So it's 2010 now. Who still uses a calcium reactor and who's all on 2-part dosing?

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

I also made both chambers in my reactor upflow which got rid of the problems Tony was mentioning.

You know, I tried that too on a couple different units I had. I can't remember what the issue was but it wasn't a complete slam dunk either. Upflow does make more sense, for one you can do away with the CO2 recirc line. I wonder if it was I was losing too much CO2 into the tank and I was noticing a depressed pH. Might have been something else. I can't actually remember now.

[Delphinus]

I remember why the upflow mods failed for me - it was too hard on the pumps as it must have been just a little too restrictive on the intake side. They would get super hot, one got so hot the casing of the pump melted (warped and started leaking water all over).

I guess definitely something you want the reactor to be designed for rather than arbitrarily switching the input/output lines on the pump.

Originally Posted by Delphinus

You know, I tried that too on a couple different units I had. I can't remember what the issue was but it wasn't a complete slam dunk either. Upflow does make more sense, for one you can do away with the CO2 recirc line. I wonder if it was I was losing too much CO2 into the tank and I was noticing a depressed pH. Might have been something else. I can't actually remember now.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I remember why the upflow mods failed for me - it was too hard on the pumps as it must have been just a little too restrictive on the intake side. They would get super hot, one got so hot the casing of the pump melted (warped and started leaking water all over).

I guess definitely something you want the reactor to be designed for rather than arbitrarily switching the input/output lines on the pump.

, um dude, you had something else going on there, what kind of pumps?

Steve

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

, um dude, you had something else going on there, what kind of pumps?

Steve

Mag drives .. went through 2 or 3 of them then switch the reactor back to downflow and stopped wrecking pumps. Yeah, weird, I know.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Mag drives .. went through 2 or 3 of them then switch the reactor back to downflow and stopped wrecking pumps. Yeah, weird, I know.

Weird. I've been running the same MAG 3 for 8 years on mine, still going strong.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Weird. I've been running the same MAG 3 for 8 years on mine, still going strong.

I am wondering if there is a check valve built into his system.

Steve

[michika]

I still heart my awesome monster Ca reactor I got from Tony. I love the ease of use that comes with it. I don't have to monitor it excessively, I can give it a quick visual once over every morning, double check the parameters through my controller, and then sit back and enjoy my tank.

I plan to stick with reactors on my new tank, Tibet, the monster that lives in my basement.