Dosing - besides Ca and Alk, what do you guys dose

[cediss]

It is simply the amazing amount of bad information that happens in this section. A CaRx supplies ca and alk in the correct ratio needed for coral growth. Allsps40, have you ever used a CaRx or even seen one? Saying that a reactor is not able to keep us with the alk demand only shows that you are clueless as to their operation and function. They do not keep up with mg demand but ca and alk are easy for them to do. Trying to educate people on devices that you do not understand is not very helpful, and i know you try to be helpful. Mag has to be dosed and you can add a mag component but it is dependent on very low ph to work, and many still have to dose mag as needed.

Kali works well as long as the ability to dose enough is met, some of us cannot rely on it, not enough evap to work. I dose mag occasionally and at times calcium and alk a couple of times a year as needed. I also dose a little vinegar when the bio pellets are offline.

I agree. Most statements are well intended, but unfortunately some are ignorant to all the facts, or over state their knowledge as absolute fact.
Each method has advantages and limitations. IMHE, kalk can work well with high evaporation rates and even then you have to make sure you watch that the pH doesn't go up to high too fast. So I suggest the ATO also be connected to a controller for pH meter cutoff point. Most of the TOTM that use CArx say that they helped them keep up over demands that other methods couldn't do alone.

 

[honkit]

Really it all depends on the setup and what the system demands. Making a statement like kalk alone cant keep up with the demands of a sps system is false because it has been done time and time again. Calcium reactors are not a good method of dosing alk but they will keep ca and mg levels solid and once setup and dialed in are worry free.
Kalk, 2 part and Ca Rx are all very good methods of maintaining ca and/or alk levels. Use what you like and works for you best.

Do note that I have stated kalk alone may not be sufficient for the needs of larger systems and/or heavily stocked SPS tanks.

What is your basis in stating that calcium reactors cannot supply adequate alk levels? Have you used a calcium reactor before? To me, this is a false statement.

 

[scolley]

Folks, IMO you may be well intentioned, but are OT. The OP asked about what people dose, but this has degenerated into a discussion of the merits of Ca RX vs. other methods of dosing the same chemicals.

I - for one - am subscribed in hopes of hearing more/different answers to OP, not hearing a debate that should be in its own thread.

 

[scolley]

Folks, IMO you may be well intentioned, but are OT. The OP asked about what people dose, but this has degenerated into a discussion of the merits of Ca RX vs. other methods of dosing the same chemicals.

I - for one - am subscribed in hopes of hearing more/different answers to OP, not hearing a debate that should be in its own thread.

 

[sirreal63]

You are right Steve, correcting an idiotic statement is way off topic but leaving it uncorrected would be a travesty, though many of the respondents did say what they dosed.

 

[scolley]

Thanks. And sorry about the double post. Tricky TouchPad...

 

[bmhilger]

arguing false or true statements whichever they may be seems valid, but too go as far as to throw demeaning words in ur rebuttle seems rude and disrespectfull...

 

[Piper27]

Yes thank you guys for correcting that statement, even the Kalk talk is about ca and alk so that is off topic too.

I don't really dose anything, the calcium reactor keeps my mag stable with zeomag and strontium is stable too. I don't really think there is a necessity to dose anything else. I am looking to see what people have to say (on topic at least).

 

[allsps40]

A Ca Rx will maintain mag levels if you run the correct media. The way a CA Rx works is by using Co2 in water to desolve the ARM media there by releasing the Ca in the media. Yes small amounts of Alk are released as well but it is not a 100% method of maintaining Alk levels.
Ok back OT. I Only dose kalk and somethings Mag, AA's and Lugols thats it.

 

[honkit]

A Ca Rx will maintain mag levels if you run the correct media. The way a CA Rx works is by using Co2 in water to desolve the ARM media there by releasing the Ca in the media. Yes small amounts of Alk are released as well but it is not a 100% method of maintaining Alk levels.
Ok back OT. I Only dose kalk and somethings Mag, AA's and Lugols thats it.

I would like to know on what basis do you state that a calcium reactor is insufficient in maintaining alkalinity levels.

 

[sirreal63]

Unbelievable, I know you are a noob, but I had actually given you credit for being brighter than this.

http://reef.diesyst.com/crarticle/crarticle.htm
"It is important to notice that the name “calcium reactor” may give the impression that adding calcium is its main function but as I mentioned earlier it also adds alkalinity and it does it in a “balanced” way which means to add an amount of calcium and an amount of alkalinity in the same proportion that they are consumed by the corals. This ratio is approximately 20 ppm of Calcium for every meq/lt (2.8 dKh) of alkalinity."

Maybe it would better if you suggested that a CaRx does not supply the correct alk in the Chemistry Forum. If you won't take the words of people who have been using this method worldwide, for a very long time, maybe you would listen to Randy.

 

[Pallobi]

Yea, pretty hard to argue with Randy, lol... The man is a wealth of knowledge...

 

[psykobowler]

Calcium reactors should really be called alkalinity reactors. The name is so misleading for the most part. It gives proper 1:1 ratio of ca and alk when the media is brand new. If you use the media long term without replacing it, not all of the media dissolves and you end up pumping more alk in the system than calcium when the media is exhausted. The co2 adds carbonate in the system.

Using Kalkwasser alone tend to raise calcium in the long run not alk. Anyone who advice to use kalk to raise alk is misinformed. if you just use kalk you would find you have to dose baking soda to raise the alk. You need co2 in the water to interact with that OH in Kalkwasser to form carbonate alkalinity. The tank in question my not have excess co2. That is why both ca rx and kalk reactor complement each other. One gives off excess co2 and lowers ph. The other takes the excess co2 to form carbonate and increases the ph.

It is interesting though when you read noob give wrong or misguided advice. It reminds us that we all make mistakes and that no one is perfect in this hobby.

I use both ca rx and kalk reactor in my system. Dosing amino acids and 7:1 ratio of mgcl and mgso4 to raise the mag when necessary.

Cheers!

 

[REEF SMAC]

Randy's Mg recipe and occasionally Strontium.

Thanks sirreal63, for keeping it real. :facepalm:

 

[Noypi]

just ca reactor and zeomag

 

[jsousa]

Magnesium. All BRS products including the pumps.