Pro's vs Con's on calcium reactor

"Korallin calcium reactor" does anyone run this reactor? I am wanting to find out pro's vs con's of a calcium reactor. I have never used one and i am thinking it would better stabalize a tank and eliminate having to dose for calcium. I know they are expensive to buy initially but thinking over the long run it may be cheaper.

 

I have heard of the korallin, but I don't think it is one of the better Ca Reactors.

That said, any ca reactor is a huge step forward for coral keepers. Your ca and alk will keep constant with a reactor with only having to keep the media full and the C02 filled.

Depending on the media used, you can keep strontium and mag levels elevated as well.


So basically, provided you use a ph controller to control the regulator and keep the media from turning to mush from giving too much C02, there really are no cons to a Ca reactor, beyond the price.

 

Pro= more avalible cal
Con= less money in pocket

 

i own a korallin 1502 and i can say it really has stabilized my tank i think it was some of the best money i spent for my tank from what i have read it the best selling cal reactor on the market at this time and have not seen any bad reviews on it

 

From what I see, the korallin will use more C02 than a geo despite what korallin says, and the korallin's benefit from a 2nd chamber. That means that the korallin wastes more Co2 than a GEO.

It is not really a big deal , but keep that in mind.

Also, Korallin says that they don't need a ph controller to safely use their reactor. That would be a serious mis step for anyone running a Ca rx. That would be much like taking a kick to the groin with no cup on.

 

I'm running a geo 618 and really like it. It does automate addition of ca, alk, and mag, but isn't as automatic as I expected. From all of my reading it sounded like your parms would stay right on the money and that hasn't been my experience. It definitely has stabilized my system and was well worth it but I do get a little variation in parms even after running it for over 6 months.

If your tank uses lots of ca and you are tired of dosing 2 part or something else then these are awesome and once you do the initial purchase very inexpensive to run.

If you go with one recommend that you don't cut corners. But a good unit and splurge on things like the regulator and ph controller. You don't want to spend that kind of money and then have problems with it.

 

As everyone posted a well setup CA reactor will make keeping your Alk and Ca levels more stable. As for the korallin I've had not experience wit that brand. I currently run a Reeftek and think it's the best for the money. The GEO are nice, but I feel they are overpriced. What I recommend is to make sure you have a probe in the reactor it's my experience it is easier to dial in your reactor.


ReefTek.com - Calcium and Nilsen (Kalk - Kalkwasser) Reactors Reeftek site they great customer support

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/index.php?cPath=95_130&osCsid=7fb18e05a20d03adfbcfbf7d3dbb3922 Great sponser if you wanted to buy a Geo.

Some links on setting up one

Melevsreef.com - Calcium Reactor

A Guide to Using Calcium Reactors by Simon Huntington - Reefkeeping.com

 

I'm not familiar with ReefTek CA reactors and you may very well be right about GEO's being overpriced lol. I did look at the pic of the ReefTek and it does look like a nice CA reactor. The design looks similar to the GEO.

I do have a few comments though. The GEO is well built and the design is extremely well thought out even down to the minor details. One example is that the effluent exit is at the highest point in the plumbing so it is extremely easy to purge the unit of air and it also keeps co2 and air from building inside the chamber after it's been running. I've heard people having issues with that on other brands. GEO also uses Eheim pumps so part of the price difference could be related to that vs the Mag drive in the pic of the Reeftek I saw.

I am extremely happy with the GEO that I have, but it might be in part cause I bought it at a substantial discount used from another member of my reef club. But the thing does seem bullet proof and other than tweaking the effluent and bubble counts to dial it in, I've not had to touch the thing in 6 months. And the amount of co2 I've used in that time has barely registered on my regulator guage.

There used to be issues with the Mag drives leaking and not being appropriate for external use, but I haven't heard of any issues with that in a long time so maybe they've addressed it.

Either way, I'm still trying to figure out why acrylic costs so much lol. We pay an awful lot of money for pieces of plastic in this hobby .

The other thing I didn't see mentioned is that although these things are very cheap to run once set up, the return usually takes an awful long time. I could have bought years of 2 part for what my CA reactor retails for. I still am very happy with it because it reduced my maintenance time, and that's a big thing for me.

 

The GEO is well made and agree they all seem over priced! A couple local reefers in Michigan made 3 or 4 home made reactors. The design of most reactors are about the same with just added features. The ReefTek has a bleeder valve on the top that I only used when I clean it out to add more media. If i can find the link to the DIY Reactor I'll send it to you.

 

I don't think Geo's are overpriced. You get top notch customer service and product support, even if you are not the original owner. Then add in the excellent construction and all the details like you said are covered. Other brands of reactors have quirks, some small, some a big deal.

Yes, you definitely should run a reactor with a ph probe in the chamber.

If you want overpriced, look at deltec.

I can pretty much guarantee that a set up Ca reactor will keep your parameters more stable than any 2 part doser setup can.