Calcium Reactors Explained

Рет қаралды 50,138

7 жыл бұрын

Water chemistry is a huge deal in reef aquariums and there are many methods to help maintain good water quality. Because there are so many options it can be overwhelming on first glance, and it takes some time to figure out what they all do and what makes sense for your home aquarium. Let’s take a look at calcium reactors.
Right off the bat, it has a scary name. Calcium. Reactor. I need a reactor for my tank? It’s actually not THAT complicated. It is essentially just a chamber that recirculates water and slowly dissolves calcium carbonate media.
Music:
Tracks: “Reggae Sketch”
Artist: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
License Terms:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Video:
Camera information:
Canon C100
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro
Canon EF MP-E 65mm f/2.8 macro
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4-4.5 STM IS
Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8
Sony Underwater Action Cam
Copyright Information:
This video was shot and edited by Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens owns all intellectual property rights to this content.

Пікірлер: 66

@lisadimercurio9473 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Than, now I finally understand calcium reactors

@fr4nkthet4nk86 6 жыл бұрын

This is the best explanation I have seen so far. Thank you!

@geosreef2357 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! Thank you for your support of the GEO calcium reactor line.

@tsurro8086 7 жыл бұрын

Always a pleasure watching ur videos

@Ricardo-ff5wi 7 жыл бұрын

excellent explanation.Thanks

@RookieReefer 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing video man, the hobby is lucky they have you! Very informative yet simple and short :) love your work

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@DJ_LittlePea 7 жыл бұрын

This is a very informational video indeed 🤗 I learn so much from your videos so thank you for taking the time to explain all these things for us 🤗🤗

@Forgetii 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this video. I've heard so much regarding Calcium Reactors and the multitude of technology each commenter claims you need to run one.., it's a bit overwhelming. I appreciate your basic "no-nonsense" approach to what seems like the most balanced and natural way to deliver Calcium and Alkalinity to a reef system. I've also heard that it delivers many trace elements in a more balanced manner. Thanks Again.

@hassohammer 7 жыл бұрын

As always great videos and very knowledgeable!!

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Derddy 7 жыл бұрын

Wow, im finally sold on switching from 2 part to a cal reactor. Thanks

@rainingmackenzie 7 жыл бұрын

Another Superb Video ... Thank you Mr T

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@gardenextra7415 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for explaining calcium reactors. I was going to get one for my Tanks birthday, coming up on two years. I started dosing the water feed in the summer and it seems to be working out. I needed to understand both to figure that out.

@Colin_Robinson_EV 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@ScottM 7 жыл бұрын

great video Than.

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@AxcelleratorT 7 жыл бұрын

I don't always watch Tidal Gardens videos but when I do I watch them full screen. #BeautifulVideography

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@riteshvarma4529 7 жыл бұрын

thank you.

@jabotero64 6 жыл бұрын

Forgot the most important part!, to adjust the PH until you get effluent dkh between 35-50dkh

@chrisjako3404 6 жыл бұрын

Should i dose any other elements along with my calcium reactor?

@hassohammer 7 жыл бұрын

What Calcium reactor do you recommend for 180 gallons tank?

@serenabowman2214 7 жыл бұрын

I'm new to the hobby and I was wanting to get a calcium reactor. you said it controls alk and cal, what about mg?

@melissawilson2521 7 жыл бұрын

Tidal gardens thank you my son is thinking about being a reafer and fragging soft and hard corals thank you

@Deon0026yickadee 7 жыл бұрын

nice!

@roguesnail5713 6 жыл бұрын

That reactor looks solid as hell, I bought theTunze 3172. Once you go calcium reactor you never need to dose again. So ULM it's crazy.

@Abreezeducttesting 7 жыл бұрын

great video... with a ph probe, you need to keep the reactor chamber at 7ph. (ie bubble counter) how do you adjust the output to the tank, to keep good tank parameters? can they be used in a lightly stock tank?

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

There is usually a little valve of some kind to restrict the effluent line. Some are just a tiny ball valve, but the best ones I've seen are a guillotine valve that goes on the outside of the tubing and presses it down. You can use them on any system, but there may be more convenient ways to manage water chemistry in a lightly stocked tank like just doing a slightly larger water change or kalkwasser during top off.

@MikeLemming 7 жыл бұрын

Great video Than! I've been interested in a calcium reactor for a while now! Do you think it's something that should be added to a nicely stocked tank already? Or, can it be implemented into a lightly stocked tank with mainly frags, like mine..?

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

You can add it easily because the effect it has is pretty gentle. It is really good at just maintaining what's already there chemistry wise.

@MikeLemming 7 жыл бұрын

Cool! Thanks for the help! Always a pleasure!

@bayareareefs8616 7 жыл бұрын

Great info Than I wasn't too sure how the Calcium Reactor worked , Question do you think this way is better then dosing 2 part ?

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Not necessarily better, it's just different. The thing I like about it is I don't have to do anything with them for long periods of time and there is no risk of a loser getting stuck on or off and screwing up.

@rajeshroy7755 7 жыл бұрын

nice

@TheBobby416 7 жыл бұрын

Great, I have been hoping for a great day. And I just got the best of what I need to know. Thank you for the Video. If it leaks it leaks. lol see you later.

@googIereallysucks 7 жыл бұрын

You mention near the end of the video about having the calcium reactor raise ph of the aquarium. I always thought they lowered ph in the aquarium. Could you explain it better for me? I want to get a reactor but worry about it causing low ph.

@ocnbrze2003 6 жыл бұрын

calcium reactors buffer the ph in your tank. basically co2 is acidic when dissolved in water. calcium added to the reactor in the form of aragonite when dissolved becomes basic. when an acid is added to a basic solution as long as there are equal parts a buffer solution is created. as more co2 is added to the chamber, more of the ca gets dissolved to balance the ph, and thus more calcium gets added to the tank. this is why you have the bubble counter for co2...to make sure you are not adding to much acid to the reactor. hope that makes more sense.

@SrMarkavian 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video! just one noob question. How long (daily) are you running the reactor? And for normal users with a normal size aquarium (around 50 galons) how long they should run it at day? I think that is the piece of information that is missing in your videos. How many hours at day u have something running :)

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

You run them 24/7.

@SrMarkavian 7 жыл бұрын

Tidal Gardens Inc. thanks!

@fredmyers8366 5 жыл бұрын

Does this take the place of Dosing? i am fairly new to reef aquariums and am thinking of adding a dosing apex module. I have a 125 gallon tank. Is this large enough to add a calcium reactor? Thanks

@tidalgardens 5 жыл бұрын

It can take the place of dosing for most aquariums unless you have very large stony coral volume that soaks up more than the calcium reactor can deliver. It can happen, but much less likely to happen in a 125g. If it does though, you can dose 2-part or kalkwasser to supplement the reactor. My friend used to have a tank that required all three you can see here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qbR3lcxes67Ppmg.html

@ericolsen9799 7 жыл бұрын

Do you have any experience with of Sea-lab 28? An automatic replenisher. It is supposed to dissolve in tanks to supplement calcium and trace elements as used by corals. I am trying while dosing 2part. What can you share if anything about this product?

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

Never heard of it.

@kellyvb9881 5 жыл бұрын

I've used those, IMO there SAKE OIL, they didn't do a thing for the tank but cost me money

@michaelwescott8064 Жыл бұрын

if your tank is 8.1 PH, can your corals grow?

@dosmaiz7361 7 жыл бұрын

calc reactors also supply alk? i didnt know that! makes me want to get a calc reactor now!

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

They do. Also, be aware there is something called a Kalkwasser reactor that is something different that people call a kalk reactor for short.

@dosmaiz7361 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info. Will you guys upload a new update video on your cheap t5 fixtures?

@rayfadhilbassamfaisal3662 7 жыл бұрын

Does a fish only tank reef still require calcium reactor??

@AbsGodwin 7 жыл бұрын

ray mcknight No

@RahulSharma-oj4ik 6 жыл бұрын

Is it necessary for live coral aquarium??

@ocnbrze2003 6 жыл бұрын

it depends on what you plan on keeping. hard corals....it helps, but still not necessary. soft corals....it is not necessary at all. stony corals like acropora....it is absolutely necessary IMHO. however, it does help keep the ph balance much more stable, but not worth the price for just that.

@RahulSharma-oj4ik 6 жыл бұрын

ocnbrze Thanks for the information mate !!

@shachar2 5 жыл бұрын

air is %80 co2, can you use that instead?

@tidalgardens 5 жыл бұрын

Air is .04% carbon dioxide.

@shachar2 5 жыл бұрын

@@tidalgardens oh I see, my bad. Now I understand why you pay huge sums for those...

@erwinito1 7 жыл бұрын

I thought you needed to keep the ph of the reactor in an acidic state? Ph of 7 is neutral.

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

more acidic in comparison to salt water which is 8.3

@322sheffield 5 жыл бұрын

It all depends on the media. I keep my at 6.7

@kellyvb9881 5 жыл бұрын

@@322sheffield I keep mine at 6.4 to 6.5 and have for several years. IMO 7 is far to high and I don't get reaction

@Berbs73 5 жыл бұрын

How is this accused of being anything close to simplistic?

@t.regnerus301 7 жыл бұрын

Only Matrix Trilogy fans will get the reference. :)

@tidalgardens 7 жыл бұрын

I didn't like the second two movies, but I like them more now that I saw some theory videos where they argued Neo wasn't the One and Agent Smith actually was. The series works a lot better in that framework and it really helped out my perception of that series.