calcium reactor vs dosing

[tmz]

Well here it is a third. If you setup a ca reactor....don't have faulty equipment....and it doesn't work....THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE USER.

If you drive your car to work every day and there isn't anything wrong with the car, or other drivers, but for some reason you keep running into things and denting your car....there isn't anything wrong with the car...it's the DRIVER.

I don't know what's not to understand about my statements. I'm NOT calling anybody a moron, stupid, or dumb.

If someone starts a Kalk reactor...forgets to plug it in...and the DHK of their tank drops...not a problem with the equipment, it's the user.

If someone buys two-part containers, dosing pumps, and timers. Gets everything running and can't figure out cal or alk demand and overdoses, it's not a problem with the method, it's the user.

I hope that clears up my statements. I'm not claiming Ca reactors are the best. Perhaps its coming off to you in some kind of tone....I don't know. I like all three methods....and cheesburgers.

Glad you cleared that up. AT least several folks were offended by your original comment, You can say it 3 times or a hundred times ; it still attacks users who have difficulty with CACO3 reactors or otherwise choose not to use them as having something wrong with them. Don't know how else someone could take it. Anyway , you've said you didn't mean it that way so enough on that.

 

[tmz]

And all these semantics don't really prove a thing after all. Put your money where your mouth is. Let's see those full tank shots along with your arguments about which way is better. Just to make it interesting.

The link noted in post #50 takes you to a discusison on limewater driven tanks with lot's of pictures including my tanks which FWIW
are here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2092232

and here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2174523&highlight=puddle+pictures


There is no clear cut one method is better than the other,any more than the price of as skimmer makes it work better. Folks make choices. My purpose is to keep it peaceful and thoughful, so information can be layed out to help folks including me make informed choices. All 3 methods and /or combinations of them are widely accepted.
Looking at tank shots may be fun though.

I also have a preference and have stated it and the reasons for it.

 

[tmz]

This has never been a huge concern of mine. Should it be?
The amount of Phosphate dissolving out of some aragonite seems negligible overall.

Depends on the media but probably not a major issue compared to the phosphorous coming in with food.


Please do point out some of those essays. I would like to read more info on that myself.

That's part of my reluctance to use my reactor again. The assays aren't available, At least I haven't found any. I like to know what I'm putting into the tank. I can know that better with limewater given it's purfying action and with gener ic two part. I do know corals put whatever they don't use or don't like in their bones probably not at levels lethal to the original owner but I have no idea how quickly it may dissolve into the water or accumulate harmfully ,particularly whether free metals might be an issue or not. Probably not given the successes folks have with reactors but a concern of mine; perhaps an overly cautious one. I used mine for several years and had periodic coral issues over long periods of time ; none since I stopped using it . Just coincidence perhaps but I'm personaly going to hold off even as a make up device behind limewater. Since I use just a little two part ,it's easy enough that way for me.


I will check that out thanks.

If you'd like to compare some more nots on limewater feel free.

 

[Piper27]

Thankyou

To be fair both a calcium reactor and limewater dosing are limited by ph effects. Too much low ph calcium ractor effluent at one time will drive ph below 7.7 and skeletal mass will begin to dissolve. Many use limewater to supplement CACO3 reactor output and to balance out some of the ph drop.

I am wondering what it looks like when the skeletal mass starts to dissolve or if you can actually see it. I have a few pieces that look a little funny and am wondering if this is my issue?

 

[lockrookie]

tonight i plugged in the calcium reactor.. it has a bit of a leak i will tend to later just a drip really.. my calcium was at 320 before startup so in 24 hours i will check and see where its at.. i did it at the slowest rate to start for fear of overdose and will adjust as needed. hopefully it works and i can grow me some sps.. thank you all again for your help and insight. it helped a bunch teh reactor pump is a bit noisy but i may do a maxyjet mod later on anyways

 

[tmc1313]

tonight i plugged in the calcium reactor.. it has a bit of a leak i will tend to later just a drip really.. my calcium was at 320 before startup so in 24 hours i will check and see where its at.. i did it at the slowest rate to start for fear of overdose and will adjust as needed. hopefully it works and i can grow me some sps.. thank you all again for your help and insight. it helped a bunch teh reactor pump is a bit noisy but i may do a maxyjet mod later on anyways

FYI, The calcium reactor isn't meant to raise your levels, only to maintain. So, first get your calcium and alkalinity up manually to the levels you want them to be. Then start dialing in your reactor, by checking your levels to see if they are remaining stable. It may take a while to dial in, but once dialed in it should be smooth sailing for you. GL

 

[chessmanmark]

If the reactor is still leaking put a bead of vasoline where you think it is coming from and then screw the lid on tight. The vasoline should stop the leak if it's not a major problem with the reactor.

 

[lockrookie]

If the reactor is still leaking put a bead of vasoline where you think it is coming from and then screw the lid on tight. The vasoline should stop the leak if it's not a major problem with the reactor.

the seal on the pump is weak .. i wrapped it with teflon tape re attached at 4 am last night . ad its now dry as a bone..good to go.. but thank you for the hint i will remember that one

 

[marinelife]

For me I believe on small tanks Dosing works great but on a large tank the costs is just to much.
I have been running a CA Reactor for years. Once set I never worry about it. I have an electric bubble counter that helped make it even more stable than before.

 

[psykobowler]

Unless nacl free salt is used, two part dosing requires more significant water changes to remove the excess nacl from the system and prevent the salinity creep. It becomes impractical to do large water changes on big systems compared to small nano tanks. Reef crystals is not cheap. That is why calcium reactors work well with large systems and honestly the upkeep is also simpler for me. I do not even control my bubble count. I control my effluent rate by having a valve on the outflow. I also use a second carx so to have 2 chambers to use up theco2 and prevent low ph. I've seen some TOTM with more than 7 hoses on their profilux dosers. Nobody can tell me that is simpler and cheaper than a carx. Aside from buying salt and the three part additive, reefers would tweak their system with whatever trace elements they are missing. Also, reefers would likely have purchased testing kits to monitor their dosage on those elements. That is not cheap. Phosphate is not an issue with carx because most large tanks have refugium with chaeto to absorb phosphates and also have gfo reactor and possibly carbon dosing. I use korallith media by knop and it works just fine. If I am still running my 40 breeder I would do 2 part but I am running a 700+ system so ca rx is more cost effective and appropriate. Thank you.

 

[jerpa]

I don't mean to argue but when your salinity rises you replace saltwater with RO/DI. That stuff is cheap. 2 part imparts trace elements as well. As a matter of fact so does food. If you choose to test for them it's expensive whether your using 2 part or a calcium reactor. All setups require testing of the major elements so that's a wash. And while I acknowledge there are dosing setups that MAY cost more than a quality calcium reactor I could also set up a simple and effective one for much less. Phosphates may not be an issue for you but it is a concern for some, although I agree it probaby shouldn't be.

 

[lockrookie]

my only issue ive had ths far with the rectoris the power whent out and it syphoned water out of the reactor not sure why i have to test this one night to fix this issue

 

[MindReign]

As I stated earlier, once I switched to a reactor I couldn't be happier. I have used both methods now and just prefer a reactor. When I was using 2-part I never made up big batches like others, so for me it was kind of a pain. I was dosing via pumps, but made a costly error one time (my fault). My 2-part containers were above my sump and one of my dosing heads popped off and siphoned all of my part B into the tank (good thing I didn't make big batches). This is what it looks like (lesson learned) not pretty:

Anyway, as others have suggested if you go the reactor route, choose a good regulator (I suggest AP regulator), it works flawlessy and I also suggest a pH controller, but not absolutely necessary. Good luck with whatever you choose, you really cant' go wrong either way. This is the set up I went with and am currently using:

Hey TMC, I'm a new user and can't PM you, but was curious where you got those components that show in that picture? Models/links would be great.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sellmecorals]

Can those who have had success and experience with ca rx share some recommendations for good bubble counter and solenoid and other important equipment?

 

[CommsTech]

Dosing pump all the way. I dose randys recipe and my SPS are loving it. super stable. On my old system I had a CA reactor and I really didn't like it. The bubble rate would always drift and I was forever trying to get it right. Dosing pump has been the best thing I ever got.