Calcium Reactor question
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43299
Printed Date: July 04 2026 at 1:50am
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Topic: Calcium Reactor question
Posted By: Flashlin
Subject: Calcium Reactor question
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 12:19am
Hello! I've recently got a calcium reactor for my tank. It is my first one so I don't know everything about them. For me it seems like the injection of CO2 here is not very good. It just goes directly through bubble counter to the main chamber through the hole in the top of this chamber. So CO2 is actually accumulating under the cover and when it is too much of it, gas goes to the second chamber and to the effluent. I was thinking that I can get better CO2 saturation if the gas will go to the bottom of the main chamber with some kind of diffuser so it can actually recirculate through the pump. Or direct feed of the gas to the pump like air to the skimmer pump. Or It will work fine like that?      
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Replies:
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 6:53am
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did you know that both chambers need to be filled with media? I use ARM but there are lots of brands out there. ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: tcfab
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 7:48am
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That is kind of weird that it is injecting co2 into the lid. It should be injected into the T on the inlet of the pump. You can modify it easily. Do you have a 1/4" tap? If you don't I could help you out and tap it for you if you are ever up this way. Also it looks like it is missing a few parts. Both chambers should have a plate at the bottom of the chamber, you don't want media down by the elbow where the pumps intake is. Also you need a needle valve on the top of the main chamber. Looks like a nice reactor though. ------------- Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386 |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 10:07am
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The mtc reactors inject it into the lid, They work pretty dang good. If it was me i wouldn't change it, after hooking it up you will see it works great.
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:25am
| Thank you for responses. I think I am actually going to try to connect co2 to the intake. I was wondering if I can just drill the hole in the pipe and seal a fitting for 1/4 tubing with silicone? Or I should use 1/4 tap? |
Posted By: tcfab
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:43am
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You need to tap it. Calcium reactors are under pressure and every connection needs to be either a solvent welded joint or a tapped and teflon threaded joint or it will leak like crazy, I can promise you that. ------------- Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386 |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:48am
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Thank you sir. I think i am going to buy this frag rack from you today. I was wondering if you can grab this tap and i'll take the reactor with me. So we can make a hole over there. |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 11:53am
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I run many of these reactors with no mod and they work great, you will see the return line to the top of the reactor goes though a return plate with holes where it mixes the c02,
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 12:01pm
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FIRE SHRIMP Actually in mine bubbles are just accumulating under the cover. And when it is too much of gas there it jumps to the second chamber. So basically gas doesn't circulate in main chamber. Anyway I don't think that it will harm in any way injecting gas to the intake. On most calcium reactors I've seen CO2 goes to the intake. By the way you can see it on the second picture from bottom. At that time pump was circulating water in main reactor but gas just stuck under the cover. |
Posted By: tcfab
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 12:23pm
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Pm sent about tap. ------------- Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386 |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 1:37pm
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yes that is weird,
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:13pm
| What do you guys think about placing a CO2 diffuser inside the main chamber. That way CO2 should stay even longer in contact with water surface. And there will be this micro bubbles... Because this pump doesn't have a needle wheel the bubbles will not be broken into tiny ones. |
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:18pm
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You have to have a needle valve to adjust co2 level. Do you understand how a calcium reactor works? ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:25pm
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Yes I understand. I realize that I need media for both chambers. For main chamber I am going to use some kind of crushed coral skeletons. And for the second it would be ARM with smaller particle size so it can actually stabilize pH. I also know that CO2 needs a needle valve in order to get exact number of bubbles per second/minute. Thank you though. Do you have single or double chamber reactor? What media exactly do you use? Is that the same in both? |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:28pm
| Where do you get these valves usually? Locally or web? Can those valves be the same model for water and CO2? Or they are specific? |
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:29pm
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it will be double on saturday! thanks Tcfab!! http://www.marinedepot.com/Caribsea_A.R.M._Aragonite_Reactor_Media_8_lb_%28Coarse%29_Calcium_Reactor_Media-CaribSea-CS0525-FICRCM-CS0529-vi.html - http://www.marinedepot.com/Caribsea_A.R.M._Aragonite_Reactor_Media_8_lb_(Coarse)_Calcium_Reactor_Media-CaribSea-CS0525-FICRCM-CS0529-vi.html
In both chambers. Just trying to help you out. ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 2:39pm
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I use an electronic regulator so I can't answer that. Sorry ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 4:18pm
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What do you think about brass? Can I use it for water line? Or it will add copper to the water? Thank you for your help |
Posted By: tcfab
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 5:02pm
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No, don't use brass. Use RO line. ------------- Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386 |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 6:15pm
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I have this exact same reactor. I have had it on my 90 gallon for almost 10 years with no modifications. Alkalinity between 10-12 and Calcium between 400-450. It has worked great. In fact, it has been so long since I have made any adjustments I probably wouldn't know what to change if I needed to. Let me know how your modifications go. ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 7:00pm
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Dlindquist So are CO2 bubbles accumulating in the same way under the cover. And then just jump to second chamber? |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 7:16pm
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Why can't you just move the outflow of the bubble counter into the T that is coming out of the pump? That would seem the simplest solution to me and it's how I set up mine. The pump mixes the co2 and sends it in to the reactor. Micah
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Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 7:20pm
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Sculpin That's what I am actually going to do. It is just weird why it was build like that. |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: September 09 2010 at 7:42pm
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Keep in mind I have had this reactor for a long time and the details of its operation are a little foggy. CO2 does accumulate in the first chamber. If I recall correctly, this is to lower the PH and break down the aragonite (effluent) which is then pumped into the second chamber. The second chambers purpose is to help raise the PH back up before entering the aquarium. I have always been told dual chambers make a better reactor. ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: Flashlin
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 10:57am
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With tcfab's help I've connected CO2 to the intake yesterday. Now silicone is curing on the connection... With what bubble/flow rate I should start for a 75G tank? I have around 20-30 small to medium sps. |