High Tide Aquatics

Calcium Reactors

derek_SR said:
and 2-part is getting very expensive for the amount I am using.
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Soda Ash

Calcium Chloride

BRS has it for only slightly more for the 5 gallon buckets.

I have a hard time thinking this is more expensive than switching to a calcium reactor.

And yeah, never pull with a pump. There was an engineering problem we solved in college that was effectively how high a straw can you use and still get your soda. You can never pull more than a perfect vacuum and that may not be enough to get your height/required head pressure to get fluid to flow. You can always push harder and since water is incompressible, that works well with pumps.
 
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RandyC said:
- Bigger = less maintenance
- Secondary chamber = pH of effluent will cease before entering tank
- 20lb co2 container will last years

I've never calculated the cost, but I touch my carx once, maybe twice a year. I think people have run the cost and it really only makes since if you have a high stony coral population (tons of acros) on probably a 75 gallon+ tank. But I run it on everything...I could care less about the size. Ease of maintenance is more important to me. I've run it on as small as a 25 gallon tank. :p



I've never bought into the "automatic" carx. You can do without easily. In the old days, it may have been more difficult with a needle valve and a feed pump (impeller type), but with peristaltic pumps and pH probe, easy peasy.

Footprint can be significant. Reactor, secondary reactor, CO2 tank, regulator, and peristaltic pump can take up quite a bit of real estate.
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What unit would you recommend? My tank is 225g and mostly stony corals.
H2OPlayar said:
Soda Ash

Calcium Chloride

BRS has it for only slightly more for the 5 gallon buckets.

I have a hard time thinking this is more expensive than switching to a calcium reactor.

And yeah, never pull with a pump. There was an engineering problem we solved in college that was effectively how high a straw can you use and still get your soda. You can never pull more than a perfect vacuum and that may not be enough to get your height/required head pressure to get fluid to flow. You can always push harder and since water is incompressible, that works well with pumps.
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You're probably not wrong. But another issue is just laziness, I hate mixing 2part and refilling the containers. It's not THAT big of a deal but I've always been curious about Calcium reactors.
 
derek_SR said:
What unit would you recommend? My tank is 225g and mostly stony corals.
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Hard for me to really say. I've only used two companies calcium reactors. Vertex, which I don't have a great experience with because it leaked and it seemed the joints weren't welded great (or I was unlucky and had a bad unit). But that company isn't around any more so you don't have to worry about that.

And the other is Geo. I guess it's saying something though that I have four of them running in my house.

For regulators, I use carbon dosers.

Peristaltic Pumps, I have two using Masterflex peristaltic pumps and two using Versa.
 
RandyC said:
Hard for me to really say. I've only used two companies calcium reactors. Vertex, which I don't have a great experience with because it leaked and it seemed the joints weren't welded great (or I was unlucky and had a bad unit). But that company isn't around any more so you don't have to worry about that.

And the other is Geo. I guess it's saying something though that I have four of them running in my house.

For regulators, I use carbon dosers.

Peristaltic Pumps, I have two using Masterflex peristaltic pumps and two using Versa.
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For regulators, a good dual stage is a better choice.
I think I have a bunch of parts still if you need any to build one.
 
derek_SR said:
What unit would you recommend? My tank is 225g and mostly stony corals.

You're probably not wrong. But another issue is just laziness, I hate mixing 2part and refilling the containers. It's not THAT big of a deal but I've always been curious about Calcium reactors.
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Gallon plus sized dosing containers, and mixing a gallon at a time of 2 part is fast.

You are just wanting to change it up, I know.
 
H2OPlayar said:
Gallon plus sized dosing containers, and mixing a gallon at a time of 2 part is fast.

You are just wanting to change it up, I know.
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Quit trying to talk sense in to me dammit!

I do have gallon containers now and have to refill them monthly or so...looking to up my laziness game even further here. And yes, change it up with some new equipment and a new approach to things. I need to get this done so I can go back to Fing around with my lights, ya know?
 
@RandyC maybe I can swing by your place again at some point to get educated on your reactors and check them out? not in any rush, but maybe when we swap frags again. you should trade me something for this damn Scoly
 
derek_SR said:
Quit trying to talk sense in to me dammit!

I do have gallon containers now and have to refill them monthly or so...looking to up my laziness game even further here. And yes, change it up with some new equipment and a new approach to things. I need to get this done so I can go back to Fing around with my lights, ya know?
Click to expand...
www.uline.com

F-Style Jugs - 2 1/2 Gallon, White S-13508 - Uline

Space-saving containers for chemicals, cleaners and other liquids. Heavy-duty polyethylene. FDA compliant. Caps included . ULINE offers over 43,000 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing tubes, warehouse supplies and bubble wrap for your storage, packaging, or shipping supplies.
www.uline.com www.uline.com

Introducing the 2 1/2 gallon dosing container.

I use one for Alk and one for Balling Part C.

I only forgot when I left my dosing pump on once, and it didn't crash anything. I just dosed 650mL of solution at once.
 
H2OPlayar said:
www.uline.com

F-Style Jugs - 2 1/2 Gallon, White S-13508 - Uline

Space-saving containers for chemicals, cleaners and other liquids. Heavy-duty polyethylene. FDA compliant. Caps included . ULINE offers over 43,000 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing tubes, warehouse supplies and bubble wrap for your storage, packaging, or shipping supplies.
www.uline.com www.uline.com

Introducing the 2 1/2 gallon dosing container.

I use one for Alk and one for Balling Part C.

I only forgot when I left my dosing pump on once, and it didn't crash anything. I just dosed 650mL of solution at once.
Click to expand...
I don't see any measurements - can you send me LxWxH of one of these?
 
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