe the better option is to use apex to monitor and use the ph controller for operation I’m sure it oils be drilled and tapped for a bulkhead and secondary peobe

 

[RobertP]

Too much bad experience with neptune products for me to let my apex handle it but to each his own. I am doing it the old-school way with a ph controller and old valves on the bottle. The ph controller takes all the guesswork out of it. Calibrate your ph probe, set the value (6.5) and you are done. It's only job is to turn on or off the CO2 and it keeps the ph a constant 6.5 in the reactor and it works perfectly. No need for a carbon doser with this setup because of the kamoer peristalic pump...and dont have to count drips or guess. I use the needle valve to adjust the bubble rate so the CO2 controller turns off less often but that is not necessary with the controller. I have a tiny feed pump that pushes water to the reactor and the kamoer pump to control the effluent to the tank. I tried it without the small feed pump and the Kamoer created a suction to pull the water in but it just did not work as well. It would suck air from time to time...probably that leaking PM reactor. This setup is by far the best tool to keep your alk stable. If you understand 2 part dosing then getting the effluent dosing dialed in was super easy with the kamoer pump since the ML/min is right on the screen.

I was using a PM calcium reactor but it sprung a leak and I got a Lifereef calcium reactor. Yeah, everyone says GEO is the best but they were about a 3 month wait when I got the Lifereef within a couple weeks. Hard to argue with a 10watt flow pump! Been on this setup for about 6 months and the media has gone down maybe an inch.

 

[mitchell77546]

Did you even watch the video Robert?

 

[RobertP]

Did you even watch the video Robert?

Yep. I think most people who want a calcium reactor have watched that. Nothing wrong with that approach and how people did it for years. If I remember Rico had a video or two on his old cal reax that were very similar. BRS has a bunch of videos on this way and using the kamoer. They all work. You will love the cal reactor!

 

[Reefahholic]

Too much bad experience with neptune products for me to let my apex handle it but to each his own. I am doing it the old-school way with a ph controller and old valves on the bottle. The ph controller takes all the guesswork out of it. Calibrate your ph probe, set the value (6.5) and you are done. It's only job is to turn on or off the CO2 and it keeps the ph a constant 6.5 in the reactor and it works perfectly. No need for a carbon doser with this setup because of the kamoer peristalic pump...and dont have to count drips or guess. I use the needle valve to adjust the bubble rate so the CO2 controller turns off less often but that is not necessary with the controller. I have a tiny feed pump that pushes water to the reactor and the kamoer pump to control the effluent to the tank. I tried it without the small feed pump and the Kamoer created a suction to pull the water in but it just did not work as well. It would suck air from time to time...probably that leaking PM reactor. This setup is by far the best tool to keep your alk stable. If you understand 2 part dosing then getting the effluent dosing dialed in was super easy with the kamoer pump since the ML/min is right on the screen.

I was using a PM calcium reactor but it sprung a leak and I got a Lifereef calcium reactor. Yeah, everyone says GEO is the best but they were about a 3 month wait when I got the Lifereef within a couple weeks. Hard to argue with a 10watt flow pump! Been on this setup for about 6 months and the media has gone down maybe an inch.

Just be careful pushing you can pressurize the reactor. There has been several people blow the top off their reactor.

 

[Reefahholic]

For me the easiest and safest way is too pull using a Kamoer or Versa. I perfer the Kamoer. A carbon doser for gas control just makes it stupid simple. The only thing about the carbon doser is that they should last longer for the price. Monitoring pH with a controller (in reactor) and secondary probe (in tank) with failsafes is the safest way to go and reduces the amount of headaches and testing.

Old school guys hate controllers because they refuse to adapt to new things. They will typically get the gas dialed in and continuously test their effluent dKH adjusting the gas like it’s a dosing pump. If you wanna do that it’s as annoying as owning a Jebao dosing pump. They will fight controllers till their last breath failing to consider how many “failsafes” that could save their entire reef. Even people like Jda will confess they would love to have those failsafes.

Example:

With a controller I can see when my gas is going empty on the wave form.

I can shut off my gas if the pH swings to low. Or… If it’s too high I can see it and > my gas when I get home. Don’t even need to test.

If I have a leak…I can shut off the feed pump.

You could even monitor flow if you wanted to making sure your reactor is running at peak performance and prevent clogging.


These are just a few things that will save your tank and make life much easier instead of having to sit there and test or wonder about effluent dKH everyday.


The cheapest way to run a reactor is to grab a Milwaukee pH controller and periodically test effluent pH and keep a log. The less you test…the more you gamble.

 

[Cody]

For me the easiest and safest way is too pull using a Kamoer or Versa. I perfer the Kamoer. A carbon doser for gas control just makes it stupid simple. The only thing about the carbon doser is that they should last longer for the price. Monitoring pH with a controller (in reactor) and secondary probe (in tank) with failsafes is the safest way to go and reduces the amount of headaches and testing.

Old school guys hate controllers because they refuse to adapt to new things. They will typically get the gas dialed in and continuously test their effluent dKH adjusting the gas like it’s a dosing pump. If you wanna do that it’s as annoying as owning a Jebao dosing pump. They will fight controllers till their last breath failing to consider how many “failsafes” that could save their entire reef. Even people like Jda will confess they would love to have those failsafes.

Example:

With a controller I can see when my gas is going empty on the wave form.

I can shut off my gas if the pH swings to low. Or… If it’s too high I can see it and > my gas when I get home. Don’t even need to test.

If I have a leak…I can shut off the feed pump.

You could even monitor flow if you wanted to making sure your reactor is running at peak performance and prevent clogging.


These are just a few things that will save your tank and make life much easier instead of having to sit there and test or wonder about effluent dKH everyday.


The cheapest way to run a reactor is to grab a Milwaukee pH controller and periodically test effluent pH and keep a log. The less you test…the more you gamble.

I use the kamoera with a Milwaukee ph controller in the carx chamber. It’s the best method I’ve found. All you have to do is turn the knob on the kamoera to adjust the output.

I would never trust the apex ph probe to control my carx. The Milwaukee is a way more accurate product.

 

[Reefahholic]

I use the kamoera with a Milwaukee ph controller in the carx chamber. It’s the best method I’ve found. All you have to do is turn the knob on the kamoera to adjust the output.

I would never trust the apex ph probe to control my carx. The Milwaukee is a way more accurate product.

Roger that!

Milwaukee is the most accurate pH monitor I’ve ever used. Calibrates like a dream too.

 

[Reefahholic]

BTW, I’ve talked to Kevin in the video not to long ago and he doesn’t have a tank anymore. He shut the tank down and is all into cars now.

 

[mitchell77546]

decisions decisions.. probably going to run two part pretty much fool proof...

 

[Reefahholic]

decisions decisions.. probably going to run two part pretty much fool proof...

I can honestly say after running 2-part for years that a reactor is easier and doubles your growth.

As soon as this fall weather comes in I’m gonna finish up my stand and get the tank setup with a reactor. I also run my GHL along side my reactor.

 

[mitchell77546]

Well, given that I can’t grow anything including softies 2 part is gonna skyrocket what I can do right now. I think I should start with two part and maybe move on to the rx when I get the two part down..

 

[Cody]

Well, given that I can’t grow anything including softies 2 part is gonna skyrocket what I can do right now. I think I should start with two part and maybe move on to the rx when I get the two part down..

The scrambled eggs aren’t growing?

 

[mitchell77546]

They are “surviving”

 

[Ostentum]

Well, given that I can’t grow anything including softies 2 part is gonna skyrocket what I can do right now. I think I should start with two part and maybe move on to the rx when I get the two part down..

 

[Ostentum]

I used 2 part till 8 months ago when I I was using 200ml a day of each. Then I went the easiest calcium reactor that I have ever seen the dastaco. I have used calcium reactors for over 10yrs and wanted to try something new on the big tank to start since it came with the dosing pumps when I bought it. The best and safest way with a carx is to use a controller to have a static ph in the chamber and then adjust your effluent rate to match your tanks demands. This is pretty much how the automated calcium reactors work

 

[BigRick]

They are “surviving”

Mines from Codester are growing like crazy.. probably the fastest ones I have

 

[Cody]

They are “surviving”

That’s strange. Are you nutrients where they need to be?