Marine aquariums with soft corals, stone corals, snails or calcareous algae need regular additives of calcium and bicarbonate ions. In 1989, TUNZE® Aquarientechnik was the first manufacturer to build a CO2 controlled calcium reactor. A pump is used to pass the water enriched with carbon dioxide through the hardness granulate. The carbon dioxide reacts with water to produce carbon dioxide gas and dissolves the calcium carbonate. The hardened water leaves the reactor through a control cock.
Today’s generation of automatic calcium reactors combine high efficiency and a compact size, consisting of a reactor with pump and the Comline housing. Calcium Automat 3170 needs no additional supply pump, and is operational with a minimum water level of 60 mm (2.3 in.). It is suitable for operation in the aquarium as well as in a cabinet filter.