Deltec Fluidized Bed Calcium Reactors PF509

Fluidized bed calcium reactor.

Ideal mixing of media and CO2.

Dosing pump NOT INCLUDED.

Recommended Dosing Pumps: 
Kamoer FX-STP WiFi Continuous-Duty Peristaltic Dosing Pump.
Kamoer X1 Bluetooth Micropump Doser.
Kamoer X1 Pro Wifi Dosing Pump.

PF509

Aquarium size up to 132 gallons, Holds 2.2 kg of media, Dimensions (LXBXH)  7 x 5.5  x 20 inches , Uses Aquabee UP-1000 (included)

Setup & Use

The PF509 has its own operating instructions, and they differ from the rest of the PF range on almost every number, so follow these rather than the general PF-series figures.

1. Wash the media. Open the bag of Rowalith C+ and wash it thoroughly in fresh water to remove the fine dust, until the water runs clear. Deltec are firm that only the recommended media should be used here: the reactor works by fluidising, and Rowalith C+ is phosphate free.
2. Fill and close the vessel. Turn the lid anticlockwise and lift it off, then fill to the fill line. Check that the central fluid tube is in place with its fluidisation plate and that the single lower sponge is there. Put the second sponge on the connector pipe attached to the top diffuser plate, then set that assembly on the end of the fluid tube. Check the rubber O-ring is seated on the end of the vessel and turn the bayonet top back on clockwise.
3. Choose how to feed it. Deltec give two options. Pressure feed: take water from the tank or sump with a suitable powerhead and return it directly, which lets you place the reactor at any height: check the hoses and connections are rated for the pressure. Gravity feed: run it on a siphon from the tank into the sump, with no separate pump at all. If you gravity feed, Deltec are emphatic about the inlet depth: set the inlet pipe only about half an inch below the water surface, so that if the power or the return pump fails, the volume that keeps siphoning cannot overflow the free space in your sump before the siphon breaks.
4. Fill it and check for leaks. Open the inlet tap fully and wait for the reactor to fill, then check again that the lid is fully tightened and nothing is weeping.
5. Start the recirculation pump to fluidise the media, then close the inlet valve down until you have a flow of one drop per second going back into the tank or sump.
6. Turn the CO₂ on at one bubble per second and leave the system to run for six to seven hours.
7. Then measure. Test the dKH of the water coming out of the reactor: Deltec expect 35 to 40 dKH, which corresponds to a calcium level of roughly 600 mg/l. Reading low? Increase the CO₂ or slow the water down. Reading high? Reduce the CO₂ and open the water up. Do not restrict or block the outlet back to the sump at any point.

Running it day to day. Deltec say the unit should not run around the clock on a small tank: eight to ten hours a day gives the best results, starting about four hours after the lights come on, which keeps aquarium pH at its highest. If the reactor is working at full capacity, running the outlet through a further cup of reactor media degasses the water before it returns and reduces CO₂ carry-over. Natural sea water sits at 7 to 8 dKH; Deltec do not recommend going above 11 in the tank, and say a higher figure means the reactor is running too long. Aim for 420 to 440 mg/l of calcium and adjust run time, drip rate and bubble count to get there. Deltec also warn that phosphate should be kept down while a calcium reactor is running, because the added CO₂ can encourage nuisance algae.

pH monitoring. Unlike the rest of the range, the PF509 has no pH probe port. If you want to watch the pH, D-D suggest running the effluent into a small vessel holding the probe and letting that vessel overflow back into the sump.

Maintenance. Clean the reactor out every three to four months. Deltec recommend fitting the micro-filter (part number 64056) to the inlet water control valve to stop dirt from the aquarium blocking it; without one, flush the tap through with fresh water every two weeks. The recirculation pump runs in fine abrasive media, so treat the impeller bearing as a low-cost consumable rather than a fault when it eventually wears.

What you still need. Beyond the reactor itself you need a bubble counter, a non-return valve, a solenoid and a two-stage regulator with gauges, plus the CO₂ cylinder. Deltec ask that every joint be leak-tested by brushing it with soapy water and watching for bubbles.

Media. Deltec’s own sources do not agree on whether media ships with the reactor: the US listing our specification comes from does not mention media at all, while D-D’s UK listing for the PF509 says in one line that it comes supplied with 2 kg of Rowalith C+ and in the next that it includes 2.5 kg of Hy-Carb. Message us before you order if you need media supplied with it, and we will tell you what is in the carton we hold.

Freshness & Storage

Every batch we dispatch carries a minimum of 6 months’ remaining shelf life. Store this product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap or inner foil closed tightly after each use.

Filter media and substrates carry no manufacturing or expiry date: their working life begins on first contact with water, not on the shelf.

Backorder & Dispatch Timeline

This item is stocked to order. Back-orders are consolidated and placed with our overseas suppliers once a month, on the last day of the month, and all such orders are shipped before the 15th of the following month.

Back-orders cannot be cancelled once they have been placed with the supplier. If you cancel before that, payment-gateway charges of 2% plus GST are deducted and the balance refunded. In the rare case a supplier cannot fulfil the item, we will offer you an alternative first, and refund in full with no deduction if you would rather not take it.

Warranty & Support

This product is covered by warranty as per the manufacturer policy, against material and manufacturing defects from the date of purchase.

Warranty support is handled by us directly. Message our WhatsApp support with your order number and we will diagnose the fault first. Most cases are solved by replacing a single part, so you rarely need to send the whole unit. If the item does need to come back, it ships to our Delhi or Pune warehouse, whichever one served your order, and courier cost in both directions is borne by the customer. Your GST invoice is valid proof of purchase for the claim.

Returns & Replacement

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Manufacturer-sealed items cannot be returned once the seal is broken, and sale-priced items are not refundable.

If your item arrives defective or damaged, message us on WhatsApp with your order number, or email us if you would rather, and we will replace it. Approved replacements are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Transit damage is covered by insurance on every shipment. If tracking shows delivered but nothing reached you, tell us within 48 hours, which is the reporting window Indian couriers allow. Damage caused during installation or use is not covered; replacement spares for such cases are chargeable.

Full terms are on our Cancellation & Returns page.