Calcium Reactors: (seeking advice)

[lachrimae]

Hello everyone,

I'm sick of using A/B solutions for my 135g and am looking to bite the financial bullet & get a calc reactor. I'm a DIY kind of person so I wouldn't mind building one... There are a few DIY plans out there that look pretty good but are there features that the more expensive manufactured calc reactors come with that generally wouldn't with a DIY?

What's the story on that cheap Coralife calc reactor? The one rated for up to 250ga is only $130 (less than half the cost of others) so I am skeptical. Does anyone have experience with this unit?

I have a PinPoint pH Monitor already so I won't be using a controller... Does this mean that I will have a Co2 leak in the event of a power failure or can I still use a solenoid valve without a controller to stop leaks?


Just like everyone else that is addicted to this $ hobby, I am trying not to spend a fortune.
If I can get by with a $130 reactor (instead of $330) or build my own for less, plus the cost of the tank, gauge & media, I'd be happy

Thanks for any tips!

Mark

 

[jdeets]

Oh no, another Ca rxr thread...

Whether you can get by with the $130 unit depends on how you intend to set it up and quality of construction. I had a cheapie (it was not a Coralife) that was made with acrylic glued flush (i.e., not jointed), and it came apart. I woke up one morning to find my stand flooded--and the main return pump running dry--luckily I discovered it before anything bad happened.

Now, that unit worked fine when I was feeding with with a siphon line. When I decided to feed it using a pressure line--it came apart. It wouldn't have been so bad, obviously, if I was using it in-sump, either. At any rate, that one went in the trash.

I'm not familiar with the Coralife, or how it is constructed. If you are going to feed it with a pressure line (I feed mine using a manifold that comes off of the return line), outside of the sump, then you want to make sure that it says it can be used under pressure. If you're going to feed it with a siphon or use it in-sump, then it's not quite so critical.

I am now using a Precision Marine Ca rxr. Compared to my old unit, this thing is a rock. And it specifically says it can be used under pressure.

On the solenoid--I also have a pH monitor, but no controller, and bought a solenoid so that in the event of a power failure, the CO2 would stop flowing. Now I have backup power, so it doesn't really matter any more--although if I ever used a pH controller, I guess I'd have that capability since I already have the solenoid unit.

As far as DIY vs. buying one--for me if I built one I would have had to use PVC because I'm not proficient with acrylic. The advantage of acrylic is you can see the media level, etc. You also need some way to count CO2 bubbles so you can adjust your needle valve. It has to be able to be opened/closed to add media, obviously. You want your CO2 to be drawin directly into the pump's impeller, and you need circulation, etc. All that was too much engineering for my taste!

Good luck!