JasReef Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Hello and good day everyone! I recently got in my calcium reactor.[emoji106] I was wondering what you all find success with in choosing media. I am looking at the TLF Reborn and adding Neomag for Mg. I have read the reviews but would like real world experiences from the locals. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I use ARM Extra Coarse Media http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/caribsea-arm-reactor-media-extra-coarse.html . and a secondary chamber after the main chamber to bring the PH back up before going into the tank. The Second has standard crushed coral substrate in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 ARM coarse as well, but just using a single chamber reactor. Between that reg and the reactor, you have about the best setup possible. Those regs are amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasReef Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks juiceman and jestep! Looks like two for ARM. How much do you go through in about a year? I realize my tank is young and not full of stoney corals (yet!) but I wonder if I should order enough to fill it with some for top off or just go for the 50 lb bag. Jestep, yea I learned my lesson on buying used or lesser quality so I saved my dimes and waited to order the biggest and best I could. I had to wait an extra month for the GEO 618 but I think it will be worth it. I learned my lesson vicariously through Dans thread (thanks for posting Dan) with the regulator and waited to get the digital one. Now I just need to get the media ordered and figure out how to set this up. Should be fun times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 TLF Reborn for me. I used the ARM media for years until they had a bad batch that took out some tanks. Then I switched. Big difference I notice is the media looks like sticks of acros whereas the the ARM media is chunks. I've never had to run a magnesium supplement with either media. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 When I first started, a large container of ARM lasted me a good year. Now, I'm happy to get through a year or two with a 5-gallon bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yeah, large container lasts me about a year. I don't add any magnesium unless it comes up as low. I have sown BRS mag mix for that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I used crushed coral for about a year. It worked, but I didn't have anything to compare it to. I'm going to switch with the purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig 'em @ NDstructible Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I use ARM, but I think my Mg levels were pretty low using it. My CaRX has been offline for a few months now so I can't really back it up at the moment. I also break up and throw dead SPS skeletons in there to recycle them back into new corals. The great circle of life in the aquarium 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 ARM + neomag for me. Mg levels took awhile to get straightened out but seems to be going well now. How long does y'alls CO2 last? Now that I'm pushing about 15mL/hour effluent out, a 5lb bottle seems like it's going to last about 2, maybe 3 months max. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I used to get 8-9 months with a 5-lb with my 125-gal. I barely made 1 year with a 20-lb cylinder this past year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Jeez, if you guys are going through that much, it's probably time to get a 50 or 100 lb bottle and be done with it for a few years at a time. Ty increased the global temperature by .5 degrees last year due to aquarium CO2 usage... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Jeez, if you guys are going through that much, it's probably time to get a 50 or 100 lb bottle and be done with it for a few years at a time. Ty increased the global temperature by .5 degrees last year due to aquarium CO2 usage... You should see the satellite imagery over my house for CO2 production from 2014-2015! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Jeez, if you guys are going through that much, it's probably time to get a 50 or 100 lb bottle and be done with it for a few years at a time. Ty increased the global temperature by .5 degrees last year due to aquarium CO2 usage... You should see the satellite imagery over my house for CO2 production from 2014-2015! That was from too many egg rolls in 2015!!!!! Reborn and neo-mag here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan H Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Yeah, probably going to find a bigger bottle soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Jeez, if you guys are going through that much, it's probably time to get a 50 or 100 lb bottle and be done with it for a few years at a time. Ty increased the global temperature by .5 degrees last year due to aquarium CO2 usage... You should see the satellite imagery over my house for CO2 production from 2014-2015! That was from too many egg rolls in 2015!!!!! Reborn and new-mag here. No, the eggrolls contributed to the carbon monoxide issue... Not carbon dioxide. [emoji41] 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasReef Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 That was my next question. I got the 5lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Get a 20-lb! Then use the existing 5-lb as the hold-me-over bottle when the 20-lb runs out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Jeez, if you guys are going through that much, it's probably time to get a 50 or 100 lb bottle and be done with it for a few years at a time. Ty increased the global temperature by .5 degrees last year due to aquarium CO2 usage... You should see the satellite imagery over my house for CO2 production from 2014-2015!That was from too many egg rolls in 2015!!!!!Reborn and new-mag here. No, the eggrolls contributed to the carbon monoxide issue... Not carbon dioxide. [emoji41]Uggh chemisty fail. I'm sorry. Jas, Get the 20lber. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig 'em @ NDstructible Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I say y'all should just get boilers and run the exhaust through a water scrubber and then into your reactors. With gasoline prices the way they are, it may not be a bad idea [emoji13] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I say y'all should just get boilers and run the exhaust through a water scrubber and then into your reactors. With gasoline prices the way they are, it may not be a bad idea [emoji13] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Those air guys are such nerds! [emoji16] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 ARM coarse @ 6.55-6.60 w/ a teaspoon of mag.. been 8mo on first fill (only dropped like 2 inches, how often should i be swapping this out?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I usually let it get half way down before filling but I'm lazy. Probably topoff every 2-4 months is ideal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I was refilling CO2 every six months on the 150g. I haven't set it up on the 300 yet, but I'm guessing I"ll need a bigger bottle next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasReef Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 I ended up with the reburn from TLF and some neomag. It turns out I have a 10# co2 bottle so thats better than the 5#. Thanks for all who chimed in and offered information on what you use, I appreciate the discussion on this board. I have a question for those that have the same regulator as me, what do you keep the psi at? It came with no directions so I'm wondering what you all use. I know Dan and Ty have the same digital regulator so please let me know if you can. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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