[Reefland]

Which is the best media to use for Ca Reactors? I remember some time ago reading about people having problems, or not being particularly happy with certain brands.

So whats the flavor this week?

[Samper]

I can't say from personal experience but when I buy mine I'm gonna try knop media when the time comes unless I can find a reason not to use it. So far I've seen good reviews of it.

[skipm]

I have been quite satisfied using the ARM media by Caribsea. It seems to dissolve well and maintains levels well in my system. HTH, Skip

[Reefland]

It seems there were some discussions about CaribSea and Koralin but I can't find them anywhere.

I just picked up a pH Controller and dual regulator so we're getting closer to setting ours up.

[jiggly75]

Our CA reactor has been running for about 2 months now with Knop media. I'm happy with it. Don't have anything to compare it to though . Alk. and calcium levels stay consistant.

[skipm]

From threads I have read before most people use the brands most readily available from their LFS with good results. The biggest problems I have heard have come from trying to substitute crushed coral or aragonite sand in place of the media. The problems then ranged from having to decrease pH significantly to get the media to dissolve and the media not dissolving uniformly.

[ereefic]

Currently using Korallith Media (it came with my reactor) and it is working very well. I have some ARM waiting for when this media is done, and that should work just as well.

[Reefland]

Any reason you got the ARM to replace the Korallith?

[ereefic]

It is what the LFS carries here. I ordered it because I didn't think I had enough of the Korallith media to get my reactor going, but it turns out I did.

Apparently you don't need to run the pH in the reactor as low to dissolve it, so figure that will have less impact on the tanks pH as well.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by ereefic

Apparently you don't need to run the pH in the reactor as low to dissolve it, so figure that will have less impact on the tanks pH as well.

Yes, this is true. I have used both and Korallith needs much lower PH inside the chamber to do anything. However, I had noticed increase in phosphates with ARM media and this is why I switched to Korallith.

[ereefic]

Originally Posted by zhenya

Yes, this is true. I have used both and Korallith needs much lower PH inside the chamber to do anything. However, I had noticed increase in phosphates with ARM media and this is why I switched to Korallith.

Yep, i've heard that too about the phosphates. I've tested my effluent from the Korallith and getting 0 phosphates. I'll do the same with ARM when I run it and see. If it's measurable, then i'll swith back, but i'll give ARM a try.

[Uel]

How long should the media last? I replaced mine about 6 months ago with ARM, because it is what was available at lfs, and my ca is low. I'm wondering if the media is used up. I know last time it had turned to mush in the reactor, but the sides still looked like rocks. I'm assuming the mush is useless.
Uel

[Reefland]

That is what I was looking for, now that you guys have mentioned it I remember that the discussion I read was about the ARM having phosphates. It sounds like the Korallith is the way to go.

[scubadude]

Anyone used Crushed Coral before? or even Crushed Oyster shell? I personally have used ARM (seems to work for me) and like Gene and Ereefic I would use Korallith if I had a bottomless wallet

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Anyone used Crushed Coral before? or even Crushed Oyster shell? I personally have used ARM (seems to work for me) and like Gene and Ereefic I would use Korallith if I had a bottomless wallet

Well,

My wallet is far from bottomless... However, I would stay away from crushed coral just for the reason that it has more oyster shells in it than coral and that what gives it such high phosphates. You know what I'm getting at, Rocky..

Korallith is made up of crushed coral skeletons, or so it claimes to be.

[miareefer]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Anyone used Crushed Coral before? or even Crushed Oyster shell? I personally have used ARM (seems to work for me) and like Gene and Ereefic I would use Korallith if I had a bottomless wallet

Hi Rocky
I use crushed coral myself i have a preference for Acropora and big fat Staghorns .My nearest supplier for Reactor Media IS ABOUT 1800Kms away and freight isnt pretty.I put the corals in a industrial Rolls crusher and size the media to the right size in a screenshaker .The biggest problem is getting the sand out of the media so i hose it out in a fine screen and dry it out and it works fantastic .Ime saddened to hear of your loss as well recently (Greenhouse)i only popped in here the other day and it appears there been a lot of things happening here as of late and a few new members .
Mia

[kevinpo]

I have used many pounds of ARM, Korallith, and Korallin media. I like the Korallith 1.8-2.5mm size the best. ARM had phosphates and Korallin media was hard to disolve. I also had the ARM get mushy. I run through about 2.5-3" of media a month in my 4.5" diameter dual chamber.

HTH,
Kevin

[zhenya]

Kevin,

What ph is your effluent to dissolve that much media? I usually can dissolve about 1" of media in a six inch diameter chamber if I lower ph to 6.5. It has dramatic impact on my tank's ph level( it drops to 7.8 daytime and 7.6 at night) so I raise my effluents ph to 6.8. It is much slower dissolution at this ph and I have to drip kalk more to keep with the demands of the tank.

Why in the world did I decide to keep Acroporids and clams. so much easier with the mushrooms and softies.

[golfish]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Anyone used Crushed Coral before? or even Crushed Oyster shell? I personally have used ARM (seems to work for me) and like Gene and Ereefic I would use Korallith if I had a bottomless wallet

I've used ARM and Koralith media in my reators..I switched to CaribSea Geo marine about 6 months ago..IMO, this seems to be the BEST bang for you buck. I get 40 pounds for less then 25.00 from Marine Depot (I pick it up)

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by golfish

I've used ARM and Koralith media in my reators..I switched to CaribSea Geo marine about 6 months ago..IMO, this seems to be the BEST bang for you buck. I get 40 pounds for less then 25.00 from Marine Depot (I pick it up)

Mark,

Have you had any chance to test this media for phosphates or anything else that it may release upon dissolution? At 25 bucks for 40 pounds it sounds real good and I would love to switch, providing it won't drive my phosphates up like the ARM media did.