Calcium reactor maintenance and important maintenance checks

A calcium reactor is very easy to operate as long as it is understood that to dissolve the calcareous media, the pH will need to be around 6.5. If the flow through the chamber needs to be increased to raise the amount of calcium flowing into the tank, then the bubble rate will also need to be increased. Care should be taken, however, that the CO₂ dispersal rate is not too high. If this happens, the pH coming from the reactor will be very low, and there will be excess CO₂ in the water. This low pH can have deleterious effects on the invertebrates, and the excess CO₂ can trigger unwanted algae growth. To reduce the likelihood of this becoming a problem, the effluent coming from the reactor can be run over or through a second chamber containing media. This will help to prevent excess CO₂ from being released and will allow more calcium to be dissolved. As long as these conditions are maintained, there is little problem in running the reactor, but the levels for calcium and alkalinity should still be monitored closely to make sure that everything is working properly.

Important maintenance checks

Without proper maintenance, calcium reactors can cause multiple problems. Perform regular checks on your system.

• The most frequently encountered problem is that the outflow from the reactor may slow down over time, often in just a day or two. If this is not remedied, the alkalinity and calcium levels can fall quite quickly. For this reason, the outflow should be checked daily to make sure it is at a proper rate.

• Another problem is that, over time, media other than Korallith may turn into a type of inert sludge in the reactor. As a result, the amount of calcium being released is reduced, even though the flow and CO₂ levels look normal. To remedy this, the media should be removed and thrown out once or twice per year and the whole reactor should be cleaned out with mild vinegar and thoroughly rinsed. This will help to keep the reactor working at an optimum level.

• Also, over time, the flow through the reactor may become reduced. The reactor, pipes, and valves need to be cleaned from time to time.

• For tanks containing large quantities of small polyp stony (SPS) corals that utilize a lot of calcium, the flow rate through the reactor may have to be increased constantly, as these corals consume more and more calcium.

• It is wise to periodically check the accuracy of the pH controller with a pH test kit (some testers calibrate ±0.01 accuracy) to ensure that the calcium reactor is working properly.

I have now been using a reactor for over five years on one of my tanks, and other than getting it adjusted initially, it has produced very few problems. While there are considerable start-up costs associated with implementing such a system, a calcium reactor may prove to be a wise long-term investment by saving you time, money, and frustration while maximizing your coral growth.

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