A calcium reactor is a device used to create a balance of alkalinity in the system. An acidic solution is produced by injecting carbon dioxide into a chamber with salt water and calcium rich media. The carbon dioxide lowers the pH by producing a solution high in carbonic acid, and dissolving the calcium media. The effluent is then returned to the reef aquarium where the calcium is consumed by organisms, primarily corals when building skeletons.
A calcium reactor is one of the most efficient methods of supplying calcium to a reef aquarium. Although more commonly used with marine reef aquariums, calcium reactors are beginning to find use in elaborate freshwater and brackish aquariums where some species of freshwater clams, corals, and other invertebrates may need a constant supply of calcium.
Reef Octopus Super calcium reactors have the highest quality in marine equipments. It is available in 3 different models that feature reverse flow water current for maximum water and Co2 contact time with the coral media. All models come with PH probe holders to monitor PH levels in the main reactor chamber and built in bubble counters to monitor CO2 drip rates.
Calcium Reactor is very important equipment for Marine Aquarium. Skimmer takes away DOC, Bio Pellet Reactor takes care the No3 and Po4, while CR is supplying Active Ca and Mg to the water, buffering the PH and KH Value in main tank.
In Marine Aquarium Tank, Macroelements of Ca and Mg are easily consumed and go down, this can hurt animals in the tank if we can’t supply in time. We need to use Calcium Reactor to solve the problem. We mix dry Coral Sand and Magnesium Rock inside the Calcium Reactor Chamber. It’s about 90-85% Coral Sand and 10-15% Magnesium Rock mixed.
For many years, this brand has been maintaining great values in their tanks. Now, they test the Calcium reaches 390-410ppm, and Magnesium at 1280-1300ppm which is very good. And you must understand that Ca and Mg from Calcium Reactor are both Active with HCO3.
There is also another very important value when the tank is used with Calcium Reactor; it’s the dkh, carbonic acid. In natural sea water, the dkh is about 9-11, while our tanks reach 10-13dkh, then Corals can breathe! In tank without Calcium Reactor, the dkh will be only at 6-7dkh which is not good.
Calcium Reactor must be used together with timer. We require switching off the power of PH controller during night time, and only working at day time from 8:00am to 7:00pm. When PH controller has no power, it will not add CO2 to the CR. CR pump will still be working while the outlet is dropping. During the Night Time, the PH valve goes down automatically in the main tank; the CR will help to buffer the PH value in the night.
After many years of testing they designed different sizes Calcium Reactors in different sizes tanks. Finally, they got best matching for the size of reactor with the size of tank. Calcium Reactor needs to supply stable elements to the water. The best matching is 1L Media (85-90% coral sand and 15-10% Magnesium Rock mixed) good for water to 150-225L. Coral Sand needs time to be dissolved in the Co2 water since it can’t be fast working.