Reactor VS 2 part revisited

[on the spot]

Not looking for a debate, I've read through a few of the VS's threads already. I'm just looking for a vote on which you use.

The background: I bought a second system specifically for the tank but it came with a three pump doser. I already have a reactor, so in the coin flip of which to keep...

This will be a predominately SPS tank, hence this forum over equipment.


Thanks for your vote.

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

can you create an option in the poll for both?

 

[chuckreef]

+1 for both.
Set the reactor for 6 to 7 dkh as a super reliable floor level for alk, and fine tune with dosing.
IMO, reactors got a bad rap in the days of running alk at 10 and 11. They do impact pH a bit whe run that way. More recently, most of us run at more practical carbonate levels; the fabled, exaggerated negative impacts of Ca reactors is much less when they are not pushed hard.
A good idea to revist this.

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

+1 for both.
Set the reactor for 6 to 7 dkh as a super reliable floor level for alk, and fine tune with dosing.
IMO, reactors got a bad rap in the days of running alk at 10 and 11. They do impact pH a bit whe run that way. More recently, most of us run at more practical carbonate levels; the fabled, exaggerated negative impacts of Ca reactors is much less when they are not pushed hard.
A good idea to revist this.

Great point! I've seen some really nice aquariums on a Ca reactor but I did not have the same results when I ran one. Makes me wonder if the CO2 tank plays major role in these systems since in increases photosynthesis.

 

[reefrick.M]

I can't get by with just my CA reactor. I add 1 tsp of Seachem's Reef Builder a day and dose about 5 gls of kalk(2 tsps per gallon) a week.

 

[mordibv]

Neither of the two .
Balling light method . Waiting on dosing pump . Have been manually dosing for 6 5 weeks .

 

[reefkeeps]

I do a gallon a day of Kalk and a reactor

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I'm a 2 part guy myself, although I have been thinking to add kalkwasser to the mix. but that's still dosing, right?

 

[NyReefNoob]

really depends on how much sps you have and the size. i do use a doser, use to use kalk and dose 2 part, but now that i have the doser i quit the kalk. smaller systems i think do just fine with 2 part, for me the only down side of the cal reactor was as stuff starts to grow you have to up the calcium reactor and play and fiddle to set it again, with the doser i just find out my additional demands and up the amount dosed daily

 

[jimroth]

Gave up the calcium and kalk reactors for two part and me and my corals have been less stressed since.

 

[ptr13]

I have been running my reactors for 4 to 5 months now and feel that everythings happier,running Ca and kalk reactors,just manually dosing Mg and keeps everything consistent.

 

[chefzif]

2 part dosing is very precise! and if you do not pay attention to theCalc, reactor you will have issues! I use a Lieter Meter III to dose and is very accurate and if you need to increase it just simplty adjust up and down, the reason I love this doser it doses 150 times a day so you are keeping your peramiters very well in line versus adding such a high amount at a time. Worth the money for precision dosing!