The SeaBones calcium reactor is a new finely crafted acrylic reef aquarium device from Avast Marines, the acrylicsmiths with an affinity for all thing pirate. How fitting then, that on this Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day Avast would introduce their latest calcium reactor model, the SeaBones with thoughtfully rounded corners and lots of ports and fittings. Priced beginning at just $249 the SeaBones calcium reactor is about as affordable as it gets for an acrylic tool that is built in the US. If Avast has showed us anything over time it’s that their products have a pretty good track record for being pragmatic, well designed, usually with a trick or two up its acrylic sleeve and the SeaBones is no exception.
The best new trick that is being introduced by the SeaBones calcium reactor is an nifty method of not only recycling the carbon dioxide gas that builds up in the top of bottom-up reactors, but it also passes this recycled CO2 through the bubble counter. With this feature in the SeaBones you can measure the efficiencies, and potentially lower your total usage of carbon dioxide. Like any good modern calcium reactor the SeaBones is designed to take advantage of the superior reaction performance of extremely coarse calcium reactor media that is only slightly removed from coral branches, often called “coral bones”, hence the SeaBones monicker. One way that the Seabones Calcium reactor saves on the sticker price is by omitting the inclusion of a recirculating pump because let’s face it, any reefer worth their weight in salt looking to use a device as sophisticated as a calcium reactor is likely to have some pumps or powerheads lying around.
The in/out nozzles of the Avast Marine SeaBones calcium reactor are fitted with half inch ID soft tubing which is perfect for use with teh Sicce Synchra powerhead pumps that are reccommended by Avast – if you don’t have any similar pumps on hand Avast offers the Synchra as an add-on to when selecting to purchase a SeaBones calcium reactor. Another add-on which will soon be listed on the Avast website is a secondary calcium chamber for receiving the effluent from the SeaBones helping to elevate the pH of the calcium enriched water before it goes to the aquarium. The SeaBones comes in three sizes, the SeaBones I priced at the aforementioned $249 is rated for 150 gallons of reef water, $30 more gets you the SeaBones II rated for 250 gallons and for a total of $349 you can get the SeaBones III which has the chops to keep up the calcium and alkalinity demands of a 500 gallon reef system. [Avast Marine]
