Kalk or Calcium reactor?

[Prince916]

I add kalk to my top off system and it keeps up with my calcium needs. Calcium is about 410-430ppm. My question is; if i add a calcium reactor, wouldnt everything still be the same? (Calcium and growth of sps wise.) What is a big plus about calcium reactor?

 

[turretdr]

Calcium reactors, oddly enough, do a better job of maintaining Alk than Ca. But if you can keep up with a kalk reactor for now, there is no need for a Ca reactor, yet.

 

[gws76]

I have to agree with turretdr. If you're doing well with just kalk, then that may be the way to go, for you. I run a calcium reactor and kalk. I use the kalk to offset the effect on my pH from the calcium reactor. So if you run a calcium reactor it may be "calcium reactor and kalk" instead of "calcium reactor or kalk". That isn't always the case though.

 

[Tswifty]

Your tank's demand will eventually exceed what Kalkwasser alone can provide. After that you will need to add some type of 2-part dosing regiment in combination with the kalk, or switch to/add a Ca reactor.

A lot of people use both Kalk & Ca reactors, as Kalk will give a nice little pH boost to the tank... and has other benefits as well.

Also, a reactor is certainly not needed for Kalk. A still reservoir works just fine.

 

[Prince916]

So eventually i will need a calcium reactor if i dont want to dose 2parts?

 

[gws76]

IMO That would depend on your tank size. If you have a nano, two part would probably be the cheaper solution. But, if you have a monster tank, a calcium reactor will probably be in your future. As Tswifty stated, as your stony corals grow they will require more calcium.

Smallest tank I've ran a calcium reactor on was an 80 gal. It worked great, just alot of pH dips due to the Co2. That is why I dripped kalk.

 

[xJake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842216#post14842216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xJake
I just balance calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium using Randy's DIY recipe. Then I replace all of my evaporated water with saturated kalkwasser (lime water, calcium hydroxide, etc.). Kalkwasser adds calcium and alkalinity in balanced proportions, and the levels on my lab's 175-gallon system rarely fluctuate. Kalkwasser also has the added benefit of precipitating out undesirable molecules such as phosphate (PO4), as well as most heavy metals; however, this also can become an issue (in terms of magnesium levels).

The only problem with using kalkwasser so heavily is that you must monitor your magnesium levels quite frequently. Your magnesium level can easily be corrected as well using Randy's DIY magnesium supplement. Magnesium doesn't become an issue on my system until at least a month of regular kalkwasser use (after initial correction). Magnesium (if you didn't know already) plays an important role in how much dissolved calcium carbonate can be maintained in the water at any one time. If your magnesium level is not where it should be (1350-1500ppm), then many times you will run into issues with heavily fluctuating calcium and alkalinity levels (or very low levels).

So, to answer your question, NO, you don't need a calcium reactor to keep SPS. In fact, it can be easier and cheaper without one. Calcium reactors simply provide a bit more insurance that calcium and carbonate (alkalinity) molecules are being constantly maintained within the water column.

It really depends on how your system is set up. I would hazard a guess that many people could run their SPS systems without calcium reactors, but having one just means one less thing to worry about dosing. In cases of extremely high coral biomass and low water volume, then a calcium reactor may be essential; however, most of the time this is not the case.

Kalkwasser is an extremely inexpensive method for adding calcium and alkalinity. I would suggest trying kalkwasser first, and then purchasing/building a calcium reactor if necessary.

 

[Prince916]

Well i have a 90g tank sps dominated but all of my sps is about 1-2" size frags. Lets say i do get a calcium reactor, could i just add kalk to my reservoir to help with the ph or i have to get a kalk reactor?

 

[gws76]

I personally do not run a kalk reactor. I just use it in my top off water fed by the ATO. Between the calcium reactor and kalk/top off water, my system stays balanced. The only issue I've found doing it this way, is I have to keep an eye on my mag. But dosing mag is easier for me than dosing alk, and calcium. So to answer your last question, the answer is no you do not need a kalk reactor.

 

[Michael]

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[Michael]

. i dont think reactors are required for most systems, kalk dosed via a top off is usually enough for most of us