Calcium Reactor

[jcolon2]

Hello everyone. I am looking to purchase a calcium reactor for my tank. I believe it is the last piece preventing me from achieving a nice tank (aside from a phosban reactor). I have a 55 gallon tank, 70 pounds of live sand, 69 pounds of live rock, 2 maxijet pumps ( a 1000 and 400) hooked up to a redsea wavemaker, a bak pac 2 protein skimmer, a CPR 150 overflow hooked up to a aquatic proclear wet dry system with a quiteone 3000 pump, t12 lighting, etc... I dose calcium and ocassionally trace elements. Let me know if I am missing something though. Anyway, I would like to purchase a calcium reactor. Any suggestions as to what calcium reactor provides the best bang for the buck? I am not trying to be cheap, however; I hope to upgrade in the future and do not want to go crazy on costs for the current tank. I noticed a calcium reactor on ebay very cheap (50 dollars). The link is: http://cgi.ebay.com/Acro-Cal-Nano-C...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439af1d2a6 . Would it get the job done or does it appear poorly put together (if you can even tell from looking at the photograph)? I want to do it right the first time. Thanks in advance.

Justin

 

[anthony27]

Justin, before you go spending money on the cal reactor. I would start by dosing the tank and get the levles correct. The most important this is the mag , because that is the buffer between the cal and the alk. start dosing slow and REMOVE THE BIO BALLS. lol slowly. once the levels are right then you should look into a cal reactor.

 

[beerfish]

I don't think the calcium reactor is the best use of your money right now. A tank that size can easily be managed with 2 part.

Before worrying about a calcium reactor, I would suggest upgrading your lighting, your skimmer, and removing the wet-dry. In addition, I would probably replace the powerheads and add a controller to the tank.

As far as the one you posted, keep in mind that you still need a CO2 tank and regulator, which will cost upwards of $200 in addition to the reactor itself.

 

[anthony27]

I adree with beer fish, I will be more then glad to show you and how to measure it out. He is right about the co2 tank. BUt beerfish he has a great light now. I would def. up grade the skimmer and buy a much bigger skimmer I went from a coralife 65 to a mtc250 with a mad 9.5 and I have to say it pulls things I have no clue were in the tank. Just dose that is all

 

[beerfish]

BUt beerfish he has a great light now.

T12 is not a great light. These are standard fluorescent lights.

 

[anthony27]

He has vho ligting on the tank, he bought the fixture off my boy 4 vho and 2 mh in the fixture.

 

[charliethetuna88]

Justin my tank is nice u seen it and I don't have a cal reactor ur rushing things bro leave it alone and give it time start out getting softies to thrive then try a piece of lps then when everything is doing real good then move on to sps a cal reactor will just add cal to a tank that's all u don't have crazy groth were u will need alotta cal bro give it time and I would get the phospate reactor

 

[charliethetuna88]

And get thouse bioballs out bro lol

 

[charliethetuna88]

Test and change water get all ur parameters squared away and hook up those halides I told u that along time ago

 

[beerfish]

He has vho ligting on the tank, he bought the fixture off my boy 4 vho and 2 mh in the fixture.

In that case, the light sounds fine. He didn't mention the VHO or MH part. lol

Honestly, I think that increased flow maybe a couple of the new Koralias and the phosphate reactor should be the cheapest upgrades you can do. I would also look for a used skimmer instead of the CPR.

 

[anthony27]

Yeah I have a coralife 65 skimmer he can use and also charlie and my self told you this a long time ago i was willing to help you out with the phosband reactor. that is your best bet right now and then the skimmer.

 

[jcolon2]

Ok. So I won't do the calc. reactor. I will purchase magnesium. My sofites are doing well. My sps is all hurting. It goes through periods of bleaching and then coloring up then bleaching. The ph has been going out of whack. I already started to remove the bioballs, I forgot to mention that.

I have the protein skimmer because I received it free. The same goes for the wet-dry, it was free. I made due with what I could get. I had another powerhead but it broke, I would like two more powerheads. I want to do the halides, I have to buy a ballast as well as the bulbs. Thanks for the advice. Sounds do-able.

 

[charliethetuna88]

So u don't dose mag justin at all if not that's an issue to. Its just as important as cal and alk it will throw ur readings all over the place

 

[jcolon2]

No. As soon as my brother brings back my car I think I am going to head out to the store and buy some to start dosing.

 

[anthony27]

Yes please test before dosing any thing in the tank, I will give you the skimmer for free just come and pick it up that is all and I have a power head if you need it it is a maxi jet all you have to is just message me or text me that is all. I dont mind comming over and helping you set up the skimmer and showing you how to dose I know aqua hut as the two part for 20$ for the small bottels.


You have to rember that the tank is a chemistry lab, you have to have to have a buffer to keep the alk and cal in line and that is the mag.

The alk when you dose it comes out white in the water.
the cal comes out clear in the water.

I am happy that you are removing the bio balls time by time. Also the best thing right now is buy the phosband reactor and the 2 part.

 

[beerfish]

Woah... slow down... what are your calcium and alkalinity levels now? In a 55g tank you can probably get by with water changes for calcium. Your tank really isn't set up for SPS as it stands now.

1. Get the halides running.
2. Get enough flow for SPS.
3. Work on stability, pH, temp, etc.
4. Remove the bioballs and get a good skimmer.

 

[anthony27]

Yes I agree with beerfish

 

[kaOzGrUnT]

Vertex RX4 Calcium Reactor, google it.

 

[anthony27]

trust me he does not need a cal reactor right now.

 

[cthoughts1]

Jcolon, being that the summer is upon us, I would look into a chiller. Specially if you are considering halides: Halides + summer - chiller = dead fish & coral in tank. (that's if you don't have central air).

Get a quality test kit and see if dosing is even necessary in your tank. Depending on the salt you are using, you may be ok without any dosing if you're doing frequent water changes and only keeping softies.

As far as SPS in the tank at this point, not a good idea.