Did you see a HUGE improvement when you switched from 2-part to a Ca reactor?

I have a 240 gallon reef tank.And I just shut my reactor down.It's healthier,because the CO 2 is the house.And it's cheaper to run Randy's 2 part vs media,and CO2 bottle being filled.With a dosing system,it's automated.Add a few other additives,and I'm good to go.Another plus,is more cabinet space,less equipment.Don't have to worry about CO2 overdose to the system.End up getting the same results.Again this is just my opinion here.Some like the reactors,but can be a pain.If you go away,and there is a problem,you can't expect a friend to dial it in for you.
 
I didn't take the time to read all the post but I'm sure it was mentioned. The big thing I found about switching was not having to test every other day..Once you get the reactor dial in, or at leasts for me, I found I don't have to test Ca and alk very much...Maybe once on month if that. I test more like once every 3 months.
 
GunMoto,
I'm thinking about using a very similar setup on a small tank, but I'm curious how do you dose the exact same amount of both cal/alk through the pump or have you added water to one part to compensate for say more alk being needed than calcium?

I belive a 2 channel dosing pump will only dose equal amounts of each fluid, but I really have no clue on them. It seems like a cheap alternative,and should be just as stable. I belive the unit you have will dose as little a .3ml/hour....
 
I belive a 2 channel dosing pump will only dose equal amounts of each fluid
Click to expand...

That's what you want. All 2 part additives are formulated to be "balanced" and therefore added in equal amounts. You can always make a manual addition of one part if you need to make a correction in either calcium or alkalinity. Once you make the correction they should stay balanced.
 
Dosing pumps are desirable for the two part additives because they deliver them slowly and on a regular schedule.
It's my experience that the (equal) two part dosing method is the least likely method to keep Ca and alk in balance (even with a dosing pump), thus requiring the most monitoring with test kits.
 
I disagree with the "balanced" theory. It all depends on your tank. I have a bb 180 and I drip kalk 24/7. I am adding CaCl and do not need to add any alkalinity - very small demand for that part. It doesn't matter how much CaCl I add, the demand will never balance out....
 
Probably your in balance is due to the salt you are using.I'm on my second bucket of Tropic Marin Pro- Reef.Right out of the bucket Cal is at 480.Alk is 9,salt 1.026.I do water changes every 2 weeks,32 gallons.I dosing Kalk water for my make up.With the kalk is added,my Cal stays rock solid at 480.And this is over a 2 week period.Never have to add Mag runs 1300/1350.I only add as for the 2 parts is Alk.I've run these tests over and over during this 2 week period.And tests are always the same.Have over 60 acro's with clams,and Elegance coral.Which this monster has a huge skelton to it.For some reason my systems stays fairly stable.And it has to be the Tropic Marin salt.And yes I'm bare bottom also.A lot of folks don't like the cost of this salt $$$$But for the readings I'm getting,can't complain.I don't even have to add Turbo Cal,there is no need for it.But if you are using IO yes you probably will be always fighting Cal levels.Again this is the way my system is running.
 
Yes, using IO - I am low on Ca and Mg. With all the horror stories out there - I am sticking with IO (and adding Ca, Mg). Keep us posted on the Tropic Marine...very interesting.
 
As for different salt brands in use today.It can happen to any of these companys.A bad batch will turn up.
Also there is another new salt now,by Seachem that's hit the market.Waiting for the test on that salt.Could be a little cheaper,being T M comes from Germany.So time will tell on the new Seachem salt.As for test results vs costs.
 
when i started using my reactor, and still dripped kalk, i had a boom of halimeda algae growing out of rocks that were 3 years old....not that i want halimeda
 
I disagree with the "balanced" theory........I am adding CaCl and do not need to add any alkalinity..
Click to expand...

Form here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
The vast majority of alkalinity depletion in most tanks also comes about by the precipitation of calcium carbonate, as described above. In this process, as alkalinity is depleted by 1 meq/L, calcium will be depleted by 20 ppm.
Click to expand...

If alk is consumed as corals use calcium in a defined ratio (1 meq/l alk to every 20 ppm calcium) why would it matter if your tank is BB? I can understand why it would use less (no precipitation in sand bed, etc), but the calcium demand would drop proportionately wouldn't it ?
 
I use a B-ionic doser to dose randys 2 part. You can dose more of one or the other with it. Runs off an air pump, Ajustable in ml. Once you dial it in it no worries. I test about once or twice a month and its pretty darn stable and cheap.
 
david8956 said:


If alk is consumed as corals use calcium in a defined ratio (1 meq/l alk to every 20 ppm calcium) why would it matter if your tank is BB? I can understand why it would use less (no precipitation in sand bed, etc), but the calcium demand would drop proportionately wouldn't it ?
Click to expand...

Apparently, the acids produced within the sandbed consume carbonate (alkalinity) as well. I am sure Bomber, weatherman, and the other BB folks would looooove to tell you more about this ;)
 
I am leaning toward a 2 channel dosing pump to dose Randy's 2-part at this point.

It seems there is no real benefit to spending the extra $$$ for a Ca reactor? I also won't have to worry about increased CO2, possible PO4 leaching from media, and all the extra equipment.
 
shelburn61 said:
Apparently, the acids produced within the sandbed consume carbonate (alkalinity) as well. I am sure Bomber, weatherman, and the other BB folks would looooove to tell you more about this ;)
Click to expand...

Hereââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s an old thread describing a lot of the acid-producing chemical reactions, which may take place in a sand bed.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52872

As noted by Randy, these reactions provide an explanation as to why people see their sand dissolve (and then, when the acid is neutralized, re-solidify into blocks of sandstone).


When I shifted from kalk to a calcium reactor, it wasnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t because of calcium depletion; it was because of alkalinity depletion. I never dosed CaCl, but I was always adding carbonate and bicarbonate salts. I suppose, if I had continued to use the reactor, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d have seen my calcium level slowly rise, although, since my new natural seawater had a calcium level of around 370 ppm, and I tried to maintain a calcium level of around 420 ppm in my tank, some of the calcium would have been removed through water changes.
 
I am leaning toward a 2 channel dosing pump to dose Randy's 2-part at this point.


Have you looked into good dosing pumps yet. I'm leaning towards the same idea. Wondering if you have any suggestions for the dosing pump.

I want it to dose Randy's 2-part at a minimum (obviously). Possibly dose a kalk solution as well. And somtimes I even hear people use these to do water changes as well, although I dont exactly understand how. So is there a different pump you need to do all of these things.
 
ESV has a dosing system.Also heard good reviews as of now Tunze has one also.Might want to look into either one of these.Not sure on the price.But it gives you something to go on.
 
As far as I know Tunze only has the osmolator for auto top-off and kalk addition.

Can anyone compare the ESV dosing pumps to the Spectrapure LiterMeter III, Innovative Aquatics Sentry-5 (reefdosingpumps.com), and Aqua Medic dosing systems.

I'd to compare how many things can be dosed, how many pumps are needed to achieve this, cost, etc with each.

shelburn61- if I am hijacking your thread, I apologize. let me know and I will start up a new thread (which I should probably do anyway).
 
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