Calcium Reactor Question

[Reefres]

I'm looking to add a calcium reactor to my 120 gal. tank and would like to get some pros/cons on the different makes/models prior to purchasing. I also have some questions about setup.

1. What is the reccommended way to feed the water to the reactor?
2. Where do you want to return to the water out of the reactor?
3. Do you also need to add Kalkwasser via dosing or a Kalkreactor?

Thanks

 

[ChrisRD]

I'm looking to add a calcium reactor to my 120 gal. tank and would like to get some pros/cons on the different makes/models prior to purchasing. I also have some questions about setup.

1. What is the reccommended way to feed the water to the reactor?
2. Where do you want to return to the water out of the reactor?
3. Do you also need to add Kalkwasser via dosing or a Kalkreactor?

Thanks

I built my own reactor so I can't really comment on commercial units. Maybe someone else can chime in.

1. You can feed the reactor with a small powerhead, or tee a line off of your return pump. IIRC, some reactors can be fed by syphon-action using just the recirculating pump, but I'm not sure how reliable that method is.

2. I return it to the sump, as the pH of the effluent is low. This gives it a chance to offgas some CO2 and mix with regular tank water before it gets back into the main tank.

3. It's not necessary to use kalkwasser in addition to the Ca reactor, but there are several benefits and if you can do it, I would recommend it. IMO it's the easiest way to sustain high, stable levels of Ca/Alk in a high demand tank.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I have a myreef reactor on my 120. After resolving some initial leaking issues, it works great.

1. I have mine T'd off the pump submerged in the sump that also drives my skimmer

2. Drips back in to the sump

3. I have a DIY Kalk reactor the my RO makeup water gets pushed through via a liter-meter. This works fine, but like Chris said, you don't really need it.

 

[Reefres]

Thanks for the advise. If I tee off my return pump do I need a valve to control the water flow to the Calcium Reactor?

 

[ChrisRD]

Yeah, it's a good idea. It's good to have a course adjustment like that before the reactor and a needle valve for precise adjustments after the reactor.