for those who have Ca Reactors

RedDevil.258

Active member
I saw these in his shop when I went by his house. Interested on how it works for you. When will you have it up and running?
 

gig

New member
I saw these in his shop when I went by his house. Interested on how it works for you. When will you have it up and running?
Matt swears by them, he's running a bigger one on the huge tank up front, the recirculating design allows for less CO2 to be used and it's got some things that others dont, like the bottom plate removes to clean out any gunk that settles below the media (when you change the media you would do this). It's built like a tank, the pics dont do it justice, but it's solid. I ordered a new tank, Milwaukee regulator and media, should have that today or tomorrrow, so maybe this weekend if I'm not too lazy :D
 

gig

New member
I am curious, are there still parts not on it?
yeah, it's missing the tubing and the compression nut to attach the pH probe. I contacted Bill and he's going to drop the parts off at Matt's on Saturday. I still have an email out to the guy I bought it from, but I suspect he lost it. He bought it new and was sitting around his shop and he never set it up.
 

RedDevil.258

Active member
Yup same one I got! I may upgrade to a larger tank too! Agh its always nice to get new shiny gear to mess with! Guessing your setting it up now as we speak!
 

gig

New member
not yet, I need to get some tubing and the little bump to get the water into the reactor :) also need to get Co2!
 

gig

New member
Supposedly it can handle up to 1,000 gallons, so I would guess a 600-700 gallon sps tank. I bought 3 gallons of media, so well see
 

gig

New member
just got back from International Fire in Lake zurich, fill my new 10lb tank for around $23 including tax, sweeeeet
 

RedDevil.258

Active member
You know what I want to invest in or add to this reactor set up is a second chamber to dissipate excess CO2 before it enters the tank.
 

gig

New member
so I got the reactor setup, I really only needed 2 gallons of ARM media, I topped it off with just a bit from the 3rd gallon. Added some fresh mixed saltwater, sealed it up and fired up the pump, everything is working well, there is some air in the system, I suspect that will wrok it's way out and will be less noisy.

I need to run to shotank today to pick up a feedpump, tubing and the compression fitting for the pH port, which Bill Wann was nice enough to drop off for me (he's the man!). then I'll start hooking it all up to the tank and setting my program for the apex to control it all.
 

gig

New member
lol, I missed your post Issac, will get some, but not really exciting :)

So need some advice on the best way to program my apex to shut it off, etc...so based on my research, I'm happy with the way I have it programmed for the most part

essentially, the solenoid does the following

If the reactor pH > 06.68 Then ON
If the reactor pHca < 06.48 Then OFF
If the tank pH < 07.90 Then OFF

the question is, my tank pH tend to run in the 8.05-8.09 range during the day, once the lights go off, it starts to go down (I have my fuge lit at night only).

so the pH tend to drop between 7.8 to 7.9 by the time the lights come on, so the questions are:

1) do I turn the reactor off (the solenoid AND the feedpump) off at night when the lights are off?
2) run the fuge 24/7 lights?
3) dont worry about it, the pH range is fine for the tank

thanks!
 

RedDevil.258

Active member
I don't see the need to off the reactor or the fuge light. Just monitor the PH and adjust as needed. Also I would test Cal/Alk before and after you start the reactor. Remember a reactor just stabilizes and does not increase trace elements.
 
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