Calcium,Alk.,and Mag. Replacement

[reefrubble]

What do you use to do calcium,Alk.,and Mag Replacement. In large SPS tanks does anyone dose ,and not use a calcium reactor.

 

[vdubfiend]

dripping kalk aLL THE TIME it seems like... and supplementing with warner marine two part calcium/alk supp
i have a 135 with a few sps and clams

 

[reefrubble]

Thanks vdubfiend, I'm thinking about going with the two part.

 

[menard]

Calcium Reactor all the way. Makes my life easier. replace the media every 6 mo. , refil my Co2 every 8 mo. in my 300 gal. Thats convenience.

 

[reefrubble]

menard, what is your ph running? Ted

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7977896#post7977896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble
menard, what is your ph running? Ted

7.9 night , 8.2 day time.
Reactor at 6.5,runing 24/7

 

[dvanacker]

I started using a aquamedic doser for DIY 2 part after using a calcium reactor for a while....I think I like the doser and DIY 2 part better.

 

[dvanacker]

cheaper start up costs too....dont know why more people arent doing it this way. Maybe its only because the DIY 2 part hasnt been out that long...it drops the cost on the 2 part a lot.

 

[reefrubble]

dvanacker, I know what you mean. I'm having problems with my ph with my calcium reactor. I went with the calcium reactor ,because the two part (ESV) was costing me an arm,and a leg to keep up. Now that the DIY two part is out ,and dosing pumps ,where you don't have to dose by hand every day. I'm thinking about kicking my calcium reactor out the door. My wife ,and I would like to take a vacation once in a while. Ted

 

[clkwrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7977881#post7977881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by menard
Calcium Reactor all the way. Makes my life easier. replace the media every 6 mo. , refil my Co2 every 8 mo. in my 300 gal. Thats convenience.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7977916#post7977916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by menard
7.9 night , 8.2 day time.
Reactor at 6.5,runing 24/7

Same here although my system is smaller

 

[Biscutz]

Ted,

I know we touched on this the other day, but all I use is the 2 part with a dosing machine. I've been doing this for quite some time now with very positive results. As far as magnesium levels, frequent water changes seem to keep that in check.

Ian

 

[whirley]

I use a Kalkwasser Reactor. Pretty simple DIY. All I have to do is unscrew the top of the reactor, add some kalk, screw back on and I'm good for 2 -2 1/2 weeks...

Simple and cheap. DIY Reactor out of PVC, $15. Kalk...from Mrs. Wages @ grocery store...$5.

:bum:

 

[clkwrk]

I stopped using Mrs. Wages becuase of impurity issues.

I always have Calcium chloride dihydrate, Magnesium chroide hexahydrate and of course baking soda for ALK on hand if my reator goes down or I need to bump up my salt mixes before water changes.

 

[IndyReefMan]

When I got up to dosing almost 200ml/day of each component of B-ionic, I decided that it was time to consider a Ca reactor. Even at that dosing I was barely able to keep alk above 7.5 dKH. I bought the Ca reactor and have never looked back. The only issue I have had with it was a slight increase in Po4. Directing the effluent thru the refugium first has taken care of that.

 

[antonsemrad]

Clkwrk, could you describe the Ms. Wages issues a bit more.

I got my first reactor about 6 months ago... I hate the thing.

Wish I has went 2 part. Any one want to buy it?

 

[reefrubble]

Thanks Ian, I would like to talk to you more about the subject. Ted

 

[reefrubble]

Whirley, I'm thinking about going back to dosing,and doing away with the calcium reactor. Thanks for the input. Ted

 

[reefrubble]

IndyReefMan,With the calcium reactor,I can't keep my ph out of the basement.

 

[reefrubble]

clkwrk, I would like to hear more about the issues with Mrs. Wages also. Ted

 

[clkwrk]

There were a few threads and I believe an article on it .

My experience was that I had way too much undissolved . Which is a sign of impurities and things that won't dissolve. Also when using mrs wages I had po4 that was coming in from somewhere and couldn't find it until I tested my wages mix . It was high and ever since then I have not used the wages . The other kalk like the two little fishes and warner marine tested very low for p04.

I will try to dig up the thread where a few of us tested the wages for po4