Too Dose or to Reactor??? What to do!

[MammothReefer]

The other bonus with dosing is in the event something does go wrong with your equipment, you can just do it manually until you sort things out. For me I can't get C02 refills locally, so when I had my reactor I had a bottle leak on me it took 2 weeks to get it refilled, the tank was not amused.

 

[ati70cutlass]

i believe the apex has that option, i have still yet to figure it out all the way

 

[BryanW]

I've had a calc reactor now for 5 years, and not one problem. Just upgraded on the new 400gal to the Apex controller and I feel the way I have set it up is bullet proof. I have one probe in the calc reactor keeping the PH between 6.3 and 6.7. Then I also have a PH probe in the main tank, and it keeps it at 8.16 to 8.20 constant.

I also run just a bit of Kalk in my top off water to supplement and maintain alk.

Good luck on your decision. Really cant go wrong either way. If you plan on staying in the hobby long term, a good calc reactor may be a large cost up front, but will be cheaper over time.

 

[Mock]

If you plan on staying in the hobby long term, a good calc reactor may be a large cost up front, but will be cheaper over time.

I am not so sure about this statement... Calcium reactors are a huge up front cost, 5-6 hundred for a good one plus... Then you have the cost of the media each 4 -6 months or how ever many times it has to be replaced... that's 30 40 to 60 dollars depending on how much is needed...

I dose... It cost me 150 bucks for the dosing pumps and a dollar box of baking soda along with a thing of calcium... 15 bucks every 3 months....

I am not sure that you can really make that up in even 10 years in the hobby.

I dont think calcium reactors are the cheapest way to dose...

 

[jimrawr]

Had a reactor and found It a pain the the arse, change to a bubble magus dosing pump and haven't looked back. I dose 120ml per day of each, stores in 3g containers, and it lasts me over 2 months. The maintenance on them is so low and you can't screw up. Much more trust worthy when you in on vacation too. I leave for weeks at a time and never had problem with stability of alk and ca

 

[power boat jim]

I am not so sure about this statement... Calcium reactors are a huge up front cost, 5-6 hundred for a good one plus... Then you have the cost of the media each 4 -6 months or how ever many times it has to be replaced... that's 30 40 to 60 dollars depending on how much is needed...

I dose... It cost me 150 bucks for the dosing pumps and a dollar box of baking soda along with a thing of calcium... 15 bucks every 3 months....

I am not sure that you can really make that up in even 10 years in the hobby.

I dont think calcium reactors are the cheapest way to dose...

A calcium reactor does somewhat more then just maintain cal and alk. Since it dissolves what was once basically coral you get many trace elements replenished to the system. Dosing two part doesnt do that. It may not be a big concern but it is a benefit. As far as cost of running the reactor its well under 50 dollars a year if you want it to be.

As for those who worry about a reactor crashing tanks, I know far more people who have crashed tanks using additives then reactors. Though it is not impossible, given the number of ways there are for a tank to crash, I would say the reactor is near the bottom of the list of items likely to do it.

 

[MammothReefer]

I am not so sure about this statement... Calcium reactors are a huge up front cost, 5-6 hundred for a good one plus... Then you have the cost of the media each 4 -6 months or how ever many times it has to be replaced... that's 30 40 to 60 dollars depending on how much is needed...

I dose... It cost me 150 bucks for the dosing pumps and a dollar box of baking soda along with a thing of calcium... 15 bucks every 3 months....

I am not sure that you can really make that up in even 10 years in the hobby.

I dont think calcium reactors are the cheapest way to dose...

A calcium reactor does somewhat more then just maintain cal and alk. Since it dissolves what was once basically coral you get many trace elements replenished to the system. Dosing two part doesnt do that. It may not be a big concern but it is a benefit. As far as cost of running the reactor its well under 50 dollars a year if you want it to be.

As for those who worry about a reactor crashing tanks, I know far more people who have crashed tanks using additives then reactors. Though it is not impossible, given the number of ways there are for a tank to crash, I would say the reactor is near the bottom of the list of items likely to do it.

Again, plus the electric bill to run, a large pump to recir the water and another pump to feed.. dosers only run when dosing typically just a couple minutes a day. Toss a kill-a-watt on everything need to run your reactor and figure out the $$. Even in the long run dosers are cheaper.

 

[miwoodar]

What ever happened to the OP?

Dosers are cheaper even w/o accounting for watts or equipment purchases. Additives for my 140 run about $1/month (8 lbs of Calcium Chloride and 12 lbs of baking soda per year). 9 lbs of driveway heat is $6 and 12 lbs of baking soda at costco runs the same. If I dosed to the top of RHF's recommendations, it would cost $17.67/year. Throw in a few more bucks to cover Mg. I wish an update to his 'choosing a ca/alk scheme' paper were available as the economics are no longer valid due to his DIY 2-part recipes. Two part is even cheaper than kalk. Unlike kalk though, it can be run high enough to cover a high-growth SPS tank.

The wow factor of needing a CO2 tank is missing though. My friends certainly don't show the same enthusiasm for a pair of dosing pumps....

Really cant go wrong either way.

Very true

A good calc reactor may be a large cost up front, but will be cheaper over time.

Wive's tale

 

[MammothReefer]

The wow factor of needing a CO2 tank is missing though. My friends certainly don't show the same enthusiasm for a pair of dosing pumps....

That's why I have a welder, big gas tank and it sparks!

 

[adamhill]

I think I am going to go doser... Again working at the LFS allows me to get all of these at cost so when it's all said and done a good reactor is about the same as the GHL Profiluz dosers on the front end. I am not so worried about the cost of running anything in the future as this hobby is one that you can't worry about what it takes to keep things chemically happy and offset happiness/health with cost while trying to be cheap. You just have to do the best and the most consistant way possible while not totally blowing your all your cash. Besides, I can always buy a reactor and find other things to dose later...

 

[on the spot]

...Do I buy a Calc reactor or a dosing pump?...I would love to hear your ideas and opinions and some reasons for your choice if anyone could find the time to respond. Thanks!

I think I am going to go doser...Besides, I can always buy a reactor and find other things to dose later...

I asked this same question last year in a poll - a system purchase brought a dosing system, I had a nice reactor already. I ended up keeping them both for now.

 

[JasonD]

I must say I enjoy my Koralin reactor low watts too. Very trouble free operation.

 

[geldof]

I have no experience with CA reactors, but have been using the same two peristaltic dosers for that last 6 years with nearly 100% success, with regular maintenance. The only advice I have is to research your choice thoroughly and purchase something with a proven success rate. For instance, some will back siphon, which could cause an eventual imbalance in CA/ALK levels. Good luck.

 

[vickreyreef]

I absolutely LOVE my GHL