Aquatic essential calcium reactor how to?

[beginnersluckpg]

Just purchased a aquatic essentials reactor and was wondering if anyone has one and could shed light on how exactly it works etc. It's a used unit and never have seen one of this particular brand run. Any comments info, or help would be greatly appreciated

[Aquattro]

post a good detailed pic, we can walk you through it :)

[Werbo]

A good starting point would be to Google search Precsion Marine Calcium Reactor. They have owner manuals online with step-by-step instuctions that would be similar to your Aquatic Essentials reactor.

[beginnersluckpg]

I was wondering why I could find them searching the wrong name.

[whatcaneyedo]

Aquatic Essentials was Ocean Aquatics in store brand so you won't find any websites dedicated to them.

All calcium reactors work the same or at least I've yet to see one that was truly unique. This guide should work for you but if you want a hand getting it going I'm not busy and could come by today.
A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors
by Huntington, Simon
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

Here are the instructions for the up flow PM Ca Reactor as well:
http://bocup.bcsnv.servertrust.com/v/vspfiles/files/intructions/CRSeries.pdf

EDIT: I REALLY don't have anything to do today so I'd be happy to come by and BS about fish tank stuff.

[SanguinesDream]

Resurrecting an old thread as I now possess this calcium reactor and I am trying to figure out how it works but it looks like it is missing a couple of valves. Help please?

[whatcaneyedo]

The reactor only needs one valve which moderates the amount of flow that passes from the tank through the reactor and then back to the tank again. This valve is located on the lid of the reactor if yours looks the same as the one in this picture.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/507/medium/0011.jpg

[SanguinesDream]

Thank you so much for the visual and the guidence, Russell. I always appreciate your input.:biggrin:

[shiftline]

The reactor only needs one valve which moderates the amount of flow that passes from the tank through the reactor and then back to the tank again. This valve is located on the lid of the reactor if yours looks the same as the one in this picture.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/507/medium/0011.jpg

I'm pretty sure i have i have acquired the exact reactor in the picture above! (either that or they both have the broken top on the ball valve.. and blue hose haha..) Now Does it need a feed pump or will the suction from the Line off the T by the pump be enough to draw water in? Min is in pieces as i redo the plumbing so i havent actually tested it out yet.


Is there any other things to know about this unit?

[shiftline]

Now I spent a chunk of the day redoing the plumbing and replacing parts.

Now does anyone know where to get a PH probe port?
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160319/a618ff8edf08c9c14087e03bdf55b5a8.jpg

[whatcaneyedo]

In my experience a feed pump is necessary. A reactor can easily lose suction without it and will then no longer work until the situation is corrected. A little pressure also makes it easier to maintain a steady flow rate.

A pH probe port can be purchased from Home Depot or most other hardware stores. The hard part is then finding a large tap to thread a hole for the fitting... https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.flexible-cord-connectors--38-in.1000124751.html

[shiftline]

Oh perfect! That makes my life easier. For a feed pump I was going to make a manifold off a seperste DC pun for some reactors. Wold tapping off that cause any issues or do the trick for a feed pump. In Theory it can only take in what it drips out to make space for

Now I need to find a PM1 module to run an extra probe.

Does it matter if the unit sits inside the sump? Likely depends on the pump Not sure if it will fit otherwise as of yet. So it looks like I need a 1/2" tap for that fitting?

The pump is also a little loud. Would a Jabeo DC pump work well for this?

[whatcaneyedo]

The manifold idea sounds good. I feed my skimmer, CA reactor and media reactor with the same pump. Inside the sump is probably best. Things often leak sooner or later. Ask around locally to see if you can borrow a tap. I bought one and it was $30-40... I don't have any experience with the Jabeo.

[shiftline]

I ordered a 1/2" tap of Amazon last night.! Perfect. I also have 1/8 and 1/4 from a set I bought a while back. Picked up some manifold parts too! I love building stuff!

Also found a used ehiem pump that should work and be fairly quiet. I'll give it a test and buy it if it's silent :)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160319/94c480344aa00fb5a60f0024e5d3122d.jpg

[shiftline]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160320/41caf3d6c391c8904fe1d6dda314305d.jpg

[shiftline]

What drip rate for effluent and bubble count for co2 is a good starting point with this reactor?

[whatcaneyedo]

I like to keep the internal pH around 6.6, let your pH monitor or controller determine how much gas is needed to achieve that. How much flow you need through the reactor depends on the calcium carbonate demand of the tank. Start slow (probably just a slow drip), keep testing and adjusting Alkalinity and Calcium, and gradually turn up the flow until the output matches the consumption.

[soapy]

To expand a bit on what he said:

From what I have read you want the PH inside your reactor to sit between 6.5 and 6.7 in order to dissolve your media. Below 6.5 is too fast and turns the media to mush? above 6.7 and you aren't doing much. So you have two ways to control what your ph is, CO2 bubble rate(gas amount) and effluent rate. High gas rate plus high effluent rate equals more alk and calcium. Low gas rate and low effluent rate equals less alk etc. It is about hitting your PH target while finding the demand of your tank. So you adjust either in whatever combination to get where you want to be.

Because I have a low demands at the moment my gas shuts off in the evening for several hours also. On my setup the gas release amount will only go so low, luckily I have an electronic regulator so it can be controlled by a timer.