Whats better Calcium reactor or dosing?
- Thread starter potpushr
- Start date
I definately know the calcium reactor is less work but which one is more effective for coral growth and color?
Ok thanks.. I have a 180 and want to go sps dominant so il jus get a reactor..any suggestions on brand?
Stanley-Reefer
New member
I 2 parted since 97 with great results, but recently put 2 geos online in my tanks.
Slow/dormant sps have grown 1/4" in the month they have been online. So far so good.:bounce1:
Slow/dormant sps have grown 1/4" in the month they have been online. So far so good.:bounce1:
marke
New member
Just to show you everyone is different and you have to determine for yourself. I ran a geo 618 for a year and gave up. I am now using dosing pumps to dose kalk and calcium. I find this much easier for me. I manually add Mg mostly with water changes, and ALK is usually kept high by the kalk. If you have not done anything start with kalk--its cheap and effective, then tweek manually with the others Ca, Alk,Mg. Here is the issues I had with the ca reactor.
--difficulty keeping the effluent drip rate constant. Set for 20 drops/min and two days latter it could be half ot that?
---difficulty keeping the bubble rate constant. Same as above
----difficulty calibrating the ph on the ph reactor. Is it reading right?
----when you finally think you have it going right or perfectly tweeked---its time to change the media or get more Co2. Lose a few days before you do and its time to start over tweeking.
If your just starting out use kalk via evaporation replacement or dose,(100 dollars vs 800 for the reactor) then get good salifert test kits and see what you might need to add if anything. Kalk will get you 70% of the way there.
Good luck which ever way you go.
--difficulty keeping the effluent drip rate constant. Set for 20 drops/min and two days latter it could be half ot that?
---difficulty keeping the bubble rate constant. Same as above
----difficulty calibrating the ph on the ph reactor. Is it reading right?
----when you finally think you have it going right or perfectly tweeked---its time to change the media or get more Co2. Lose a few days before you do and its time to start over tweeking.
If your just starting out use kalk via evaporation replacement or dose,(100 dollars vs 800 for the reactor) then get good salifert test kits and see what you might need to add if anything. Kalk will get you 70% of the way there.
Good luck which ever way you go.
I would dose 2 part with dosers or use kalkwasser. I think there are a lot fewer variables and things to go wrong with these systems and you can have remarkable consistency.
You also don't have the pH lowering issues that can arise with Ca reactors.
You still need to test Ca, Alkalinity and Mg as your aquariums needs will change over time. Once you know your tanks needs you pretty much just dial it in on the dosers and it is set.
You also don't have the pH lowering issues that can arise with Ca reactors.
You still need to test Ca, Alkalinity and Mg as your aquariums needs will change over time. Once you know your tanks needs you pretty much just dial it in on the dosers and it is set.
bogg
New member
I must be the luckiest ca rxtr owner, (aqua euro 400) in the world. I set my levels where I wanted them first with 2 part. I set the rxtr up and cranked it up slowly, the levels stayed rock solid, and they have for years now, I also just leave my rxtr on no ph drop. works amazing. I never attempted to raise or lower anything with the reactor as I read it wont really it just keeps the levels maintained ime just my 2 cents my ca. rxtr was the best investment I have made for my sps tank.
deangelr
Clown Whisperererer
If you read Delbeck and Sprung The marine aquarium vol 3, it suggest to use all three methods for Ca and Alk maintence. Including two part, a reactor and Kalk.. I use kalk and two part. The kalk is in my top off and helps to keep ALk and PH stable when added periodically during the day.. The Two part is cheap for my smaller tank and keeps levels high daily..
Stanley-Reefer
New member
In the geo instructions is says to set for 50ml/minute and work your way up....not drops!!!
A ph controller takes out the bpm from the co2 tank too.
A ph controller takes out the bpm from the co2 tank too.
twelvejewelz
New member
Depending on what 2 part your using you do get those trace elements that your talking about.
"B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System also provides all other important major, minor, and trace elements in the proper ratios"
I dose B-Ionic but im going to be adding kalk to my top off. I wouldnt want to deal with a calcium reactor unless i had a huge system. Seems like to much of a pain and i hear alot of horror stories. At least with kalk and a 2 part you know what your adding and when.
funny you mention that since going to balling lite i have had increased growth due to greater stability. I could never get my CA rx to be exactly at the level i wanted. In saying this if i didnt run zeovit i would go back to a CA RX as 1. cheaper and 2. less maintenance not having to fill the drums every 2-3 weeks instead of filling media every 5-6 months.
In the first year I had a CaRx, it was useless since it constantly clogged (changed drip rate.) One day it would be 35ml/min, next day it would be 0. Now I use a persitaltic pump to run it, and it has been stable for 6 months or so. I would not recommend a CaRx to someone without one of these pumps. If you are particularly concerned, you can buy a very precise regulator too that lets you dial in your bubbles using a digital scale too. It's pricey though.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
I just read through this and outside of growth what about cost? Do you know of anyone that has compared the two and the long term cost? I'd say startup cost is nearly the same if you go with a good doser for two part (LMIII and two remote pumps) compared to calcium reactor/regulator/tank/etc....
i agree set up costs would be similar.
i guess that would depend on a few factors location and what is used
eg in Aus i get the following
CR
1 gal ARM media approx $40 = 6-9 months C02 refill $35 = 6-9 months
Dosing
10kg of cal chloride 99.6% pure (pool stuff) $43 = 1.5 - 2 years
10 kg of bicarb (supermarket) $30 = 1.5-2years
If you use the lab grade for dosing it is 4 -5 times the price but i see no real benefits.
MrSandman
Team RC
I've been running Calcium reactors for the last 10 years and wouldn't even think of doing it any other way. Once you have it dialed in, its rock solid. On my current reactor (a GEO) i haven't touched it since i swapped out the CO2 tank and that's literally been about 6 months. To combat the low pH, i dose kalkwasser with my top-off at night. My pH now stays between 8-8.2 throughout a 24 hour period.
icycoral
I glue animals to rocks
For the first year I was running a very cheap reactor and I don't know how I didn't nuke my corals as I had some trouble with it (more like operator ignorance lol). About 7 months ago I upgraded to a vertex rx-1 and I love it. I use a maxi jet 1200 as a supply. A controller to regulate co2 is very helpful but I didn't have one until a month ago, turns out I was running it a little low 6.1 now at 6.5-6.7ph. It has been very easy to dial in no problems there. I use koralin koralith media which doesn't put out a ton of po4 like other media. I spike the chamber with brightwell neo mag to keep my mg levels up also. No problems with ph swing from day to night normal fluctuation .2 ph My experience with calcium reactors have been very good I have excellent growth and it works well for me.
