CA Reactor or Two Part Dosing?

[Lightsluvr]

I posted this in the lighting and filtration forum, but it quickly sank out of sight...

I have a 350G DT in a 500+ gallon system. I am currently using a Calcium Reactor which maintains CA around 400-420 and ALK at 10.6-11.0 dKH. In addition, I manually dose MG with Randy's formula. I am weighing whether I want to change over to 2-part dosing.

I have been looking at the BRS dosing pumps and preparing my own Calcium Chloride and Baking Soda solutions... I have been thinking that by carefully measuring demand, I would have more control of the desired parameters... Actually I would be doing three part dosing, as I would supplement MG as well.

Any suggestions? Pros and cons of each? Is there anyone who has made the switch from reactor to dosing in a large system? Recommendations?

LL

 

[Leonardo_]

I went from a Schuran Jetstream II to full balling on a 180 G system.

The advantages I noticed are the control you have over your parameters. After determine the initial dosing it's easy to maintain your parameters. If you desire a slightly higher KH for instance, just boost it manually and it will stay on that level. You don't deal with changing effluent rates, clogging lines etc. When the dosingpumps are working, your parameters are spot on.
The next advantage I like is the fail-safe setup. With a CA-reactor more things can go wrong then with a simple (3x) dosing pump.
Another advantage is that no more phosphates, leaching out of the Ca-reactor media, are added to your tank.
And the last one, pH is easier to keep up, especially at night.

The only disadvantage I can think of is the effort of mixing new jerrycans once in a while.

Like you can see above, I'm very happy with the Balling (2-part) method, instead of a CA-reactor. But maybe some will disagree with me

Leonardo

 

[Phildean]

I like my CA-reactor, but you have to dial it in and yes you have to watch your lines for clogging, 2 part is great long as you like to mix alot and they clog too

 

[Leonardo_]

A lot more info about Two part (also in large tanks) can be found here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1722692

Leonardo

 

[Reefer Brian]

I personally like the CA reactor. I have dosed in the passed and it was nothing but a PITA. I manually dosed. Now that I have a reactor, its much easier. Its basically maint free and maintains the CA and ALK on its own. I would never go back to two part dosing again. My tank enjoys the reactor solution over the dosing also. JMO....