Kalk or Calcium reactor?

[bobbbm]

What is best to use? I know Kalk is much cheaper to run correct? Right now I dose with Kent Reef Complete and my levels have stayed ok but as the corals grow I am sure there is going to be more of a need.


I will not have an auto top off system till I move everything to the basement. Can I add Kalk manually or does it have to be dripped?





Thanks

 

[dominga]

It is safer when you use a drip pump, or an ATO system. Kalk can increase the PH really fast and you must be careful when adding manually. As you have stated the calcium demand by corals growth will be greater every day. I can recommend what many people use in their tanks succesfully, and that is Kalk along with a calcium reactor. The calcium reactor will deliver the amount need it by your corals, and Kalk will help you to keep alkalinity.
To do this you need a PH controller as well. Looking at the equipment will be a good amount of money that you need to spend, but in the long run is worth it.
You can use a different route using the two part additive, and you can find that in the sponsors link; although you maybe need a dripping system, either home made or automatic like peristaltic pumps.

 

[Spracklcat]

Bob--I use kalk, and I don't drip either. Every night (if I remember) I mix a small amount of Kalk with a cup of tank water, mix until it looks like milk (a few seconds) and dump it right in in an area of high flow. It's just fine. Easy.

 

[cb747]

Ive used both and prefer the Kalk route. I actually removed the calcium reactor from the tank. I use a dosing pump but if i didnt have that id do Christines method.

 

[bobbbm]

Ok so where do i find this stuff?

 

[fio1022]

http://www.twopartsolution.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

 

[Reef Junkie]

Kalk works great, but if you forget to add or replenish the drip, your animals will suffer.

I use kalk and drip it in from a 30 gallon container. I mix the kalk in the container and drip it in at about 1.5 drops per second. As the weather warms up, I'll have to increase that number to keep up with evaporation.

A calcium reactor is just great, but very expensive. They need to be tweaked every so often, but for the most part run pretty smooth. Plus, my experience has shown me that a calcium reactor will raise and maintain alk more consistently then kalk.
Probably because Kalk needs to be stirred and refreshed more often and my human behavior makes me lazy and forgetful...

You still need to replenish fresh water, so a kalk drip kills two birds. I wouldn't do a kalk drip with a calcium reactor, though.

So one or the other. Or like fio just mentioned, a two part solution.

BTW, 2 part solutions are by far the most expensive route to take. You'll see that as your animals demand more calcium.

 

[fio1022]

Twopartsolution.com sell kalk cheap.i got tired of trying to find it locally
I use kalk as well,I have two 30g containers set up with diy auto top off.Works great.very little intervention other than mixing a batch once a month.

 

[sleezyp1]

Bob, A 5 gallon kent aquadoser with a aqua lifter on a timer to run at night. If you run it at night it will stabilize your Ph. You can adjust the drip to as slow as 1 drip every few seconds or to a full stream. No need to shell out the cash for a peristalic doseing pump. That said If money was not an issue, they have doesing pumps that have light sensors when the tank lights go off the pump comes on. It would also pump it from the basement to your tank. also adjustable to how slow or fast you need. Both systems work great. It demends on your pokets.
sorry for rambling. Joe