CALCIUM REACTOR -VS- TWO PART DOSING

[ACE]

Hello All! I am seiously considering investing/adding a calcium reactor to my system. I am currently dosing B-IONIC, with good results. However because of busy life/old brain, I forget to dose sometimes. So I was considering the addition of this equipment for stability and improved results; also eventually the cost of two part dosing will surpass the cost of the reactor. What I hope to know is what current calcium reactor owners feel about the results they have seen. Or, should I just continue to dose two part? i appreciate any opinions.

Thanks,
Mike

[glennr1978]

I would just continue with the 2 part, and maybe add a dosing pump to automate it.

[wesheltonj]

I have one, but its not set up right now. If I were going to do it again, I would look hard at 3 part and a dosing pump.

[hobogato]

i like glenn's idea, but you might look into making your own 2part (or 3part - to include magnesium) vs. using b-ionic. it will be much cheaper. there is a recipe in the chemistry forum on rc

[clone]

im with them Mikemtry dripping kalk and useing a 2-part to help with the drip.
if i remember correctly your putting it on a 125,even thougth it would take a lot of b-ionic its still a little safer to me IMO.
i would do kalk drip and randys 2-part.
im sure Berrnie will share the recipe with you.
its just scary to think that co2 could drop your ph within minuets and kill everything

[g-ray]

I use 2 part on my systems with 2 drews dosers hooked up to my aqua cont. It is really cool I work alot so its hard for me to be at home with the dosers its mostly plug and play

[stoneroller]

When I get too busy to dose daily, I treat my topoff water - a couple of days for alk and a couple for Ca. I use the 2part (3 with Mag) from bulkreefsupply.com

IMO, seems too often somebody's CA RX goes haywire (both user or EQ) and nearly kills it all or worse

[ACE]

Thanks for everyone's opinion! Seems like the vote is a "no" for the reactor. I need to research this a little further.

[JimD]

If your tank is large and you dont have the time to manualy dose AND, if you feel confident in your abilities to settup and maintain a Ca reactor, that would be the way to go, along with a kalk reactor would be ideal.. Theres plenty of folks around here who use them and Im sure they'd be more than willing to help you. Its totally up to you, either way will get the job done.

[ACE]

Thanks Jim. If I got the reactor, I would add it to an aquacontroller. I have also heard that it is a good idea to add Kalk to my top off when using a Calcium reactor for raising the PH. Good advice, I appreciate it.


If your tank is large and you dont have the time to manualy dose AND, if you feel confident in your abilities to settup and maintain a Ca reactor, that would be the way to go, along with a kalk reactor would be ideal.. Theres plenty of folks around here who use them and Im sure they'd be more than willing to help you. Its totally up to you, either way will get the job done.

[Bill S]

Unless you have a tankful of SPS, I'm not a fan of Ca reactors. When my tank was full of SPS, I was! It's complex, tricky, and easy to nuke a tank.

[ACE]

Thanks bstreep. not sure if I'm going to do the reactor at this point. I need to research some more. I'm looking for less maintenance type items like manual dosing because kids are getting older and doing sports, etc. So, not sure which option to choose yet but I have appreciated all of the advice!

-Mike

[fishn]

I run a cal reactor and also a kalk reactor on my 180. I was using two part with good results, but prior to my deployment I got the reactors to make it simple for the wife. The only problem that I have had with my setup is that sometimes the AC III does not turn on the CO2, but that is not a big deal as the PH in the reactor just goes up. I get an email and call the wife and she fixes it (unplug and replug). This is a problem with the AC III though, it must be pluged into either port 4 or 8 on the DC8. Well to sum it all up I would not switch back as this is one less thing that I have to remember to do to this tank.