Finally, we can tell you about the UltraReef UCS 120 Calcium Reactor, recommended for tanks up to 500 liters, heavily tested in my 400 liters reef tank.
The reactor is equipped with a solid pump, the Sicce Syncra1.5, that we tested in the past with a great feedback (here the review).
The UCS 120 is complete with all accessories and foolproof, with a bubble counter and a probe holder. You need only the feed pump, which can be replaced with a deviation from your return pump, a method that I’ve been using for several years.
Obviously, you also need a CO2 gas cylinder, a pressure reducer and connecting pipes.
Technical Specs:
| UltraReef UCS 120 |
|
| Total height | 570 mm |
| Diameter | 120 mm |
| Thickness | 3 mm |
| Ground base | 130×190 mm |
| Pump | Sicce Syncra 1.5 (review) |
| Height free to fill | ~ 30 cm |
| Capacity | 3,0 litri |
| Street price (Italy store) | 380 euro |
| Annual electrical bill (Italy) | 43-54 euro |
The reactor is really esthetically pleasing, flawless constructed with a central acrylic column, whereas the base and the cap are lathed. The connecting pipes are made of grey food PVC: using a white food PVC, the reactor could be more charming, but this solution may increase its cost.
This reactor is built and assembled entirely in Italy. Its pump, a Sicce, is obviously italian.
The screws used for this reactor are stainless steel AISI316 but we believe that, as the last skimmers presented, also the next calcium reactors will be equipped with the new titanium screws.
Working principles
From a constructive viewpoint, this reactor is a normal cylinder in classical position, with external air recycle system and the internal cylinder completely available for the media. Water is pushed in by an external pump (not included) or by a deviation from the return pump, directly under the cover of the reactor. From here, water is sucked by the pump and mixed with CO2, so it’s pushed down to the base of the reactor where it will be diffuse through a perforated circular plate about 12 cm wide.
The Sicce pump moves 1.132 liters per hour and the head is 170 cm in our test.
Particular of the diffusion plate
On the cover, as we can see in the picture below, there is a probe holder, water inlet and outlet and the input of the CO2 from the bubble counter.
Particular of the top cover
Considering its construction, internal circulation and the concave structure of the top cover it’s always guarantee a complete CO2 recovery.
A non return valve and a drain valve are included (replaced by a different drain valve, more accurate than the first one, as you can see in the next pictures).
