CA Reactor vs Home Made 2 Part

david8956

New member
Assuming proper calcium and alk levels can be maintained by daily dosing of your 2 (3) part, is there any advantage to switching to a calcium reactor? In other words, are there any trace elements or such the media in a CA reactor would release that would be beneficial to Acros?

From your articles I read where the media could / would release magnesium (not needed if the 3rd part of your receipe is used), strontium (not needed with regular water changes if I'm not mistaken), phosphate (bad!), and copper (worse!)

Just asking because some people swear their sps started growing faster after switching from a 2 part to a CA reactor, but I just don't understand why that would make a difference.

Thanks for your help on this.
 
The differences that impact growth would most likely relate to calcium, alkalinity, and pH, but in general, I do not know of a chemical advantage of a CaCO3/CO2 reactor over a well made two part system. That said, the composition of the commercial two part recipes is largely unknown, and some may actually be far more suitable than others (same as CaCO3/CO2 reactor media).

I do not think my improved recipe is any less desirable, from a chemical perspective, than a CaCO3/CO2 reactor, and it may do a better job of maintaining magnesium.

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
 
Thanks for the reply.

Already using your updated 2 part, and just like the previous receipe, couldn't be happier.

Thanks again.
 
I have noticed very good growth rate since I started dosing the two part using a dosing unit.My sps are gwrowing faster now and have grown more in the last few months since I got the doser than in the last year.I am very happy.I never thought it would be this easy to do.I have always had problems in the past because of lack of knowledge and bad advice.I have to say my reef doser was one of my best investments and Randys formula saved me a ton of money.I was at the point of buying a reactor till I said its safer and better to use randys two part with a doser.You can't go wrong
 
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