Austin Oceans - Calcium Reactors

Price

Reactor Media Capacity (gallons)

Reactor Media Capacity (Weight)

Probe

Port

Dual

Chamber?

Footprint

Included

Pump

Tube

Penetrations?

Height

Manufacturer Tank Rating

Reactor Warranty

Pump Warranty

Austin Oceans MoCalc 100

$435

1.4 gallons

15 pounds

Yes

12.25"x5.25"

Eheim 1048

20"

300+ gallons

5 years

2 years

Austin Oceans MoCalc 200

$510

1.8 gallons

19 pounds

Yes

15.25"x7.25"

Eheim 1250

17"

450+ gallons

5 years

2 years

Austin Oceans MoCalc 300

$565

2.5 gallons

24.5 pounds

Yes

15.25"x7.25"

Eheim 1250

21"

600+ gallons

5 years

2 years

Austin Oceans MoCalc 400

$635

3.33 gallons

32.5 pounds

Yes

15.25"x7.25"

Eheim 1250

28"

1000+ gallons

5 years

2 years

Schuran Jetstream Pico

$299

1.7 pounds

13"x5.

Maxijet MJ1000

YES

15.7"

125 gallons

2 years

1 year

Schuran Jetstream 1

$499

0.66 gallons

Extra Cost Option

13"x5.9" plus board

Eheim 1250

YES

23.6"

750 gallons

2 years

Schuran Jetstream 2

$849

2 gallons

Eheim

YES

23.6"

2500 gallons

2 years

Knop Calcium Reactor C

$259

11.5"x2.5"x19"

Eheim

YES

19"

200 gallons

1 year

2 years

Knop Calcium Reactor HD

$590

16.5 pounds

Yes

Eheim

YES

300 gallons

1 year

2 years

Knop Calcium Reactor S IV

$519

7"x7"

Eheim

21"

650 gallons

1 year

2 years

Korallin C-1502

$387

6.6 pounds

6.3"x6.3"

Eheim 1046

15.75"

400 gallons

1 year

2 years

Korallin C-3002

$461

13.2 pounds

6.3"x6.3"

Eheim 1048

29"

800 gallons

1 year

2 years

Korallin C-4002

$602

22 pounds

7.5"x7.5"

Eheim 1250

24"

1600 gallons

1 year

2 years

Korallin C-10002

$794

44 pounds

7.5"x7.5"

Eheim 1260

43.3"

3000 gallons

1 year

2 years

Reactor Analysis

We'll continue to add the details on these other imported calcium reactors as we get them. But here are some of the main points we see when we compare these German imports to the MoCalc calcium reactors.

The fundamental tank capacity of a calcium reactor is determined by the amount of reactor media inside the reactor. Obviously you must also have an efficient CO2 circulation system to take advantage of the reactor capacity (none of these German calcium reactors have the most efficient dual chamber reverse flow design). You can easily see that the MoCalc tank ratings are much more conservative than the German imports. The actual tank rating depends greatly on the amount of coral and clams that you have in your tank. For example, the MoCalc 300 will produce more calcium and alkalinity than the Korallin C-4002 although Corallin claims the C-4002 is suitable for a reef tank almost 3 times larger than is recommended for the MoCalc 300 reactor. Obviously these German vendors are assuming you have less need for calcium when they rate their skimmers. Look at the actual numbers:

Vendor	Price	Capacity	Rating	Our Comments
MoCalc 100	$435	1.4 gallons	300+ gallons	MoCalc 100 has more than 2X the calcium media capacity of
Schuran Jetstream 1	$499	0.66 gallons	750 gallons	the Schuran Jetstream 1 at a lower price.

MoCalc 200	$510	19 pounds	450+ gallons	25+% extra capacity for the MoCalc 200 and the MoCalc 200
Knop S IV	$519	< 15 pounds	650 gallos	is 4 inches shorter.

MoCalc 300	$565	24.5 pounds	600+ gallons	The MoCalc 300 can deliver more calcium and alkalinity to your tank than the Korallin C-4002 due it's 1.5 pounds
Korallin C-4002	$602	22 pounds	1600 gallons	greater capacity. But Corallin rates the C-4002 at almost 3X the tank rating than the more conservative MoCalc 300!

MoCalc 400	$635	32.5 pounds	1000+ gallons	The MoCalc 400 is the most efficient large calcium reactor available today. While the Korallin C-10002 has 25% more
Korallin C-10002	$794	44 pounds	3000 gallons	media capacity than the MoCalc 400 it cannot match the efficiency of the CO2 circulation or reliability of the MoCalc 400.

Other Things to Consider

Reverse Flow - Reverse flow improves the performance of all calcium reactors and helps prevent mesia packing and channeling. All MoCalc calcium reactors are reverse flow. This is the most efficient flow for a calcium reactor.
Tube Penetrations - Penetrating acrylic tube is a bad thing and will shorten the life of your calcium reactor. Now you may be one of the lucky ones and your tube penetrations may not fail before you get another calcium reactor but why take a chance. We recommend no tube penetrations and you won't find any in MoCalc calcium reactors.
Pump - At least the German vendors got this right (except for the Schuran Pico which uses a Maxijet). The Eheim pump is universally recognized as the most reliable pump that you can use for a calcium reactor application. But when you are considering a calcium reactor from somewhere else check and see if they are using a less reliable (or noiser!) pump.
Dual Chamber Design - The second chamber allows the PH to both dissolve a little more calcium but mainly give it a chance to increase from the low PH levels present in the main chamber. While the alkalinity is great, a second chamber allows the PH to be buffered better than single chamber designs. And we have the smallest footprint of any calcium reactor (German or not) for dual chamber designs.
Integrated PH Probe Port - This port allows you to have a PH probe inside the calcium reactor to get instant feedback on changes in PH. You can control your reactor much better with instant feedback rather than trying to measure the PH in your sump and figure out what is going on in the reactor. Someday all calcium reactors will have this. Today, you can get it standard in your MOCalc reactor.
In Sump or External Operation - If you want to put a MoCalc reactor inside your sump, go ahead. It will work fine there. Or run it external. Either way it will give you top notch performance.
CO2 Scavenge Port - Excess CO2 will needlessly lower your tank PH. Every MoCalc calcium reactor has a CO2 scavenger port to recycle the CO2 and prevent losses, resulting in fewer PH problems in your tank and your CO2 will last longer without waste.
No Top Plumbing - This is a problem with some of the German imports. We have no top plumbing complications when it's time to refill the reactor. No other reactor is as easy to fill as the MoCalc. Just a 1/4 turn and the Twist-Loc top is open and you can add new media. Replace the top and another 1/4 turn and you are done.
All John Guest push fittings make it easy to add the feed and output tubing. Maintenance and easy of use are two of the top advantages in MoCalc calcium reactors.