This calk reactor good??? how much do it cost?? pro-cal

ThaNgBOm321 · #1 12/01/2007, 06:42 PM

i just bought a pro-cal calcium reactor for a good price ( i think... it was at a garage sale at a lfs.. well took 45 min to get there... )

it's this same exact calk-reactor w/ both chambers filled to the 'fill' line with media...

http://www.marinetechnical.com/page12.html

how much would a used and new one run?? ( it came with the small external pump also )

i bought it on the whim.. i remember reading that this thing was the best... but idk.. never looked into a calk-reactor...

TIA

YzGyz

ThaNgBOm321 · #2 12/01/2007, 06:44 PM

ohh .. and i dont have the co2 tank or regulator.. how much do a decent set run??? if it's too much.. then i will have to put this thing in the attic for a year or so.. ( takes that long to save $$$, unless i get lucky..) if i have to stor this thing... how do i stor the media?? dry it out and ziplock it?

YzGyz

Sk8r · #3 12/01/2007, 07:01 PM

You confused me: kalk reactor is different from calcium reactor. I'd say you'd spend about 300 dollars--- at least--- on this rig new. It'll take another hundred to get a co2 tank and regulator, maybe a bit more than that, but not much more.

ThaNgBOm321 · #4 12/01/2007, 07:15 PM

i ment calcium reactor.... same EXACT setup as the pic... a duel camber w/blueline 20 recirc. pump... with both chambers filled with media.. the return clip on rig ( for the hoses..) and those 2 water guages.. ( one is bubble counter and dont know about the skinny one.. ) and that pressure guage...... $100..... hum... thats not too bad.. ill get that in a few months then... lol... need to rid of this AEFW...!!! b@stards... my frags!!!!!

any experience on this unit?? good?? bad??

Thanks sk8r

YzGyz

Sk8r · #5 12/01/2007, 07:19 PM

Pressure gauge/bubble counter could be regulator---not sure: I think you got a deal. Pump alone is about 30 to 60 dollars. It's a smallish reactor, but should do beautifully with your tank. Somebody else may come in with more knowledge of calcium reactors/co2 tanks than I have: I run a kalk reactor, and the chamber for a kalk reactor alone [single chamber, some piping] can run 300.00, so I'm sure you got a good buy on this.

ThaNgBOm321 · #6 12/01/2007, 07:29 PM

yupper... $100 for the set-up... as far as i know.. all i need is a co2 tank,regulator w/ selanoid ( im in the countryside like.. power out in big storms) and $$ for the two... lol.... so i did good ehh???

thax Sk8r.... dont know if i should use this thing yet ( but i want to.. but cant.. need funds) i only have frags... thas if i can overcome these AEFW...

YzGyz

hansmatt · #7 12/01/2007, 10:27 PM

I think the pro-cal was much more than 3-400, more like $7-900? I have the minical and it works great for my 90g. You got a good deal, but will probably have to shell out $200 for a good tank/regulator etc. It's worth it, as they need little messing with once dialed.

ThaNgBOm321 · #8 12/01/2007, 10:47 PM

kool.... ill look into that later on.. tank is not up to par.. ..... oh.. how would you guys run a big reactor like this if you only have like 2 dozen frag?? is it hard?? worth the trouble?? ... ohh.. and do i need a feed pump?? or do it auto draw.. how do i stor this once used media??

YzGyz

ThaNgBOm321 · #9 12/01/2007, 10:52 PM

ohhh.... man.. almost forgot... how do you leak check this thing??? i did buy it used.. and it 'seem' to be in working condition.. the guy that sold it to me said, " we just took that thing of someones tank this morning" ... i looked at it.. it had some saltwater in it still.... guess it's true... but jst to be sure... how do i leak test it??

Thanks again ( to everyone that looked)

YzGyz

hansmatt · #10 12/02/2007, 03:18 PM

My mini-cal does not have/need a feed. It draws and recirculates using the same pump. I'd assume the same for the procal, but honestly don't know. The owners/builders/designers are great to troubleshoot setup with on the phone (they don't try to talk through via email). Leak test by filling both chambers, put a bucket with feed/drip lines, and let it run.

ThaNgBOm321 · #11 12/02/2007, 05:40 PM

kool.. ill do the leak test later today... guess no one knows how to store used reactor media... ill make a new thread asking specifically about that... wanna find out if thats possible before i get the media wet again..

THANKS all

YzGyz

hansmatt · #12 12/02/2007, 05:46 PM

the media the recommended to me is carib-sea argonite...I think that most media is very similar. You should be able to dry it and store without an issue.

ThaNgBOm321 · #13 12/02/2007, 06:11 PM

kool... scoop out.. put in pan.. oven or sundry.. then ziplock it.. i think thats my plan..

YzGyz

ThaNgBOm321 · #14 12/02/2007, 06:26 PM

humm... im looking at the pic on the MTC website... how do i work this thing to leak test it??

it looks like

- bottom left blue is feed/ auto draw from sump
- green after the mesuring vial is calk/alk saturated water to return to tank..
- the little 'jar' is co2 feed ... that vial to count bubbles...

so what is red on the top left???

YzGyz

Lo0seR · #15 12/02/2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

I'd say you'd spend about 300 dollars

One could only wish, back in the day I paid $550 used on what was considered was one of the best units you could get. Still a good unit dont get me wrong, but like skimmers of the past all these products giveway to better performance at lower prices, which in the long run we all benefit.