New Babble Magus Calcium Reactor review

[The Grizz]

I got to know......where did you get this from, I want one now.

[Crisis]

How are you finding this reactor? I noticed you have it installed outside your sump, any issues with leaks or anything? I'm looking to get a CA reactor, & didn't want to spend huge bucks!

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

I got to know......where did you get this from, I want one now.

PMed you.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by Crisis

How are you finding this reactor? I noticed you have it installed outside your sump, any issues with leaks or anything? I'm looking to get a CA reactor, & didn't want to spend huge bucks!

So far so good. i don’t have the Ph down to 6.9 yet. other then that all is ok. No leaks, but i will have a small container installed under it anyway just to be safe in a long run.
Waite a month or so i will update this review and see if its a right reactor for you.
definitely good savings in terms of price. I was a little cautions to by from China direct but end up being positive experience. Looked like he dropped shipped it from someone else but that was good for me in terms of packaging lol. I mean box inside the box was good for safety of the inside item.

[smokinreefer]

still running externally with no problems?

[RuGlu6]

Ok,
Here is an up date.
yes, still running externally all OK, nevertheless i installed a container under it just in case.

Observation: It works better with smaller sizer reactor media. The reason is that the Atman PH1100 pump is more powerful then say Maxi Jet, and can push a lot more water though the media.
So what i did is that i added small size aragonite to the reactor and now its completely packed. Also just to be on the safe side i protected the pump intake (the orange strainer on the last picture on page one of the thread) with open cell foam/sponge from old aquaclear HOB filter.

All in all its a good reactor, set it and forget it type. Ph effluent is 6.6-6.8 depending on the drip rate. I have it running at a fast drip rate about 3 drops per second. And a bubble of Co2 every 4-5 seconds. very economical in terms of Co2 consumption. If i slow down the effluent drip rate, Ph inside the reactor goes down a few points in few hrs.

Hi Russell, let's talk about the added features and benefits of this skimmer next time you're at the store.

Cheers,
Romin

[RuGlu6]

Been getting some PM's with same questions from different people about this reactor and decided to post question example here as an update.
Reactor is behaving really well, still dry as a bone and running externally. The only adjustment that needs to be made on mine is the effluent output drip rate. Its seemed to slow down every two weeks or so, so i had to open the supply valve to push more water through to clear the lines. I think this is because i do not use any filter socks and small lines are getting dirty. Plus the light in the sump creates growth in the red effluent pipe so i had to clear that pipe by squeezing it with the pliers and wrapping it up with black electrical tape to prevent future plug ups and it seems to be working.

Originally Posted by ******
Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I have one more question; My reactor seems to fill up very quickly the bubbles when I start the C02. I use one bubble every 4 seconds and by the time th PH drops to 6.7 my reactor is full of bubbles. In fact you can't even see inside the reactor for the fine bubbles. Does your do this?

Thanks,
***
Yep, mine was almost the same, Try increasing the output drip rate. I guess this will depend on the calcium media size. If your media is coarse then it will be easier for the pump to transfer water through the unit and therefore it will create smaller size bubbles. If media is smaller then it will take more time and effort for the pump. Mine has Atman PH1000 pump. Media is a mix of largest size media, zeo magnesium rocks, and also some small size media.

The bubbles in the reactor was the reason i built the bleed line initially, because i was tired looking at the reactor full of bubbles, but now after few month there is a lot less bubbles in the reactor, almost no bubbles at all.

If you Calcium is at good level with PH 6.7 (mine is) then you are OK.
If you need to lower the PH without injecting more CO2, then reduce the effluent drip rate and check Calcium and PH after 24 hrs.

I use one bubble of CO2 every 4-6 seconds and 3 drops per second effluent output rate.

[Stones]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

The only thing so far is that i am very cautious about is pump connection method via soft rubber sleeves instead of hard piping it. The unit is holding water nicely and now is used externally, but i am watching it like a hawk! Planning a bottom container just to be on the safe side.

I wouldn't be too worried about the external piping being connected to the main chamber via the soft rubber seals as they appear to be just square uniseals from the posted pictures. I ran an external skimmer for over 3 years that used uniseals to connect the external plumbing to the main skimmer chamber and the only time it leaked was when I had to remove the piping and piece it back together after being in constant use for several years. If you are scared about the quality of the soft rubber sleeves, just order up some replacement uniseals as there are several online distributors that carry them in various sizes.

[RuGlu6]

So it has been almost 8 month (Wow).
I am very pleased with the reactor.
Its about half full of media still.