Anybody have any feedback or comments on the CCR? Is it a good product or a cheap knock off? Also, is a CA reactor overkill for a 36 gallon mixed reef? I'm planning soon to add a prop tank which will about double my amount of water. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

no idea... lets wait for some expert to response

I don't run one but here is a :bump: for you.

thanks for the bump Carmie, Maybe I should adjust my question to What kind of calcium reactor do you guys have success with? any suggestions? Do you run a kalk reactor in addition? Thanks

Actually, reefenthusiast... let's stick with your original post.

Let's face it. Coralife is there for a specific need. Specifiaclly, those of us who can't afford the BMW models!!! Coralife is generally *good* quality, but not great... and I think quite reliable. It's way better than nothing, but not as nice as others.

So... 29 to 36 gallon. Too small???

And I would love to know if anyone has first hand experience with the product.

I agree with you that coralife is there for us who cannot afford the top of the line products. this is my main concern though with them as a failure from a calcium reactor can spell total devestation of my reef. so I wonder if they would release a product that is trustable enough to use without having great concern of failure. it seems that something that can devestate as quickly as a CA reactr would have to be built well or else it is not worth it.

Personally, a think that a CA Reactor for a 36g mix reef is an overkill, you can get way using Kalk water for top off, and if kalk water is not enough you can make Randy's 2 parts additive.
Now, for $130 you cant go wrong, another thing, I never saw a tank crash because of the CA reactor, you can end up with high or low CA and Alk and maybe a snow storm, but that is a easy fix, because that wont happen overnight.

I use a DIY Ca Reactor that I build 2 years ago , that is totally overkill for my tank.
http://www.neosreef.com/pics/aquarium/IMG_5277.JPG
2 6" dia by 24" high, I bet I can run a 800G reef with this thing.

Gustavo

My concern would be having CO2 getting into the main system and/ or having the water which has a low pH lowering the pH in my tank to dangerous levels. i have never used a CA reactor so forgive me if my question are ignorant, but I want to do it right since so much is invested in my setup. Also i will soon be adding a coral propagation tank to my system which will make my water volume about 85 gallons. I don't plan to add the reactor until then so i don't think it would be overkill. I noticed your reactor has dual chambers which I have been told is ideal but i cannot afford one like that just yet. Thanks for your input.

My concern would be having CO2 getting into the main system and/ or having the water which has a low pH lowering the pH in my tank to dangerous levels. i have never used a CA reactor so forgive me if my question are ignorant, but I want to do it right since so much is invested in my setup. Also i will soon be adding a coral propagation tank to my system which will make my water volume about 85 gallons. I don't plan to add the reactor until then so i don't think it would be overkill. I noticed your reactor has dual chambers which I have been told is ideal but i cannot afford one like that just yet. Thanks for your input.

First of all, in this hobby, no question is ignorant.
now I have a question for you, do you have a Fuge?
I have the output of my reactor strait into my fuge, algae loves CO2, and if you want to setup a CA reactor the right way, you will need a PH controller, with will tell you if the PH in your tank, if is to low, will shot off the CO2 that is going into you CA reactor, that means the water will be going trough your Reactor without adding any CO2 until your PH is back to whatever you had set your PH monitor, lets say (in my tank) 7.7PH.

Yes, I do run a dual chamber CA reactor, but you need to understand how a CA reactor works.
If you look at the picture, the 1st chamber is where I have the recirculation pump , CO2 inputand etc.. the 2nd chamber is "supposed" to use all the extra CO2 that was not consumed in the first chamber and instead of dripping a water with 6.9 PH in your tank, will drip 7.4 PH, meaning the 2nd chamber helps to bring the PH up before the water goes back to your tank.

Gustavo

I'd love to see the plans for that reactor.

I also think that CA reactors would be a GREAT podcast topic! I need to be edumacated on these babies!!!

I can post the CAD draw for some of the parts once I fix my home computer, my 5 years old little princes drop a glass of orange juice in it and fry the motherboard.

thanks again fr the feedback. I do have a fuge in my sump although it is just a handful of chaeto and a couple mangroves. that is a good idea of putting the return into the fuge. Also I didn't know the pH controller would shut off the reactor if the pH fluctuates too much, that is very reassuring. so my only other question is: is a reactor appropriate for about 80 gallons total of reef?

Yes it is, like I said in my first post, if it is a 36g Mix reef, I wouldn't bother, now we are talking more then double of the water volume. Yes go for it.

One of the sponsors has a what they call CA reactor starter kit that has everything that you need minus the CO2 Aquarium Equipment and Supplies - Aqua Buys (http://www.aquabuys.com)

My LFS just set me up with a Coralife CA reactor...they said it was a reliable model. Are there better ones? I'm sure. So far, so good for me. I us
a ph controller, CO2 tank with regulator and solenoid valve, and it was all pretty easy to set up and get running.

I am using it on a 95gallon reef that has a 29 gallon sump.
So far, I can say I'd recommend giving it a shot.

Somw of their stuff I know is problematic - the SeaClone skimmers, for example. But for lighting and now this CA reactor, I am happy so far.

You have had it since february... wondering how it's going with that reactor.

I am sitting here with an order for a Korallin Calcium Reactor setup from marine depot and I just cant pust the "place order" button... it's so expensive!

Call me a tightwad if you wish, but if the Coralife works, that's the direction I am moving in.