Calcium Reactors -vs- Two Part Dosing

[elecbzerk]

Hello all! I am seriously considering adding a calcium reactor to my 125G Reef. I am having good results dosing two part, but with a busy life I sometimes forget to dose. My thought process is I could improve my tank's stability and routine with the addition of a calcium reactor. So, my hope is that reactor owner's will post the benefits or not of investing in this piece of equipment.

 

[sjm817]

Are you using ATO? If so, are you using Kalk?

 

[elecbzerk]

No, not using an ATO. I top off manually.

 

[jim.l]

If the cost isn't a problem and you are adding enough to keep up with tank requirements, keep dosing 2 part and get a peristaltic pump an a timer; then you can't forget. That's easiest in the long run, the chemicals cost a lot more than crushed coral for a reactor though. For me the long term cost caused me to go with the calcium reactor.

 

[Logzor]

For the cost of a high end calcium reactor you could buy a litermeter III. I find these to be extremely reliable. It is very much a set it and forget it piece of equipment, unlike a calcium reactor which probably needs more monitoring.

Cost wise...I bought a bucket of hardness plus from the pool store. It cost me around 60 bucks but it is enough to make around 100 gallons of calcium. For another 60 I could buy the baking soda and have enough two part to last me years.

 

[sjm817]

I would start with an ATO using Kalk if it would fit into your system. This would eliminate the manual topoff work and also add the ca/alk in the process. Sometimes kalk topoff can meet all the ca/alk demands of the tank, sometimes it can not.

What is your total system volume?
How much do you topoff per day?
How much of what type of 2 part do you add per day?

 

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Jim! I meant to add my version of your comments to my initial post. Purchasing my latest round of two part got me to thinking that buying two part would eventually pass the cost of the reactor. Are you happy with the results your reactor has produced? Any better or worse than the two part dosing?

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15031009#post15031009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
I would start with an ATO using Kalk if it would fit into your system. This would eliminate the manual topoff work and also add the ca/alk in the process. Sometimes kalk topoff can meet all the ca/alk demands of the tank, sometimes it can not.

What is your total system volume?
How much do you topoff per day?
How much of what type of 2 part do you add per day?

I usually top off 1/2 gal a day. My tank is 125G, total volume is roughly 160-170G with the sump/fuge. I usually add 33ML of B-IONIC each day

 

[sjm817]

You are close. You mean 33ML of each part, right? To get the equivilent of 33ML of B-Ionic, you would need ~ .6G of limewater/day in a 170G system.

 

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Scott! Your right, 33ML of each part.

 

[sjm817]

This is a good article. Take a look and see it it helps.

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

 

[BigJay]

Add an ATO now. Topping off your tank every day is going to get really old a year from now. It's a good way to get burned out on the hobby. Your tank's salinity will be more stable this way, since small amounts of RO/DI water are added all day as the evaportaion happens. You could also add lime to your ATO, but I wouldn't do that right off until you have it setup and working flawlessly for a few weeks.

If limewater isn't your thing, then automate your dosing some other way. Either buy dosing pumps ( LiterMeter brand is the best) to automate your two part dosing, or buy a calcium reactor. Both methods work perfectly fine, just automate it so that you only have to mess with it once every couple of weeks.

If you don't automate this stuff, you'll start to resent the chores, the tank, and the hobby as a whole. Trust me.

 

[solitude127]

Not to steal your thread, but what about reliability.... Do people have issues or problems with a calcium reactor?

 

[elecbzerk]

Thanks BigJay! I know your right about the tasks of this hobby burning you out. I have three tanks, at one point it was four, soon to be one at home and one in my office. Anyway, of all the tasks, topping off doesn't really bother me. I had already decided to add an ATO, they are not to expensive either. appreciate the advice!

 

[sjm817]

If you add an ATO, you are 99% there to add limewater. You need to select your ATO components to be limewater friendly. You need a ATO that is sensitive so that it only adds a small amount many times per day, and a pump that will deliver it without being prematurely damaged.

 

[sjm817]

Another thing to consider is PH. I struggle to keep my PH up. I'd have a huge problem with that if I wasn't using limewater ATO. The additional 2 part I add also helps boost it.

 

[BigJay]

I agree with Scott here, I would pick up one of the setups from autotopoff.com. Get a Tom's aqualifter pump and it will add the kalk slowly.

You can also add additional safety to limewater topoff by hooking it up to an aquarium controller (reefkeeper, aquacontroller) and shut off the ATO pump if your PH is too high.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15031699#post15031699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
If you add an ATO, you are 99% there to add limewater. You need to select your ATO components to be limewater friendly. You need a ATO that is sensitive so that it only adds a small amount many times per day, and a pump that will deliver it without being prematurely damaged.

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15031733#post15031733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Another thing to consider is PH. I struggle to keep my PH up. I'd have a huge problem with that if I wasn't using limewater ATO. The additional 2 part I add also helps boost it.

I use a calcium reactor, if not for the kalk topoff my PH in my tank would consistently be 7.8 due to excess CO2. With the kalk, it usually sits at 7.9 at night and 8.2 during the day.

 

[DaveG99]

I like dripping my kalk rather than putting it in the top off. That stuff can make a pump and switches pretty nasty in a hurry.

 

[sjm817]

Not if you use the right equipment. A $12 Aqualifter will pump Kalk for years without a blink. I've been using the same float switches for 6 years, same Aqualifter for 4 years pumping ~ 3G/day.