Why have a calcium reactor

[lepion]

I am thinking of baying a calcium reactor for my 140 gallons reef, but afer reading bits and bits of information I did find information on how but nothing on why more efficent and less risqui then the calcium additive I use Bi-ionic....

 

[dragon_slayer]

it's automated and it's constant 24/7 that you're levels are perfect, they aren't declining steadily and then boosted all at once like when you dose additives. and while they cost more up front, they save you allot of $$$ over the long run.

kc

 

[bergzy]

i sort of recently (6 months ago) took down my ca reactor as i was having elevated alk problems which are dangerous when using the full zeovit method.

zeo doesnt recommend an alk pass 8, with 7 being more ideal. with my ca reactor shooting it up to the 9's...it became more trouble than it was worth.

i now do large water changes (70 gallons per week) with natural sea water (nsw) and tweak my calcium with kent's turbo calcium and alk with seachem reef buffer.

yes, there are 'cheaper' ways of adjusting ones ca and alk manually but for how precious my time is...i am happy to spend a few extra pennies.

ca reactors do have their place, dont get me wrong...esp if one doesnt have access to nsw.

since dropping my ca reactor...coral growth has really taken off...FINALLY!!!

 

[lepion]

Is calcium reactor easy to adjust. And do different brand of reactor realy change de effectivenes of the reactor or are they all pretty much the same.

I dose my tank almos every day so my arameter stays pretty much at the right level no wigning.

I am thinking going zeovit I am using all the product that work with out the zeovitreactor the information concerning zeovit helps me i will look in to it thanks.

 

[dragon_slayer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9914003#post9914003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lepion

...................I dose my tank almos every day so my arameter stays pretty much at the right level no wigning.

Sorry but 'almos every day' is far from having stable paramaters, the only way to get stability out of additives are to have them on a dripper system or dosing pump.

kc

 

[toccata]

I have been dosing 2 part system because of space issue, not having space for the right size CA reactor. The params are stable, just a pain to dose every day. I am looking into a dosing pump method just to make things easier. Here is a thread I started on this topic, some good responses: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1112961

HTH

 

[hilde123]

Ive had a calcium reactor running for 3+ years without any adjustment. It take a few weeks to get them dialed in, but once you get it going smoothly all you have to do is replace media every 6 to 12 most depending on chamber size and tank demand. I would highly recommend if you want to ease aquarium maintenace.