advice on dosing

Reefermike · Mar 15, 2015

i used a calcium reactor but always had issues with pH .So i got rid of it.Now looking to either dose or use a Kalk reactor or stir. I don't really have a tremendous demand but alway look to the future . My current tank is a 90 very stong feeling the largest tank i will move to would be a 125 but most likely a DSA 105 other wis it will be less . issue is with led lighting i evaporate about 4 gal a week . That being said with that little amount of evaporation would Kalk be enough for a high demand. Another question would be are there advantages to one over the other. I need some good advice

al* · Mar 15, 2015

These demand-based questions are always difficult to answer because every system is different, but if I were you I'd try to top off with kalkwasser for a few days and monitor alkalinity and calcium. If it's not enough or too much you can then take corrective steps or might even be able to use your calcium reactor again, since kalkwasser will mitigate some of the pH effects of the high CO2 effluent from the reactor.

That's the cheapest route and worth a try imo.

gacolt · Mar 15, 2015

i would do brs 2part there calculator makes dosing very easy and simple.if you dont want to manual dose add a dosing pump there super easy to set up aswell

DFW · Mar 15, 2015

I have 125 gallons of water in my acro system, and can no longer keep up using lime water, and I have about 9 gallons of evaporation per week. But, I used it exclusively for 5 years, and it is very easy to manually dose each night with a siphon drip jug. I like the fact that both alk, and calcium are added at the same time, so only handling one product. Also, my system has been historically lower pH, so lime water helps with that, and also precipitates phosphates which comes in handy. It will take care of your system for years before you need to change to 2 part, unless you are loading it with large stony corals from the start.

I could keep using it even now by adding vinegar to get more lime to dissolve in solution, but my tank did not seem to like that when I tried it. Possibly if I were feeding more heavily the extra carbon source would work out ok. I don't know!

Reefermike · Mar 15, 2015

i have been thinking about a kalk stirrer and using a dosing pump hooked to my apex. then dose it several times a day but it would only do so when the pH is below a certain level. Really just thinking out load at this point. i sold my car because the pH and not really enough room under the stand. So i have some money to replace and can go either route. The ATO is one of the smart ato deals. when it disperses water it puts a good deal out . Does this sound like it would work or am i borrowing trouble

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 15, 2015

Reefermike said:
i used a calcium reactor but always had issues with pH .So i got rid of it.Now looking to either dose or use a Kalk reactor or stir. I don't really have a tremendous demand but alway look to the future . My current tank is a 90 very stong feeling the largest tank i will move to would be a 125 but most likely a DSA 105 other wis it will be less . issue is with led lighting i evaporate about 4 gal a week . That being said with that little amount of evaporation would Kalk be enough for a high demand. Another question would be are there advantages to one over the other. I need some good advice

I compare the pros and cons of the different methods here:

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION