At what point do you switch?

[xaflatoonx]

I see folks with large beautiful tanks that dose alk/cal/mag manually - and then some that have a calcium reactors.

my question is - when do you switch?
do you prefer to have a cal reactor on big tanks, dosers on small ones?

if cal reactors are set and forget, and cheaper in the long run - why do people still use dosers in large tanks when the cost of additives will catch up really fast, even with a smaller startup cost.

thoughts?

 

[xaflatoonx]

somebody? anybody?

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

I personally just use a quality salt and do a 10% wc weekly or 20% biweekly and supplement phytoplankton as well as amino acids (I use phytoplex and fuel) I have a mixed reef heavy with LPS and a few SPS, all of which are thriving.

 

[Anirban]

I see folks with large beautiful tanks that dose alk/cal/mag manually - and then some that have a calcium reactors.

my question is - when do you switch?
do you prefer to have a cal reactor on big tanks, dosers on small ones?

if cal reactors are set and forget, and cheaper in the long run - why do people still use dosers in large tanks when the cost of additives will catch up really fast, even with a smaller startup cost.

thoughts?

Its not small or big tank always. Its more of a personal choice and sometime need. Some people like plug and play so they use Ca reactors while some people like to do it more hands on or fine tuning so they use dosing. Remember both can fail and you need to keep an eye on them.

 

[Damon]

Its not small or big tank always. Its more of a personal choice and sometime need. Some people like plug and play so they use Ca reactors while some people like to do it more hands on or fine tuning so they use dosing. Remember both can fail and you need to keep an eye on them.

I agree completely.. For me, it was just the point at which it became expensive doing 3 part compared to the carx.. Once the cost became a monthly to quarterly expense, and things were growing good, I said to myself it was time..

 

[McMullen]

250 gallons is the line.

 

[Lowstorm]

For me I don't like the thoughts of having reactors. I'd much rather do it myself than deal with more stuff under the tank/in the sump/etc. My under tank is pretty cluttered and I don't have a good spot to put all my stuff as it is.

 

[xaflatoonx]

Dosing seems so easy and simple. But I know it's expensive long term. Especially on a 250g tank or so.

Really need to read up on how a cal reactor works and how easy it really is.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Dosing seems so easy and simple. But I know it's expensive long term. Especially on a 250g tank or so.

Really need to read up on how a cal reactor works and how easy it really is.

Don't fool yourself, plenty of CaRx aren't that easy or user friendly.

If you want one that's "easy" then something like a DaStaCo Reactor is probably your best bet... but you gotta pay to play! It's not exactly a "free lunch" either the media is so pure that trace elements still need to be added.

I'm following along, at somepoint I am likely going to be making the switch over from dosing to a CaRx.

 

[mpderksen]

If I can throw a twist in the poll? When do I move from ESV B-Ionic to Randy's recipe? Going from a 75 gal to a 150 gal. A gallon of 2-part is cheap until you're buying monthly, right?

 

[SuperDragon]

Calcium reactors are not set it and forget it devices. Probes need calibration, flow rates measured, bubbles counted, C02 refilled, media switched out, feed pumps, controllers, startup expense, there are +/- to everything. You'll need to research. 2 part can lead to imbalances, but they are simple to adjust. 2 part is also scaleable to any size tank.

 

[AndrewNC]

I've been manually dosing my 90 gallon but I forget all the time. I've been trying to do water changes more often and my tanks been awesome lately. That being said I got a automatic doser for my current 240 build and I look forward to using that thing big time

 

[xaflatoonx]

Excellent points. I always used to think that once you cross a certain size of tank - you have to get the cal reactor - considering the monthly cost of dosing.

Obviously how stocked up the tank is - is a major factor.

@d2mini - any pointers? You had a reactor on your last tank. But dose on the current one. Can you please explain your choice?

 

[Liquid360]

Just a side note, I just purchased fluidized reactor, my first reactor. I purchased it from geosreef. It just arrived and it's a really seriously thought out and super high quality product. If/when I go with a calcium reactor, I'll most def seriously consider one of theirs.

http://www.geosreef.com/product-category/equipment/reactors/calcium-reactors/

 

[d2mini]

Excellent points. I always used to think that once you cross a certain size of tank - you have to get the cal reactor - considering the monthly cost of dosing.

Obviously how stocked up the tank is - is a major factor.

@d2mini - any pointers? You had a reactor on your last tank. But dose on the current one. Can you please explain your choice?

I used to dose. Once my tank was sucking up 300ml of alk per day, i figured it was time to invest in a CaRx. 2 part gets expensive in higher quantities.
Plus i like that the CaRx was adding some minor elements from the dead coral skeleton as well.
In my new tank which is half the size I've been dosing because it's a Triton tank. Or was.
Now that I won't be continuing with Triton, I'm going to dose ESV Bionic for now and eventually go back to a CaRx.

 

[xaflatoonx]

Thanks Dennis.

Happy you are a fellow houstonion - that way I can bug you for help when I set up a reactor on my tank

 

[Dumaurier7]

Hi, I'm now preparing my 320 gal for corals and I choose to go with both! Because the Ca RX affects both calcium and alkalinity levels any adjustment can have your parameters swinging up and down.Once the desired levels are achieved using the reactor it should be left alone to maintain its internal Ph and a constant drip rate . This is where the dosing comes into play, with one variable (Ca RX) held constant dosing can be used to make minor trim adjustments to maintain levels without upsetting the entire tank/ system , I expect this approach to greatly reduce the consumption of either additive (media or two part). I will have first hand experience soon enough wish me luck !

 

[xaflatoonx]

Nice. Never heard of that approach. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[Damon]

Hi, I'm now preparing my 320 gal for corals and I choose to go with both! Because the Ca RX affects both calcium and alkalinity levels any adjustment can have your parameters swinging up and down.Once the desired levels are achieved using the reactor it should be left alone to maintain its internal Ph and a constant drip rate . This is where the dosing comes into play, with one variable (Ca RX) held constant dosing can be used to make minor trim adjustments to maintain levels without upsetting the entire tank/ system , I expect this approach to greatly reduce the consumption of either additive (media or two part). I will have first hand experience soon enough wish me luck !

Actually, that's a bit backwards in practical application honestly with calcium reactors.. The way it works is that you need to make your adjustments with the 3 part ,and once you have the levels where you want, you then put the reactor online.. The reactor is only used to maintain (and they do that excellently as long as it's correctly sized within reason) the levels..

And when you first set the reactor, which the desired amount of effluent depends on load, you monitor to make sure your levels don't rise or fall.. If so, you adjust carefully and in tiny increases or decreases.. But the goal is just to maintain the levels.. And honestly, you don't burn through a ton of media or gas.. In a year, I have only needed to top off my co2, and haven't had to touch the media whatsoever.. Alk stays constant, calcium stays constant, magnesium does also.. This is within the reason of the daily small swing in my system. But they are, once set up, pretty easy honestly...

You still keep your dry 2 part in case you do have to make any changes. But im my case, I haven't had to do that, and my two part sits collecting dust.. Lol