Is it worth while? Calcium Reactor...

[gooyferret]

Im debating in a couple months to possibly get a calcium reactor....but is it worth it and what ones are recommended?? Im just cycling my 125gal reef tank with 40gal breeder tank for sump and will be buying corals in the next couple months or so. I will be getting alot of frags at first, and couple reg. sized corals. In the tank i wanna run SPS, LPS and Softies. In the sump i will be putting a refuge and possibly make the middle a *** area.

What do you think? And what calc reactors are good and bad? Any experience or recommendations would be great.....Is it worth the money?

TIA

 

[dan223]

Im going with a reefdoser and 2 part. The timer and pumps are one nice package and all you do is mix more 2 part every month or 2. you can buy enought chemicals to last a few years for like $40. I just paid $220 for the doser $18 for 50 pounds of calcium $15 for 40 of MG and arm n hammer is cheap. no co2 bottles, regulator,selenoid,no ph controller, and less screwing around setting it up and adjusting for me. less $ I think the reactors are crazy priced just like the skimmers for basically a plastic tube. But Im sure many lover their reactors, and playing with them, Im just trying to keep my system as simple as possible.

 

[RokleM]

Actually, when it boils down to it, a calcium reactor is as simple as it gets maintenance wise If you look at the price of acrylic and what all goes into some of the reactors, the cost involved in building them is quickly seen.

If in the 125 you plan to have a good chunk of SPS (looks like a mix), I would recommend getting a calcium reactor sooner rather than later. For the meantime until your calk/alk depletion gets heavier, you can easily dose kalk or two part.

It's all personal preference. I ran kalk, then had to add two/three part. At a certain point, I was mixing two part every couple of weeks, having to dose multiple times a day to avoid too drastic of swings, and it was just a pain. That being said, dosing pumps have come a long way in just the last year or two (but seems kind of silly spending that much money on them). I moved to a calcium reactor instead with kalk supplementation at night (pH offset). I haven't regretted it for a second, and touch my calcium reactor may once every few months.

 

[kendo]

when can you add a calcium reactor, in the very begining when you set up your reef or should you wait till the demand is high.

 

[RokleM]

In the beginning if demand is low enough, water changes alone might maintain your levels. Every system is a little different, so you kind of have to gauge accordingly. The best bet is to monitor the levels for a while, and see how rapidly alk/calc are depleted.

 

[gooyferret]

Well thanks for the advice guys anyone else have any opinions?

RokleM what calc reactor do you have? And what is the average expense to get one?

thanks

 

[RokleM]

GEO 618. Cost depends on how you implement it (no controller, standalone pH, integration into a current all tank controller, etc). I'd recommend searching the calcium reactor threads and look at the setups/feedback.

 

[rbnice1]

I decided to wait on my 90 with a 15 frag tank set-up.

I use a kalk stirrer but still have to dose almost a tablespoon of baked bakingsoda a day.

Calc stays ok, just alk drops so I am gunna be upgrading to a reactor soon.

I have small frags but even those with the coraline tax my system.

If you have the money just do it. If your short on cash you can prob. wait a while before you'll really need it.

 

[dan223]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14910916#post14910916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RokleM
That being said, dosing pumps have come a long way in just the last year or two (but seems kind of silly spending that much money on them).

How is a couple hundred on a doser silly when the cheapest cal reactor is 300+. Either way its a personal preference. Ive seen more than a few posts lately of people changing over from reactors to automated 2 part dosing, with a doser you can set it to dose as many times through out the day as you want so there isnt large swings. If you dose 180 ml of 2 part a day 1 gallon will last 3 weeks, mix 2 and you dont have to touch it for a month and a half and thats at 180 ml a day, pretty heavy for an average tank. Either way its a personal preference.

 

[bogg]

My ca rxtr was one of the best things I've done for my reef. I dosed b ionic for about 4-5 years daily with daily testing. Now I test maybe once a week and always get the same result. Get a ca. rxtr. imo. on my 130 g sps reef I use an aqua euro 400.

 

[gooyferret]

If I was to get one do you really need the ph controller and all the upgrades for one? Obviously its alot cheaper without them but in the long haul better to have them? Or once its set is there really any need for much adjustment?

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14916870#post14916870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gooyferret
If I was to get one do you really need the ph controller and all the upgrades for one? Obviously its alot cheaper without them but in the long haul better to have them? Or once its set is there really any need for much adjustment?

PH controller is a good safety device to have installed. It will prevent the PH from falling too low in the reactor. A low PH will melt too much media, and add too much calcium and alkalinity to the tank.

 

[Rysam]

A calcium reactor was one of the best things i have done for my tank, I built my own from ABS and an old coralife skimmer. It was 350$ total including the pump,media,milwaukee regulator and ph monitor from ebay. its not super pimpy looking like a geo, but it works just fine. dont let the cost deter you, it can be done for a bit cheaper if you have some skills. If not, pay the $$ because the geo is the shiznit.

 

[gooyferret]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14918829#post14918829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rysam
A calcium reactor was one of the best things i have done for my tank, I built my own from ABS and an old coralife skimmer. It was 350$ total including the pump,media,milwaukee regulator and ph monitor from ebay. its not super pimpy looking like a geo, but it works just fine. dont let the cost deter you, it can be done for a bit cheaper if you have some skills. If not, pay the $$ because the geo is the shiznit.

Do you have plans for the DIY skimmer then? I would really like to see some pictures and how you put that together.....thanks

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14916314#post14916314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dan223
How is a couple hundred on a doser silly when the cheapest cal reactor is 300+. Either way its a personal preference. Ive seen more than a few posts lately of people changing over from reactors to automated 2 part dosing, with a doser you can set it to dose as many times through out the day as you want so there isnt large swings. If you dose 180 ml of 2 part a day 1 gallon will last 3 weeks, mix 2 and you dont have to touch it for a month and a half and thats at 180 ml a day, pretty heavy for an average tank. Either way its a personal preference.

I don't see the point in spending that much money to partially automate a solution when I can just almost outright automate the solution. But again as I said in the post, things have changed since I ran that way, and it's all personal preference.

 

[gooyferret]

Rokle, I tend to agree with you on that, that is why im considering a calc reactor to begin with is so i can enjoy the tank that much more! I guess you could have the same problems with doser in maintaining exact levels as you could with the calc reactor.

But what is the best way to run your calc reactor in sump or externally and are most able to run externally?

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14919151#post14919151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gooyferret

But what is the best way to run your calc reactor in sump or externally and are most able to run externally?

I run my reactor external personally, because it leaves more room in the sump for other things (water, rock, critters, macro, etc).

The downside is that if it ever leaks then it will hit the floor. I think most people run external, and cases of this happening are extremely rare.

 

[gooyferret]

So what do most people use for the supply pump to the reactor?

 

[netboy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14921172#post14921172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gooyferret
So what do most people use for the supply pump to the reactor?

I use aqualifter for the past 3 years.

 

[Rysam]

i feed it with the return pump.