for a system your size it would be more cost effective to have a calcium reactor. Initially the start up is more expensive but over the cost of running the tank it will recoup. Either method is an effective way to deliver calcium to a system.
The reactor works 24/7 once you have it set up properly. It can go a couple months with no attention at all. I have done both and I find the reactor a far better choice.
Absolutely +1
CaRx if you do it right. Get a continuous dosing pump like a masterflex for controlling the effluent and get the aquarium plant C02 regulator. It's a headache with effluent rate and C02 rate if you don't spend some dough on these two pieces of equipment.
The Aquarium Plants CO2 doser is really nice. Love it.
I have never really had an issue controlling my effluent with a Mag drive for many years.
Masterflex continuous dosing pump does sound nice though.
I ran a reactor, and dosing on my 500g setup. I prefer the dosing. Less things to fail,
If you were running both at the same time then yes I can see where you had plenty of things to fail.
There are plenty of things that can fail with either method. Plenty of my fellow reefers have FAILED with their dosers. (Usually due to user error I'll admit.)
I've had to replace the impeller in the Ehiem 1048 that circulates my CA RX once after 7 years.
I wish half the equipment on my Reef Tank was that reliable.
Save on electricity to spend a lot more on two part?
Is this to somehow say that your SPS tank is more "Green"?
and you always have a manual option when needed.
How would you
not have the option to manually dose your tank when needed, whether or not you decide to run a CA RX?
Adjusting is VERY easy and once it's setup you change it rarely/often as any other setup depending on your tank. My current system I believe went 8 months without any adjusting needed. (on dosers),
Same here with a CA RX.
when thank needed more I simply raised the dosing amount a couple of ml a day and it's back to humming along.
And with a CA RX you simply raise the bubble rate a couple and it's back to humming along.
I do as well. That is why I prefer a CA RX.
I agree adjusting a doser is a breeze!
Adjusting a CA RX is not exacly rocket science.
My pumps are 30 or so year old peristaltic pumps for low pressure column chromatography that can be adjusted from anywhere 0.6-500mL an hour. They are the most reliable pumps I have ever used as attested by there age.
Those are definitely the ones to have if you are going to go that route IMO.
They are not cheap but they are reliable.
..I love calcium reactors but on my current setup space is limited.
By the time you add up the space taken up by those fancy dosing pumps plus the reservoirs of CA and Alk does it really save that much room?
I have both on my 260 sps tank. The reactor is set low to offset the 2 part doser a little. It seems to keep the PH a little higher in the tank compared to running the reactor for the full load and I also still have the pinpoint accuracy of the doser.
This is a great way to go if your CA RX is too small to fully supply your system demands. That way you don't run your CO2 amount so high that your PH level is suppressed in your tank.
I don't know about that. The electric cost of a reactor is rather high unless you are running it down draft (and depending where you live). In Cali our bills our tiered so the more you use the higher your rate goes up.
So to save $20 - $25 a year in electricity costs, I should spend $200 more on two part mix?
Sorry but that math doesn't work for me.
Maybe for a nano tank but the OP was asking about a 300g SPS.
How exactly would my electricity costs change depending whether my CA RX is up-draft or down-draft ?
You can also get 2 part even cheaper then BRS if you go to pool supply stores. There are some threads floating around about which brands are safe.
Sure you could probably buy it by the pallet somewhere cheap. It would have to be
A LOT cheeper than BRS to make it worth your while.
