MRC Calcium Reactor? NE comments?

[masala4080]

I am thinking about purchasing a Calcium Reactor for my soon to be 90 gal. SPS reef tank. After searching around a little I found the MRC (My Reef Creations) CR-1 Single Chamber Calcium Reactor. It is up to 300 gallons, and I have heard great stuff about it. I am thinking about buying that and the #3 package...(includes Co2 Regulator, MAG 2 pump, SMS 115 pH monitor, 5 lb. Co2 Bottle)
I was wondering if anyone had any comments on this.
Is it pretty simple to run / setup and how is it as far a pH. What other things are you doing / adding to raise pH up to propper levels. Please resond soon, as I am thinking about making the purchase tomorrow. Thank you all for your time!

 

[tony detroit]

They work well, but from what I have heard the last couple months/and read the build quality isn't the best. GEO may be a better bet. The MRC does work well however, I've just heard stories recentely of them braking loose multiple times.

 

[acrylic51]

Come on Tony elaborate a little more... What's been breaking loose?

 

[masala4080]

ya...Please explain. I made the purchase last night before I read you post. I kinda jumped the gun. It does have a 2 year guarantee I think, so I will have to see what happens.

 

[masala4080]

Also, Do you need to use the special sand, or is Aragonite CaribSea ok? Also, how often do you need to change the media?

 

[solonfairy]

i got mine last fall... no worries here... love it... i did opt for the mag 3 for external recirc and it leaks salt creep... but i can easily swap that for a better external pump

 

[masala4080]

SolonFairy
Do you need to use the special sand, or is Aragonite CaribSea ok? Also, how often do you need to change the media?
Thanks

 

[solonfairy]

i currently use korallith ... some people use varying grade of substrate... some people even use coral skeletons from deceased corals. any form of aragonite is fine, but the purer the better.
i have a dual stage reactor and it is set to a high co2 count because i have a lot of stonies in a pretty big tank. looks like i will have to refill about every 4 months, dont know for sure yet.
you dont have to change media.. just add (unless youre not happy with the media or your media got melted down because of too much co2)
i do suggest a dual stage reactor though. i run a dual stage and still drip kalk to keep pH up. there are some newer style reactors that run reverse of the old ones that are better at using up co2 and keeping pH up.
good luck

 

[tony detroit]

The units were breaking at the bottom from the guys I knew that were running them. Perhaps he has changed his building.

 

[masala4080]

I only bought a 1 chamber reactor. I am assuming that the pH will be really low. Is there any other option that I have to raise it besides dripping kalk?

 

[masala4080]

bump, anyone?

 

[tony detroit]

It won't be that low, provided you aren't running a bunch of CO2 through it. If you're really worried about it, put it close to the intake to your skimmer, hopefully that will straighten out your pH a little bit.
Remember with the CA reactors to start low and work your way up. You can turn the media to mush pretty quickly if you overdo it.
tony

 

[golfish]

Somethings wrong here, I find myself agreeing with just about everything Tony is posting. Must be a anti DSB thing.
If I wasn't able to get my reverse flow Hawk reactor I would have gone with a Geo.
FWIW, I use CaribSea Geo Marine crushed coral in my reactor..20.00 for a 40 pound bag

 

[nm reef]

"Somethings wrong here, I find myself agreeing with just about everything Tony is posting. Must be a anti DSB thing."

Hey!!!!! I heard that!!!!!! Some folks just hate ya and other folks simply love to hate ya!!!!!!!!!!
For what its worth I've spoke to the folks at MRC a couple of times on the phone....great people from the sound of them...I'm sure they'll help in any way they can to set up your reactor or deal with any problems that come up. Its does seem they have a lot of happy customers out there...I've heard lots of good comments about their reactors.

 

[golfish]

Originally posted by NM reef
[B
For what its worth I've spoke to the folks at MRC a couple of times on the phone....great people from the sound of them...I'm sure they'll help in any way they can to set up your reactor or deal with any problems that come up.

[/B]
Without a doubt MCR is a great place to deal with..Andy's a great guy and one of these days when he sends me a free skimmer I'm going to have nothing but good things to say about em
I did use one of his custom kalk reators. He was so good about it he kept bugging me to send it back so he could upgrade it for me (freebie) You can't beat customer service like that.

 

[acrylic51]

Off subject, but hey Golfish what do you think of the MRC skimmers??? Debating between the MRC and Barrs..Definitely going beckett...

 

[nm reef]

Heck...if the folks at MRC offer a free kalk reactor upgrade again talk them into sending me the old one......I'm sure I'd figure a way to make use of it.

 

[masala4080]

It explains how to set up the reactor when you get it right? I kinda get how to set it up, and I definitly get the concept of it, just will need a little more info setting it up. Is there any good reading out there on the web, if so post it up. I dont think it will matter since we are not trying to sell something. Thanks all!

 

[golfish]

Originally posted by acrylic51
Off subject, but hey Golfish what do you think of the MRC skimmers??? Debating between the MRC and Barrs..Definitely going beckett...
Chris,
I think if your set on beckets then you can't beat an MCR. If it were me I'd probably look at the Geo recirc skimmer, Deltec or Bubble king.

 

[tony detroit]

Originally posted by NM reef
"Somethings wrong here, I find myself agreeing with just about everything Tony is posting. Must be a anti DSB thing."

HEY NOW!
I might just have to take a trip out west and take some of those fine frags.
Either one of you fellas going to the IMAC?