Calcium Reactor Recommendation (150g Volume)

[KENNYSREEF]

Hello,

Can anyone give me a few recommendations for calcium reactors for 150g Tank?

Currently looking at:

1. Geosreef CR510 Nano Calcium Reactor:

2. Geosreef CR612 Calcium Reactor; and

3. Aquamaxx Ctech T-1 Calcium Reactor.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Hello,

Can anyone give me a few recommendations for calcium reactors for 150g Tank?

Currently looking at:

1. Geosreef CR510 Nano Calcium Reactor:

2. Geosreef CR612 Calcium Reactor; and

3. Aquamaxx Ctech T-1 Calcium Reactor.

People love the geos units. Finding other reviews is hard. Avast has a couple great reviews. I ordered the aqua max c2 last week when BRS had a sale. I searched and asked for reviews but didn’t come up with anything. I just figured how bad could it be at less than half the price? I think a lot more of us will be switching to a calcium reactor as two part pricing has blown up over the last couple years!

 

[KENNYSREEF]

People love the geos units. Finding other reviews is hard. Avast has a couple great reviews. I ordered the aqua max c2 last week when BRS had a sale. I searched and asked for reviews but didn’t come up with anything. I just figured how bad could it be at less than half the price? I think a lot more of us will be switching to a calcium reactor as two part pricing has blown up over the last couple years!

Actually heard great things about the Aquamaxx so have no worries about using it! Great pricing too.

 

[malacoda]

The Geo CR510 nano is well built ... but it's only rated up to 125g.

My 120g has just reached the point where I would say it has crossed into the realm of 'heavy SPS load'. And my Geo CR510 was starting to reach point of being pushed past its capacity.

Better to take it off your list IMHO. Even if you only have small frags now, when they really start to grow and fill in your tank, you'll have to upgrade to a CR612, cTech T1 or other larger capacity CaRx.

I just received a cTech T1 today to replace my CR510 ... and am hoping the 400g capacity listed in its specs hold true even though the reactor volume on it is the same as the CR510.

With my tank being in the living room, keeping the reactor inside the stand is a must. And I only have enough room for the CR510 (which my coral have out grown), the cTech T1 (rated to 400g), or a Korallin c1502 (rated to 400g).

Good luck!

 

[Bpb]

Among those listed I’d probably opt for the Geo 612. On my 90 gallon I was using a Geo 618 and was having to refill media annually. So the 612 will eventually be under sized.

Outside recommendation. If I ever went with a calcium reactor again id pony up for one of the dastaco units

 

[jmichaelh7]

I’m using the Aquamaxx . No issues here

 

[minus9]

Among those listed I’d probably opt for the Geo 612. On my 90 gallon I was using a Geo 618 and was having to refill media annually. So the 612 will eventually be under sized.

Outside recommendation. If I ever went with a calcium reactor again id pony up for one of the dastaco units

Agree! I have the 618 for my 90g, figured media would last over a year before refilling and that's been my experiance with it so far. Yeah, those DaStaCo's are nice, I'll give a shout out to Deltec if you're spending that kinda dough.

 

[mtraylor]

Out of your list I would get the Geo 612. If you have the room and want the more media storage. I would get the Geo 618. I have Geo 618 on my 255gallon Tank with 100 gallon sump. I get 6 months to 12+ months usage out of media. Depends on media I use and method of dissolving the media. Explained below.

I have had my Geo for like 15 years or so....very long time. I'm using the original eheim pump recirculation pump it came with. Its a tank. Once I learned that the old school, set the reactor ph to 6.5 and roll with a drip rate wasnt the best way to go and moved to a dual stage regulator where I changed the worker pressure to 15psi. The bubble size was really small then and I opened up my effluent to nice stream and just control the ph in the reactor to what my corals are consuming. start hight like 7.5 or 7.6 and work your way down to what tank is cosuming. Someone posted a video of it one time and I tried it out years ago and never looked back. Much better that you never have to worry about calcium clogging up a slow drip rate. This is when my media started to last allot longer.

You will love the Geo if you decide to go with it.

 

[KENNYSREEF]

I’m using the Aquamaxx . No issues here

Pictures of yours?

 

[jmichaelh7]

Pictures of yours?

 

[jmichaelh7]

I love my calcium reactor. The growth on my corals has just been night and day from dosing.

Of course it could have been a geo or any other brand. But I went with Aquamaxx my LFS gave me a good bargain

 

[Tiki_Reef]

Aquamaxx is going on the build I am currently working on.

 

[KENNYSREEF]

View attachment 2755001

Looks great! Honestly love it that you're not using a carbon doser.

 

[KENNYSREEF]

Out of your list I would get the Geo 612. If you have the room and want the more media storage. I would get the Geo 618. I have Geo 618 on my 255gallon Tank with 100 gallon sump. I get 6 months to 12+ months usage out of media. Depends on media I use and method of dissolving the media. Explained below.

I have had my Geo for like 15 years or so....very long time. I'm using the original eheim pump recirculation pump it came with. Its a tank. Once I learned that the old school, set the reactor ph to 6.5 and roll with a drip rate wasnt the best way to go and moved to a dual stage regulator where I changed the worker pressure to 15psi. The bubble size was really small then and I opened up my effluent to nice stream and just control the ph in the reactor to what my corals are consuming. start hight like 7.5 or 7.6 and work your way down to what tank is cosuming. Someone posted a video of it one time and I tried it out years ago and never looked back. Much better that you never have to worry about calcium clogging up a slow drip rate. This is when my media started to last allot longer.

You will love the Geo if you decide to go with it.

Appreciate the feedback! Definitely going to look into both.

 

[mtraylor]

I also have an aquamax calcium reactor. Ctech T1. I purchased one for my frag tank. I initially went to geo for reactor, but there smallest one wouldn't fit under the tank beside the sump. So I found the aquamax.

Its a good calcium reactor, I have had no issues with it. Its about 3 years old. There a couple things on it that are not particular to my liking.
1. Mine has a filter on the inlet valve. Its a round filter with mesh in it.
- While this is good to keep the reactor clean. Its something to monitor to ensure you effluent stays the same.
2. To control the effluent, it has a basic device that smashes the tubing to reduce/increase amount of effluent.
- This method is effect and it works pretty good, but a needle valve is better

Thats all I have to say about my little aquamax reactor. No complaints. It was a great buy. Its out of commission at the moment as my Dual Stage Co2 art regulator succumbed to the saltwater under the stand. So I'm in the middle of building my own now. All made of stainless steel thanks to help from Water Dog. So its just circulating water at the moment.

 

[KENNYSREEF]

I also have an aquamax calcium reactor. Ctech T1. I purchased one for my frag tank. I initially went to geo for reactor, but there smallest one wouldn't fit under the tank beside the sump. So I found the aquamax.

Its a good calcium reactor, I have had no issues with it. Its about 3 years old. There a couple things on it that are not particular to my liking.
1. Mine has a filter on the inlet valve. Its a round filter with mesh in it.
- While this is good to keep the reactor clean. Its something to monitor to ensure you effluent stays the same.
2. To control the effluent, it has a basic device that smashes the tubing to reduce/increase amount of effluent.
- This method is effect and it works pretty good, but a needle valve is better

Thats all I have to say about my little aquamax reactor. No complaints. It was a great buy. Its out of commission at the moment as my Dual Stage Co2 art regulator succumbed to the saltwater under the stand. So I'm in the middle of building my own now. All made of stainless steel thanks to help from Water Dog. So its just circulating water at the moment.

Wanted to build my own regulator too but didn’t know what parts I need or even how much it would cost

 

[mtraylor]

Building an Alanle style dual stage CO2 regulator

So I wanted to start a build thread on how to put together an Alanle style DIY dual stage regulator. Over the last couple of years, after building a couple of my own regulators, I have been helping a bunch of memebers, both here and on RC, with sourcing parts and putting together their...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[KENNYSREEF]

Building an Alanle style dual stage CO2 regulator

So I wanted to start a build thread on how to put together an Alanle style DIY dual stage regulator. Over the last couple of years, after building a couple of my own regulators, I have been helping a bunch of memebers, both here and on RC, with sourcing parts and putting together their...

www.reef2reef.com

Cann you send me a part list for yours?

 

[mtraylor]

PM Sent

 

[jmichaelh7]

I also have an aquamax calcium reactor. Ctech T1. I purchased one for my frag tank. I initially went to geo for reactor, but there smallest one wouldn't fit under the tank beside the sump. So I found the aquamax.

Its a good calcium reactor, I have had no issues with it. Its about 3 years old. There a couple things on it that are not particular to my liking.
1. Mine has a filter on the inlet valve. Its a round filter with mesh in it.
- While this is good to keep the reactor clean. Its something to monitor to ensure you effluent stays the same.
2. To control the effluent, it has a basic device that smashes the tubing to reduce/increase amount of effluent.
- This method is effect and it works pretty good, but a needle valve is better

Thats all I have to say about my little aquamax reactor. No complaints. It was a great buy. Its out of commission at the moment as my Dual Stage Co2 art regulator succumbed to the saltwater under the stand. So I'm in the middle of building my own now. All made of stainless steel thanks to help from Water Dog. So its just circulating water at the moment.

I removed the filter. Like you said no complaints here

Looks great! Honestly love it that you're not using a carbon doser.

It’s just another one of those scenarios , do I need it or do I want it? You can get away with out the carbon doser. Same thing with a carx you can get away with a decent one… or there is the top of the line bells and whistles