- Calcium reactors are being made more affordable
and not just for bigger reef systems,
but for all tank sizes, including nano-reefs.
AquaMaxx's line of CTech Calcium Reactors
can get you into a calcium reactor for less,
while still offering great features
like a powerful and reliable Sicce pump,
a removable bubble counter and inline pre-filter,
low profile CNC channels instead of bulky pipes,
push connectors all around PVC unions and elbows,
and a heavy duty pinch valve.
Basically everything you need in a solid reactor
but without forcing you to dig deep into your pockets,
plus not only do they have sizes for large systems
but also for smaller nano systems,
so that all of us nano-reefers can get in on the action.
When you open up the box, you'll find that the reactor,
the bubble counter and filter assembly, the pump,
a dosing line and clip, and a solid set
of full color instruction cards.
The CTech reactors are available in four sizes.
The 4.3 inch diameter C1, the six inch diameter C2,
the eight inch diameter C3, and the 3.2 inch diameter
nano hang-on reactor.
They're rated for aquariums up to 300 gallons,
500 gallons, a thousand gallons
and 75 gallons, respectively.
The reactor is very easy to assemble
and comes mostly completed.
All you need to do is attach the bracket
that holds the bubble counter, and pre-filter
by raising one of the thumb screws,
slipping it over the keyhole in the bracket,
and then tightening it back down.
Then you can attach the pump to the unions
and connect the dosing line to the push fitting
on the top of the reactor, easy peasy.
Yes, there is going to be more setup
before you'll be able to use it,
but AquaMaxx includes a pair of large instruction cards
filled with color photos and diagrams
to walk you through the complete setup.
Like I was mentioning earlier, these reactors still carry
a bunch of useful features, despite having
a more budget-friendly price tag.
This includes the bubble counter for visually tracking
the volume of CO2, a serviceable inline pre-filter
for keeping out debris that could clog up the media,
a robust pinch valve for regulating the flow of the water
into the reactor, which in turn regulates the dosing rate,
a workhorse Sicce Syncra pump inside of a baffle enclosure
from minimizing noise, and a thick acrylic lid
with integrated CNC machined channels that replace
the bulky PVC pipes found on most other calcium reactors
keeping things trimmed down and compact.
Instead of sponges, this reactor uses
a blue acrylic diffuser plate filled with small pinholes
for the media to rest on, as well as
a kidney bean-shaped plate at the top
where the water exits.
Both are removable and serviceable, which is fantastic
and makes it easy to keep things clean.
To access the inside of the reactor
and to maintain the media, you've got a series
of thumbscrews that need to be loosened just enough
to allow the lid to turn so you can
line up the keyholes and lift it off.
While I'm sure most of you know
thumbscrews aren't usually my favorite option,
these do turn very easily
and they certainly get the job done.
And considering that this is one of the most
affordable budget calcium reactors out there,
I'm pretty satisfied with their use of thumbscrews here.
With the lid off, you can then add the media to the reactor,
then close it back up and tighten things down again.
You'll notice that there are two push connectors
with no tubing attached, and that's where
you're gonna need some extra quarter-inch RO tubing
to go between the feed pump and the reactor
as well as the CO2 regulator and the reactor.
If this is your first rodeo with a calcium reactor,
there are a few other pieces of equipment
you're gonna want to pick up to get it running on easy mode.
Firstly, you're gonna wanna pick up a CO2 tank
somewhere between five and 10 pounds
if you want it to be small enough to fit in your stand
while still having enough volume to last for months.
You're also gonna want a reliable CO2 regulator
and solenoid valve like the Carbon Doser,
which makes dialing in that precise
bubble count easy as pie.
You'll also wanna pick up a pH controller
or a spare pH probe for your external aquarium controller
so that you can peg the pH inside of the reactor
for a consistent affluent DKH.
You'll also want a continuous duty dosing pump
like the Kamoer FX STP, to make dialing in
the dose to your tank a super simple process
that is ultra consistent.
And of course you're gonna want a high-quality
phosphate-free reactor media,
such as Triton Labs or KZ's offerings.
Then you'll be off to the races,
provided you actually have a calcium reactor
which you can pick one up for yourself
by clicking right here.
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