Calcium Reactor

There are two types of calcium reactor, see these follow pages for details and explanations:

• Calcium Carbonate Reactor - commonly referred to as a Calcium Reactor
• Calcium Hydroxide Reactor - commonly referred to as a Kalkwasser or Nilsen Reactor

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Calcium carbonate reactor, with carbon dioxide cylinder and media (calcium carbonate)

Calcium Carbonate Reactor

Advantages

• since it produces kalkwasser to replace evaporation, depending on the rate of evaporation in your tank, kalkwasser may not provide enough calcium and alkalinity to maintain the systems demands.

Disadvantages

• can introduce phosphate into the system if media contains phosphate.
• can induce algal blooms if too much carbon dioxide is added.

Calcium Hydroxide Reactor

Advantages

• precipitates phosphate from the water

Disadvantages

• since it produces kalkwasser to replace evaporation, depending on the rate of evaporation in your tank, kalkwasser may not provide enough calcium and alkalinity to maintain the systems demands.