Calcium Reactors

[spectrum]

Over the course of the last 2 years I've built a number of calcium reactors.
(in fact a number of BRS members have them)
Most of them have had a second chamber filled with media to "off gas" the CO2 in the effluent prior to entering the tank. Conventional wisdom has always stated that this was a good way to keep from depressing the systems PH.

From what I've seen, the second chamber has little effect on the water returning to the system. I recently installed a new sump and reactor in my system. I ran the reactor with only the main chamber filled for about 2 weeks, measured the effluent , it was 6.65.

Added media to the second chamber, waited 8 hours and measured the effluent, it is at 6.66 . Granted it was only 8 hours and I should wait and test again after a few days, but I starting to think the second chamber is useless.

Anybody else see different results?


spectrum

 

[NeO]

Hi Spectrum,
On my CA Reactor, the 1st chamber has the effluent at 6.7 and the effluent that is going back to my sump after go through the 2nd chamber is 7.4
I don't know but its look pretty good to me


Gustavo

 

[spectrum]

Gustavo,
Is this the same reactor we built last winter? I used the same design on mine so I perplexed on the difference in operation

 

[NeO]

It is not the same reactor, this one is like the one you had where the mag3 is on the bottom of the 1st chamber and has no PVC parts.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I still need to build mine....the cylinders are still sitting in the basement...
and spectrum, I just realized I have some (1?) Mag3 pump that you wanted. We never hooked up. I'm glad I just realized that (I bought 2 myself) as I need a pump for some water changes I'm doing & other work

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I just checked and I have 5 Mag 3 pumps. I bought these months ago. Spectrum, let me know if you still need 2. The other 3 I bought to build Calcium Reactors for myself

 

[spectrum]

I'll still take them, let me know when you want to build your reactors...

 

[mikestod]

I have not had a chance to really get mine fully dialed in, and have only been running it as a 2 cylinder the whole time. So not input here. Had some issues with leakage that I still may be trying to patch. That and its being added to the 120g that I'm upgrading to. But all in all I have to say...

Thanks again for the help with the reactor Dan!

 

[nitrofish]

what would is the cost of one of your setups ? I mean everything, co2 bottle reactor the works. I want one but im so lost on how to make it work and what I need.

 

[Greg Hiller]

I've built about 8 calcium reactors and never bothered with a second chamber. They seem to work just fine for me. FWIW, IMO, calcium reactors are one of the easiest pieces of equipment to build on your own.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I'm on vacation for a week, so looking to get everything I need & get them done