Calcium Reactor vs 2-Part in a 200g+ SPS tank

[OrrG]

I've been using a Litermeter for almost a month now and am loving it. Using 120ml a day on my 90. It's real easy to set up, just enter in the amount to be dosed and it divides that by 150 and doses a small amount about every 10 minutes. My levels have been perfect since setting it up.

 

[Reefer08]

Why does everyone that doses two part dose a lot more alkalinity than calcium? Don't corals eat up equal portions of alk/calcium?

 

[schminksbro]

I am running just below 200 gallons total volume. My tank is SPS dominated. I run a GEO 618 calcium reactor controlled by a Pinpoint Ph controller and topoff with Kalk. My Ph fluctuates from 8.2 at night to 8.3 during the day. My alk is rock solid. I never fidgit with my reactor except to refill it or refill CO2 about twice a year each. I used to hand dose 2 part and I didn't like the instability but I wasn't automated. I have no intentions of going back to 2 part. Just a hint to those with low Ph while using cal reactors. Simply drip your effluent into a small cup of reactor media or crushed coral and let it overflow into your sump.

 

[Leonardo_]

Why does everyone that doses two part dose a lot more alkalinity than calcium? Don't corals eat up equal portions of alk/calcium?

I also experience a buildup of Calcium when dosing an equal amount of Ca and ALK. Maybe some of the ALK (carbon containing ion) is used for bacterial processes? That's the only thing I can think of.

Leonardo

 

[reefsahoy]

why do they call it 2 part when you are mixing alk, mg, and ca? are they not added seperately or are two of the three mixed together? i'm looking into using "2 part" but not sure how to calculate how much to use and need it to be automated and would use the 3 pump aqua doser. any comments on that doser? how long does it take to get the dosing correct? how often do you have to adjust your dosing?

 

[obiwanthegoby]

I am running my effluent into an old sea chem calcium container that I punched a small hole in the bottom of. Still have PH issues......

 

[obiwanthegoby]

The old 1kg container is full of reborn media...

 

[skippyreef]

I am currently running equal parts of the alk and calcium. HAs anyone added potassium to their Calcium part BTW? Sort of like balling light.

 

[obiwanthegoby]

so anyone doing the full balling method? trying to get a handle on exactly what it is. Anyone have a good link? Im gathering that balling light is much like 2 part with potassium?

 

[pusanpa]

The Balling Method | How does it differ from Two Part?
http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-balling-method-how-does-it-differ-from-two-part/

 

[pusanpa]

I 've hear that you need to do regular water change like every other week to prevent
chloline build up it your tank. I think it becomes toxin when there is too much chloline in the aquarium.

 

[skippyreef]

I have been reading up on it and you do need to do water changes and keep an eye on Salinity. Most people I have discussed it with say they skim wet anyway and replace with RO on top off so they do not see the flux.

 

[dmorel]

I also experience a buildup of Calcium when dosing an equal amount of Ca and ALK. Maybe some of the ALK (carbon containing ion) is used for bacterial processes? That's the only thing I can think of.

Leonardo

Curious, I've had to adjust to be slightly unbalanced in my dosing in the opposite direction, I have to dose a tad more calcium than ALK or my ALK will climb while Calc stays steady. Thought maybe it was deficient MG, but my test shows me in 1400 range with MG.

 

[Leonardo_]

The Balling Method | How does it differ from Two Part?
http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-balling-method-how-does-it-differ-from-two-part/

Almost the same, but Balling also incorporate Magnesium dosing and the automatic dosing of trace-elements.

Leonardo

 

[gcarroll]

Why do they separate the magnesium. Is there an advantage to doing this?

 

[i-b-reef-n]

300 gallon tank - 2 part doser - personally not comfortable w/oxygen tanks

 

[Henry Bowman]

Why do they separate the magnesium. Is there an advantage to doing this?

My inderstanding is that the Mg will precipitate out of solution if mixed with either the alk or Ca supplement. Therefore it is dosed separately.

 

[Reefer08]

My inderstanding is that the Mg will precipitate out of solution if mixed with either the alk or Ca supplement. Therefore it is dosed separately.

+1 I agree. I read on my Magnesium bottle not to dose alkalinity or calcium supplements at the same time while dosing Magnesium, it said to wait 12 hours preferably.


But isn't the same thing go for Calcium and alkalinity? Not to dose both at the same time? And to wait a while after dosing alkalinity before dosing calcium?

 

[Mako]

I have been on two part with my new 300 since it's incarnation last December. Working out pretty well so far. I am up to around 600ml a day and use LM3, and remotes, for all dosing. Salinity creep is an issue to keep up with as I end up pulling 2 to 3 gallons a week right now to keep it steady. Just ordered some NaCl free salt from GetTanked as I want to automate this chore. I dose Mg manually about once a month.

At this juncture I am not 100% sure about staying on this modified balling venture, but I wanted to give it a try and see how it goes. Have my Ca and Kalk reactors standing by and ready to take over if I ever decide to make the switch. Have had lots of success on smaller systems with two part so it only made sense to give it a go on a big one.

 

[greennd79]

so a quick ? if i dose 2 part with a litermeter 3 do i still need to buy i more pump to dose the alk and cal?