Decadence
New member
Agreed... I have a reef fanatics PH controller keeping the carbondoser in check and then my reef keeper will shut down the whole system if the tank's PH gets too low.
Anyone still use a Ca Reactor?
- Thread starter Capt_Cully
- Start date
Agreed... I have a reef fanatics PH controller keeping the carbondoser in check and then my reef keeper will shut down the whole system if the tank's PH gets too low.
Piper27
I love bengals
I pulled mine for dosers and my 210 gallon tank didn't do to well. I am about to make my own since I didn't have good luck with geos 618 and the little pump that they put on it.
A question... What is the best controller? I need a stand alone co2 controller. I need to get this new this time around. Everything I bought used, broke and also became discontinued. I am also getting a carbon doser electronic co2 regulator, but is there any other good ones out there? Seems like the aquarium plants one is discontinued.
A question... What is the best controller? I need a stand alone co2 controller. I need to get this new this time around. Everything I bought used, broke and also became discontinued. I am also getting a carbon doser electronic co2 regulator, but is there any other good ones out there? Seems like the aquarium plants one is discontinued.
They still have it on their site, did they tell you it was discontinued?
http://www.aquariumplants.com/CarbonDoser_Electronic_Co2_Regulator_p/co2.htm
MarcWeaver
New member
I just ordered one last week. It will be here Monday. I'm excited to get it because my Milwaukee regulator has been giving me problems lately.
tdb320reef
Active member
.
.
I use the Carbon Doser no problems for about a year and half. I also use Apex Lab grade probe to measure reactor PH and adjust the Cabon Doser to the correct dial. I have a pretty steady stream to keep the tank alk at 8. Using a reactor does lower the Tanks PH but I Use a Kalk stirrer with ATO that keeps PH 8 -8.3 Also Controlled with Apex.
I do three part on my 150G frag system and it does work but I don't think it is easier by all means but does keep the PH Stable in absence of kalk stirrer and c02 on that separate system.
.
I use the Carbon Doser no problems for about a year and half. I also use Apex Lab grade probe to measure reactor PH and adjust the Cabon Doser to the correct dial. I have a pretty steady stream to keep the tank alk at 8. Using a reactor does lower the Tanks PH but I Use a Kalk stirrer with ATO that keeps PH 8 -8.3 Also Controlled with Apex.
I do three part on my 150G frag system and it does work but I don't think it is easier by all means but does keep the PH Stable in absence of kalk stirrer and c02 on that separate system.
Just curious, but what makes you feel better about the impurities in calcium chloride and mag chloride? Are you more sure about the filler in these products? Have you ever seen a list of the what else in in mag/ca chloride? It seems like the impurities in either are OK for our tanks, but what makes you more happy about one over the other?
Nothing makes me happier about them but at least there is a list ;whether it's accurate or not is unknown. Of course I've seen it; I study things as carefully as I can before deciding to use them or not use them.
However, it's worth noting the calcium chloride isn't exposed to acidic conditions which could cause some bound impurities to dissolve or break organic bonds as argonite media is during it's application. The potential for free heavy metals depending on the unknown contents of the media are worrisome to me whether via aragonite media or calcium chloride or salt mix . I think the later two have less potential to add free metals ,particulary salt mixes with added organic ligands.
I use lime water from a still reservoir;I like it's self purifying qualities. I also used very small tweaks of calcium chloride;none in the last 6 months. There are hundreds of growing sps in the system, alk is constant 8.5 to 9.5 dkh, calcium 500+ btw.
However, it's worth noting the calcium chloride isn't exposed to acidic conditions which could cause some bound impurities to dissolve or break organic bonds as argonite media is during it's application. The potential for free heavy metals depending on the unknown contents of the media are worrisome to me whether via aragonite media or calcium chloride or salt mix . I think the later two have less potential to add free metals ,particulary salt mixes with added organic ligands.
I use lime water from a still reservoir;I like it's self purifying qualities. I also used very small tweaks of calcium chloride;none in the last 6 months. There are hundreds of growing sps in the system, alk is constant 8.5 to 9.5 dkh, calcium 500+ btw.
tdb320reef
Active member
I am removing the two part on my frag system and putting in this bad boy. No doubt 2 part works but I absolutely hate making it.
Currently I am running Kalk, and CARX on my 320 Gallon I am going to also run two part on it and see what all three of them do lol.
Currently I am running Kalk, and CARX on my 320 Gallon I am going to also run two part on it and see what all three of them do lol.
shih87
New member
I turn from Ca reactor to GHL dosing pump 2 years ago (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2308288), same as 2012 summer when I visited four famous LA fish stores (Vivid, Reef Raft USA, Age of Aquarium, Amazing Aquarium and Reefs), except Reef Raft, they all changed to dosing pump, and Reef Raft told me they plan to change (but I can't double check it). The reason of using GHL dosing pump is that I can't guarantee when I have a business trip ( up to four weeks), that I can trust my reactor work exactly the way I expected without any risk, even I was using a great Schuran JS1. On the other hand, GHL dosing give me quite accurate and consistent KH, Ca, Mg that reactor can never give me for a month long without a finger touch it.
However, I definitely will use reactor if I have a 200+ gallon tank and less traveling.
However, I definitely will use reactor if I have a 200+ gallon tank and less traveling.
Last edited:
tdb320reef
Active member
I turn from Ca reactor to GHL dosing pump 2 years ago (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2308288), same as 2012 summer when I visited four famous LA fish stores (Vivid, Reef Raft USA, Age of Aquarium, Amazing Aquarium and Reefs), except Reef Raft, they all changed to dosing pump, and Reef Raft told me they plan to change (but I can't double check it). The reason of using GHL dosing pump is that I can't guarantee when I have a business trip ( up to four weeks), that I can trust my reactor work exactly the way I expected without any risk, even I was using a great Schuran JS1. On the other hand, GHL dosing give me quite accurate and consistent KH, Ca, Mg that reactor can never give me for a month long without a finger touch it.
However, I definitely will use reactor if I have a 200+ gallon tank and less traveling.
Wow that is an incredible dosing system!
mc-cro
(macro)
yeah, I dont get how that is more stable than your reactor, you have 12 different mechanical drives. but, in the end you have to go with what works for you, and that you trust.
I travel every week as well. and thats why I love my CaRx. I never worry about it. It will go months and months and months without any intervention from me. My ALK is always rock solid stable wherever I set it. Although, I have been using the same reactor set up for over 10yrs, so I know it pretty well by now. (which is the same setup 320 reef just showed, except I use a ColeParmer peristalic feed pump)
I travel every week as well. and thats why I love my CaRx. I never worry about it. It will go months and months and months without any intervention from me. My ALK is always rock solid stable wherever I set it. Although, I have been using the same reactor set up for over 10yrs, so I know it pretty well by now. (which is the same setup 320 reef just showed, except I use a ColeParmer peristalic feed pump)
I use both.
The doser is purely for NoPox and Reef Energy A and B though, as I always forget to add them.
psykobowler
New member
Just get a dual chamber ca Rx and be done with it. The extra chamber allows me to add dolomite and mix multiple brands of ca Rx media. The ca Rx partnered with the kalk reactor is a great combination. You don't have to be picky with salt and can use instant ocean without thinking about trace elements.
shih87
New member
I have no doubt that many reefers very success by using Ca reactor, it must be mine owe specific request. However, if anyone can guarantee they don't need to touch his reactor for months (which easy to do that by dosing system), then I like to learn. All I l heard it is you need just simple maintenance and monitoring by using Ca reactor, but guarantee zero touch for months is not guarantee, especial a CO2 container is required.
I like to learn.
Dosing NOPOX with peristaltic is fine, but Reef Energy A and B? They are organic compounds and get bad at room temperature (Red Sea states that they must be kept refrigerated once opened). How do you do it in the sump?
I really doubt that you don't need to take care of your dosing system for months, unless you have a very small tank, or just a few corals, or HUGE cans for the two part liquids. Before setting up my calcium reactor and kalk reactor system I was dosing close to 100 ml a day to maintain calcium in my 120 g tank. That means that I would have needed 3 l cans for a single month. An that was when I had much less corals than today.
