calcium reactors vs manual dosing?

[plancton]

Hi, I´m currently manual dosing my reef with seachem products, I feed seachem advanced calcium twice a week as well as seachem reef builder twice a week. This keeps my calcium levels at 450 mg/l and alk at 9 dkh.

In another thread most people told me that if calcium consumption is not high then a calc reactor is not that necessary and manual dosing is the way to go.

However I visited a guy´s reef today, it was an awesome reef and he told me that calcium reactor are important because they keep the levels steady and so that promotes growth and better coloration.

How true is that?, I mean my calc consumption is not high and twice a week addition of each supplement keeps my levels fine but if it really makes a huge difference in coloration and growth by having a calc reactor then I would consider buying one. What do you think?

 

[rgrobe]

I love my CA reactor. It has maintained my levels with little attention by me. It has saved me alot of time by not dosing regularly. It has also saved me money. After the initial investment, although high, the savings in not buying Kalk, two part , etc, has more than paid for it.

 

[BigJay]

The issue at hand isn't calcium reactor versus dosing. Both methods work just fine.

The issue is automated dosing, that way calcium and alkalinity is added slowly over a longer period of time to more closely match the rate the compounds are used. PH, alkalinity, and calcium remain more or less constant and the corals appreciate it.

Summary: You can use a couple of peristalic pumps and a timer to automate dosing of liquid two part supplements and get the same results as the guy with a calcium reactor. You'll also enjoy the hobby more long-term since it takes less of your time to maintain.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I feed seachem advanced calcium twice a week as well as seachem reef builder twice a week. This keeps my calcium levels at 450 mg/l and alk at 9 dkh.

How low does your alkalinity get before the next addition?

 

[plancton]

But does adding the same dose slowly really really makes a difference in growth and coloration?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14745438#post14745438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
The issue at hand isn't calcium reactor versus dosing. Both methods work just fine.

The issue is automated dosing, that way calcium and alkalinity is added slowly over a longer period of time to more closely match the rate the compounds are used. PH, alkalinity, and calcium remain more or less constant and the corals appreciate it.

Summary: You can use a couple of peristalic pumps and a timer to automate dosing of liquid two part supplements and get the same results as the guy with a calcium reactor. You'll also enjoy the hobby more long-term since it takes less of your time to maintain.

 

[power boat jim]

Growth and coloration are also a product of lighting, placement and flow, though important water chemistry is only part of the equation.

 

[Ken Good]

I dose, but it is automated with pumps and timers. Once it is tuned in it is forget about it simple. I replace my 1 gallon bottles once every two weeks and that is it.

Ken

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14746470#post14746470 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plancton
But does adding the same dose slowly really really makes a difference in growth and coloration?

Keeping stable water chemistry is one of the many factors for success as already stated by this guy here.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14746805#post14746805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by power boat jim
Growth and coloration are also a product of lighting, placement and flow, though important water chemistry is only part of the equation.

With manual or staggered dosing, calcium and alk drop to levels that are suboptimal for your corals to calcify. Those elements aren't replaced until you manually dose again. When you do finally dose, the solution will alter the PH (usually raise it considerably) while replenishing the lost calcium and alkalinity.

A good automated dosing system (2 part or calcium reactor) that makes little changes at a time will maintain a steady alk/calcium level without altering the PH of the water much. Your corals will always have the optimal amount of calcifying chemicals available at all times.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But does adding the same dose slowly really really makes a difference in growth and coloration?

Growth more than coloration, IMO. It obviously depends on how much you let it change. The reason for my question was to asses how unstable your alkalinity is with twice weekly dosing. Calcium is not a concern as it will be quite stable, but your alkalinity could be dropping to levels that are stressful or growth limiting (say, 6 dKH). Or if it only drops to 8 dKH, then there is no concern at all.

 

[plancton]

it only drops from 9 to 8 dkh, so I guess there is no concern right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Right, there is no concern and dosing twice a week is fine then.