running a calcium reactor "hot"

[Gary Majchrzak]

That's awesome. I was going to ask for an update on this today!

Do you have to keep an eye on Mg or does it just get replenished with water changes?

ha! We think alike. I was over in the kitchen baking some cinnamon rolls wondering if someone would ask this.

Answer to your question: I don't know.
I no longer test for Mg regularly. I probably should... but I would IMAGINE that regular partial water changes with Reef Crystals (or any "good" salt) will replenish Mg.

Now... just in case you're wondering (and we think alike so I'm sure you are!)
there ARE noticeable things happening in my reef aquarium now that dKH and Ca levels are being maintained at high stable levels.
System is ph 8.1
Corallines. They are noticeably more pink and growing.
Acropora. The polyps are out. Fragged areas are healing up much faster. Caps have that white "growth perimeter".
My fire coral (Millepora spp.) has it's "hairs" out 24/7 (which I've learned) indicates to me proper alkalinity levels.
Algae and Cyanobacteria in the 10 gallon Ca reactor "3rd chamber"/ RDSB/ refugium have increased growth rates.

Now, of all things(!)... I have some die off of Pocillipora. Different species and different colonies in different aquarium locations. It MUST be environmental conditions or a pathogen. Really strange. Reminds me of RTN in Acropora I used to see when I didn't know what I was doing back in the 90's.
I've never had any problems with Pocillipora except they grew like weeds in my aquarium. Very odd this latest development.
In any case, as long as some part of these corals survive I'm sure they'll grow back quickly.

 

[BuffaloReef]

Corallines. They are noticeably more pink and growing.

Isn't that anecdotal evidence of good magnesium levels?

Could the poclipora die off just be from all the PH and other swings?

 

[greenstreet.1]

Question why would I need a cal reactor when already dosing call

 

[BuffaloReef]

Question why would I need a cal reactor when already dosing call

Gary has A LOT of big corals growing in his system. If you look around in this forum you'll find a thread, "Junior's Reef" that contains a bunch of tank shots.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Isn't that anecdotal evidence of good magnesium levels?

Could the poclipora die off just be from all the PH and other swings?

yes and no to both questions.

Just because corallines are doing well doesn't mean that Mg is "good" (NSW range) or being replaced as fast as it's depleted...

and the Poci dieoff... if anything.... pH, alkalinity and Ca levels have been more stable since cranking the reactor up.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Question why would I need a cal reactor when already dosing call

there's several methods one can use to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels that are being rapidly depleted in a closed system full of calcifying organisms.

You can use one method or a combination of them. I use a combo.

All are means to an ends... in other words... don't get caught up in which method you use... find one that works best for you. If you're dosing calcium and it's maintaining the desired level THAT'S what matters most. (Careful- remember that alkalinity is AS important or perhaps even MORE important than calcium levels!)

Because my calcium reactor + kalkwasser additions are maintaining desired levels I (basically) don't have to do anything until the limewater barrel runs out of kalk or the reactor runs outof CO2 or media.
Calcium reactors are initially expensive to set up but in the long run INEXPENSIVE to use. Kalkwasser (limewater) is a no brainer. Everybody should be using it for topoff IMO.