calcium reactor / kalk reactor questions

[fishforu]

currently dosing 2 part b-ionic, but am considering using a calcium reactor and am down to either a geo 612 or a lifereef lcr1, but am scared away from the lifereef because of the 70 watts magdrive 7 pump it uses versus a 10 watts eheim 1048. however, someone mentioned that

1. if i use a deltec calcium reactor, i will not need to add a kalc reactor. is this true?

2. if i use a geo or lifereef, do i need to add a kalc reactor as well?

3. does all calcium reactor media provide the same trace elements as a 2 part? if not, which ones do?

4. is a fine or corase media better or is there any difference?

thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

you may or may not need a Kalk reactor with any of them.

I use both. My CA/Alk readings are pretty stable this way. The tank is a SPS tank as well.

I have the Geo 612 and a Precision Marine Kalk Reactor. Both reactors are built very well.

Not sure on the media - I am using the Gen-X media but may change.

 

[fungia]

if you use any good ca reactor, you may not need a kalkreactor. the deltec is better but not a whole other category better, dont let hype fool you.

the stuff a ca reactor will add to your tank depends on what is in the media so if you use aragonite, you will get many minerals. if you use pure calcium carbonate it will mostly just be calcium. some reactors like big media, some like small media. you want to increase surface area but if it is too small, it will compact down and clog up.

 

[Len]

Hey Billy,

I agree with everything that's been posted. I love my Deltec for its convenience and superior features, but it's not a magic machine I've found most reactors on the market these days perform very well; After all, it's a very simple device. The Deltec does some things more efficiently (especially because of the reverse flow design) and has convenience features I adore (e.g. the super simple top lid design). It's worth the price of admission for me. Other reactors are no slouches either though.

Media choice does indeed depend on the reactor. If you go with Deltec, you are going to have to use their very expensive media that is optimized for the reverse flow "fluid" bed design. Expect a few hundred dollars a year on media replacement.

All in all, you'd be satisfied with any of the reactors you're looking at. They all work. And with a tank your size, you wouldn't need a kalkreactor for sure.

FYI: The Deltecs I know of use Aquabees, not Eheims. Mine definitely does. I wish it used the more reliable Eheims though. My pump has gone bad on me once already, and it was over $100 to replace just the impeller assembly.

 

[Len]

As for question number three, fungia is right: some media such as aragonite (which is coral skeleton) provides a more elements then others. Deltecs has additives in their CaCO3 media which provides more elements too .... sort of like aragonite sand.