Calcium Reactor vs 2-Part in a 200g+ SPS tank
- Thread starter gcarroll
- Start date
That's what I am experiencing with the CA reactor... maybe because the ALK is already high on my saltwater mix ? (Reef Crystals)
I can achieve 400 ppm calcium, but I am also getting dKH of 11.2 to 11.5! I have seen it get as high as 12, which makes me nervous.
That's why I am considering two part dosing, because I'm already adding BRS MG - I might as well be dosing all the necessary additives, especially if I can essentially automate it with the Apex controller... :beachbum:
LL
sfsuphysics
Active member
Now if there was just a reliable calcium and alkalinity probe you could have (at reasonable prices too 
) so that you can regulate the dosing on a daily basis that would rock... although I'm pretty sure no controller out there has programming that advanced to make that work in a useful fashion (i.e. if CA between 300 & 330 then dose 20 minutes... or whatever).
) so that you can regulate the dosing on a daily basis that would rock... although I'm pretty sure no controller out there has programming that advanced to make that work in a useful fashion (i.e. if CA between 300 & 330 then dose 20 minutes... or whatever).
dan223
Custom User Title
what is "chloline"? I think your misinformed
Henry Bowman
Reefing since '87
Somewhere, when I was managing my CaRx, before I went to dosing, there was an article that stated a CaRx was more aptly described as an alkalinity reactor with Ca as a by product. This statement made a great deal of sense to me. I experienced nearly the same issue as stated above. I got pretty good at managing my Geo Reactor but the depressed tank pH is what made me go to 2 part dosing.
My tank volume is not over 130 gallons. Daily dosing is on the order of 70 ml of alk and 40 ml of ca. HOWEVER, few issues with managing a reeftank have been more pleasantly suprising than moving from a CaRx to dosing. I'm running a ULNS where my alk needs to stay at near NSW levels (7-7.25 dKH). I am able to adjust alk and ca levels independently when needed and the levels stay rock solid :celeb2:
Henry Bowman
Reefing since '87
s2k,
It will take some tweaking to get the dosing correct. For my tank (and some others that I am aware of) the Ca dosage is about 55-60% of the alk.
As for the alk. make sure it stays pretty steady. fluctuations in the alk are stressful on corals (and fish too...)
When I started dosing I tested the alk and Ca every other day for about 2 weeks until I obtained stability in my system.
It will take some tweaking to get the dosing correct. For my tank (and some others that I am aware of) the Ca dosage is about 55-60% of the alk.
As for the alk. make sure it stays pretty steady. fluctuations in the alk are stressful on corals (and fish too...)
When I started dosing I tested the alk and Ca every other day for about 2 weeks until I obtained stability in my system.
gcarroll
Active member
This is turing into a very informative thread.
Little update for me. I have reduced my dosing from 1500ml to 1000ml as I have now got the alk up to 9. Hopefully that will be enough. Hoping to maintain it there. Everything is still going really well and the coral polyp extension is good even during the day. Mag is up at 1500 but that is fine with me as I typically keep it high.
Little update for me. I have reduced my dosing from 1500ml to 1000ml as I have now got the alk up to 9. Hopefully that will be enough. Hoping to maintain it there. Everything is still going really well and the coral polyp extension is good even during the day. Mag is up at 1500 but that is fine with me as I typically keep it high.
I have a feeling my disparity between Alk and Ca may be partially related to pump calibration and or molar concentration of my Ca source. Should be able to tighten it up with a couple of tweaks.
dmorel - Yours could be along these lines also.
For those dosing large quantities, who is your preferred source for bulk CaCl? I have been using BRS for a few months now, but I acquired a 5g container of the SmartReef Ca+ and will probably give that a try when the pail of BRS is gone. For Alk I am just buying the large 907g containers of Arm & Hammer at the local supermarket.
dmorel - Yours could be along these lines also.
For those dosing large quantities, who is your preferred source for bulk CaCl? I have been using BRS for a few months now, but I acquired a 5g container of the SmartReef Ca+ and will probably give that a try when the pail of BRS is gone. For Alk I am just buying the large 907g containers of Arm & Hammer at the local supermarket.
s2k
Active member
I am using the BRS two part and it seems like I should be using more Ca than Alk. Ca is pretty stable while Alk is more affected by dosing. I lowered the Alk dosing, hopefully that would put me in line.
I want to know which brand you guys are using and perhaps why you think you are using more Alk than Ca.
I want to know which brand you guys are using and perhaps why you think you are using more Alk than Ca.
I am using BRS as well, and right now
I am dosing pretty much equal amounts with calcium being a bit higher(using the instructions they gave for mixing), inequality may be due to inaccuracies in potency when mixing solutions.
400gal SPS dominated reef. (1 year old), below amounts keeping my alk around 8dkh, and calcium around 400ppm.
Alk 21 ml x 24 times = 504 ml (per day)
Cal 22 ml x 24 times = 528 ml (per day)
I am dosing pretty much equal amounts with calcium being a bit higher(using the instructions they gave for mixing), inequality may be due to inaccuracies in potency when mixing solutions.
400gal SPS dominated reef. (1 year old), below amounts keeping my alk around 8dkh, and calcium around 400ppm.
Alk 21 ml x 24 times = 504 ml (per day)
Cal 22 ml x 24 times = 528 ml (per day)
dmorel
Can I borrow your towel
I'm using BRS too and the 1.1ML per minute dosers, which are actually about 1ML each for me. It does seem like the pumps could just be a tiny bit off and perhaps that's what I'm seeing. I also wonder about the potency of each mix, I mixed up four gallons of each at a time, but not messing with the solution at all, wonder if I need to put some motion in there, but don't think that's required.
PowermanKW
New member
So let me ask...I want to run 2 part as long as possible. I never thought you could do what you guys are doing with these large SPS tanks.
So.... what about stability? For those that went back to 2 part, how is it more stable than Rxs. What is it about reactors that are PITAs?
I went to 2 part. Never got my dosing right.... way over shot.... got it back in line.... my alk pump started acting up... getting that taken care of.... so what is the key to stability using two part? I'm still waiting for the set and forget part.
So.... what about stability? For those that went back to 2 part, how is it more stable than Rxs. What is it about reactors that are PITAs?
I went to 2 part. Never got my dosing right.... way over shot.... got it back in line.... my alk pump started acting up... getting that taken care of.... so what is the key to stability using two part? I'm still waiting for the set and forget part.
PowermanKW
New member
I see. I'm just using Drew's and a AC Jr. to dose Alk all night. I just dose Ca once in the morning. Does it matter to strech Ca out over a longer time. I'm only dosing like 50 ml a day.
Henry Bowman
Reefing since '87
For me, it was a real challenge when it was time to change the media in the reactor or the C02. I had a Geo Reactor and an expensive solenoid etc...
It is much easier (for me) to get the dosing down, know what my tank's consumption is and dose. When I started dosing, it took about 2 weeks of daily or every other day testing. Now I know EXACTLY what my tank's alk can Ca consumption is. If anything starts to get out of line, it is an easy math calculation to fix. With a Rx, when things start to get out of whack or when dialing in, there is quite a bit more work involved.
Additionally, I did not like the way the reactor affected the pH.
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