Recommend a Dual Stage Calcium Reactor for my 28 gallon JBJ Nano Cube HQI Reef.

[Jasonanatal]

Okay everyone please don't tar and feather me for wanting a Calcium Reactor on my 28 gallon JBJ Nano Cube HQI Reef Aquarium. (If you haven't read my Tale of the Tank thread: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...-gallon-nano-cube-hqi-nano-reef-aquarium.html) I will primarily be keeping SPS and LPS Corals and I would like your recommendations. I'm mostly concerned with factors such as electrical and media consumption, quality or overall efficieny of the Calcium Reactor, automation capabilities and Price. Thank you for your input.

 

[grundig5]

Check aquatic systems design. Scott makes nano Ca reactors as well as dualstage that are very efficient and use eheim pumps. Geo is obviously another good choice. But you should seriously consider a good dosing pump with 2 part. I ran a nano Ca reactor on my 50g sps tank and my pH barely got over 8.0 at the end of the photoperiod. I now run a litermeter3 and have noticed much improved growth. While the reactor maintained my calcium and alk well, I now know it stunted the growth of my corals. For that volume of water, it just doesnt make sense to run a calcium reactor IMO. Buy a good dosing pump and you'll be set.

 

[Jasonanatal]

Reply to Grundig5

Check aquatic systems design. Scott makes nano Ca reactors as well as dualstage that are very efficient and use eheim pumps. Geo is obviously another good choice. But you should seriously consider a good dosing pump with 2 part. I ran a nano Ca reactor on my 50g sps tank and my pH barely got over 8.0 at the end of the photoperiod. I now run a litermeter3 and have noticed much improved growth. While the reactor maintained my calcium and alk well, I now know it stunted the growth of my corals. For that volume of water, it just doesnt make sense to run a calcium reactor IMO. Buy a good dosing pump and you'll be set.

Grundig5, thank you for the information. I was curious if you could give me some details on your Nano Calcium Reactor setup. Thank you.

1. What type.wattage of lighting were you using?
2. What was the photo-period did you have set.
3. Did you incorporate a pH Controller are did you dial it in by hand.
4. What was your pH range before the adding the Nano Calcium Reactor?

 

[grundig5]

Hi Jason,
-I was (and still am) running 8x24 T5s over a 24x24 cube.
-My photoperiod is 3PM-11PM, with a 30 min dusk/dawn on each end.
-I used my AC Jr with a pH probe that I frequently calibrated. The reactor I had from ASD had a pH port on it to control the solenoid and I used a standalone pH monitor to check the tank.
-My pH was always 8.1-8.3 prior, then 7.85-8.0 after installing the reactor. I will admit I did not try to remedy the low pH in any way.
Hope that helps. here is a link to ASD: http://www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com/index.php