?? on dosing calc

[wetone]

I have been dosing Kalk via my evaporation topoff system for years.....as my tank and numbe rof SPS grows, I find myself adding turbo Kalk often to up the total calcium levels.
I recently seen the thread about the 2 part solution from bulk reef supply and it seems like it might control, calc, PH and mag better than Kalk water...

any thoughts on this system or a better way to go?
I know calc reactor is best, but I'm trying to figure out if I should invest in that or continue with other options

 

[Sk8r]

Probably something you know, but magnesium can start dropping faster than you're used to with kalk. Be sure that stays high: set it at 3x the calcium level you like. You could also try upping your evaporation rate with fans.

Beyond that, if your system demand is too much for kalk, you're going to have to start budgeting for that calcium reactor, because the bought additives get awfully expensive too.

 

[wetone]

yep...I dose Mag with a liquid supplement to try and keep levels up there.......is a ca reactor be better for mag levels?

I realize that the "dosing" systems whether they are the Kalk top off or daily ones add up $$ over time and the CA reactor would probably be cheaper , easier and more efficient in the long run.......but just looking for opinions/ideas

 

[ReefTECK]

is a ca reactor be better for mag levels?

A variety of different media suppliers claim that their CA media for reactors contains "x" amt of strontium/molybdenum, sometimes iodine ect. I don't know that you actually get any magnesium from dissolving CA media though.

However I have heard about guys using granular dolomite mixed in their CA reactors to achieve higher MG levels. I would be cautious about my source and quality of the dolomite being used. I've never seen dolomite offered specifically for reef aquariums.

We've actually got really similar set ups and animals, my tank thread is attached to my "red house" link. I was able to fit a CA reactor+components AND a refugium/sump/skimmer/uv/phosban underneath my 75 gallon. It was a bit of a challenge.

ltz,
andy

 

[lancer99]

If you order from bulkreefsupply, it works out to about $10 per gallon of Ca, Alk + Mg supplement.

For my 40G breeder (20ml/day), a gallon will last me about six months.

It's not fun having to dose it on a daily basis, but compared to $300-400 for a Ca reactor, I'm sticking with the additives for now.

-R