? about calcium reactor

[stuccodude]

i had a ? about a reactor that you or somone else could answer. if i was to run one and i do my usual waterchange would i have to adjust the reactor cause im replacing alot of calcium with the new water and my schedule always changes so my water changes are not set times. thanks

 

[stuccodude]

???

 

[stuccodude]

is this a valid question or am i in the dark on this one.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

valid question but :
only YOU can answer your own question. It will require performing routine tests of your system's calcium and alkalinity.
Why?
Because everyone's aquarium depletes Ca and alkalinity at different rates.
The rate of depletion in any given system depends on how fast animals utilize Ca, your waterchange schedule and the saltmix you choose to use. (Some saltmixes are low in Ca and you may actually end up lowering Ca levels with a water change!)

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

more reading:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/index.php

 

[jtma508]

Gary pretty much sized it up. Depending upon your tanks uptake of Ca. Mg and Alk, the frequency and volume of water changes and the salt mix you use it will be different. What you need to do is to determine your tank's uptake rate. Then, right after a water change, test for Ca/Mg/Alk and adjust to normal (knowing your reactor will keep the levels there). Then test periodically in between changes to be sure your reactor is correctly dialed-in. This are always changing. Your reactor will drift. Your tanks uptake will change, etc. You just need to log stuff and stay on it.

 

[stuccodude]

gotcha, thanks.