Calcium Reactor - 2 Part Dosing Info and Poll

Brew12 · Oct 25, 2019

People who follow my build thread know I am considering switching to a calcium reactor. My current system has roughly 170g water volume and I am dosing over 200ml per day of Randy's recipe 1.

My main reason for this thread is to see at what point people feel a calcium reactor becomes more practical than 2 part dosing.

As I considered when to switch I started looking at costs and figured I would share some of these numbers for those who are curious.

For this comparison I used an online calculator to determine how much of each different product option would be required to get the same alk/calc boost as 200ml of Randy's recipe 1. I know there are cheaper sources for Randy's 2-part recipe but I like the convenience of getting it from @Bulk Reef Supply in the single gallon pre-measured packs. So, starting with those, here are some costs.

BRS - 1 gallon pre measured
Alk: 200ml, $0.31 per day
Calc: 200ml, $0.31 per day
Total Cost: $0.62 per day

BRS - 7 pound bag
Alk: 200ml, $0.20 per day (estimate due to low information)
Calc: 200ml, $0.20 per day
Total Cost: $0.40 per day

Aquaforest KH+ or Calc+
Alk: 414ml, $6.8 per day
Calc: 76ml, $1.3 per day
Total Cost: $8.1 per day

ESV B-ionic original CA buff
Alk: 130ml, $0.62 per day
Calc: 130ml, $0.62 per day
Total Cost: $1.24 per day

RedSea Foundation
Alk: 106ml, $1.75 per day
Calc: 38ml, $0.64 per day
Total Cost: $2.39 per day

Disclaimer.... No promise these numbers are correct as they relied on a bit of 3rd party information to calculate

Tennyson · Oct 25, 2019

I have a 160 gallon system and dose 80 ml/day of Randy's recipe, (80 ml Ca, 80 ml Alk solutions). Surprised you are dosing so much (200ml each part?) for a similar water volume, do I have that right?

For me filling beakers will always be more cost effective and simpler than getting a reactor. The only error is human error. I use gravity fed enemas (lol) to administer a diluted solution of 2 part into the sump.

Crabs McJones · Oct 25, 2019

At 200ML a day, I would give serious consideration to a calcium reactor as well.

Brew12 · Oct 25, 2019

Tennyson said:
I have a 160 gallon system and dose 80 ml/day of Randy's recipe, (80 ml Ca, 80 ml Alk solutions). Surprised you are dosing so much (200ml each part?) for a similar water volume, do I have that right?

For me filling beakers will always be more cost effective and simpler than getting a reactor. The only error is human error. I use gravity fed enemas (lol) to administer a diluted solution of 2 part into the sump.

Yup, I'm very sure of those numbers. I think my Monti Caps use the most but just about everything is growing quickly.

It's hard to every cost justify a calcium reactor but at some point the convenience of not having to be continuously mixing and refilling 2-part adds value to me. Just not sure where that point is.

CNDReef · Oct 25, 2019

I’m about to jump in a carx based on stability and one less thing to worry about weekly/monthly. Less maintenance means more time to enjoy the tank for me. That’s priceless imo

C. Eymann · Oct 25, 2019

unless you are doing BRS DIY and/or have and incredibly small demand then I can see 3 part being practical, I started using b-ionic when it first came out and it works great.

If the reef is going to be setup for more than two years and is hopefully going to develop a considerable mineral demand as well.
You will have already spent hundreds upon hundreds, maybe even thousands if using premade regimens, when you can get a really nice reactor setup for below $500, esp used.
Also, you will get some of your investment back on the reactor if you decide to get out for a while and sell it, two part isnt giving anything back.

Calcium reactors are the most eloquent out of all the other methods for mineral replenishment in a reef aquarium, you are melting coral bones! If correctly setup and tuned right, they keep your mineral levels rock solid/unchanged for long periods, needing no attention, which for reefers- life happens, sometimes tanks get neglected,

my last 75 was badly neglected, basically only food was added for 7-8mo, I decided to test the tank water before doing a big clean/maintenance over haul on it as it developed bad bubble algea problem. Coral had all grown significantly, My alk was at 8DKH I looked in my log book and my last test was reading 8.5dkh

So in 7-8 mo my ALK only swung .5 dkh with pretty much zero attention paid to anything but keeping fish fed. Can dosers achieve this? maybe, but you are going to need some big reservoirs and automatic mag stirring devices.

SPR1968 · Oct 25, 2019

Well I can tell you in my S650 I’m dosing 260ml per day of Red Sea Foundation B (alkalinity) which is a lot

So with my new tank, which is about 4 times bigger, I had to look at calcium reactors and the principal is sound and relatively straightforward (he says confidently! Lol)

So after spending months considering it, I’ve just ordered the Deltec Twin Tech 1500 and DD Rowalith W media (chunky version) as after speaking to the ‘tank masters at DD’ the 1500 is well under rated from what Deltec state One of them, with a similar size tank to my new one only doses about 50 litres of effluent per day, and the capacity is something like 360.

This is a good video and review

Only problem is there expensive

UWC · Oct 25, 2019

Brew, check these out. They're sweet

8 In Automated Calcium Reactor | Aquarium Engineering

Meet Aquarium Engineering's newest calcium reactor, the A.C.R. (Automated Calcium Reactor) This innovative system will let you say goodbye to constantly adjusting CO2 flow rates and cleaning pH probes to keep your reactor running to standard. With the A.C.R. you can forget about adjusting...

www.aquariumeng.com

Calcium Reactors | Aquarium Engineering

Our calcium reactors are up flow units with oversized pumps and are equipped with Co2 recirculation. This ensures that less Co2 ends up in your tank and more stays in the reactor to do the work.

www.aquariumeng.com

RJKain-777 · Oct 25, 2019

I use to 2 part dose, on my current tank I’m using a calcium reactor, doesn’t matter if dosing 1 ml a day or 300+ a day, calcium reactor is 100x easier. I enjoy my tank way more, no more air bubbles in the lines, no more guessing if I mixed the 2 part right etc. My tanks all had been stable at 8.5 for 2 months now, calcium at 450. Just over all super easy to use.

Brew12 · Oct 25, 2019

UWC said:
Brew, check these out. They're sweet

8 In Automated Calcium Reactor | Aquarium Engineering

Meet Aquarium Engineering's newest calcium reactor, the A.C.R. (Automated Calcium Reactor) This innovative system will let you say goodbye to constantly adjusting CO2 flow rates and cleaning pH probes to keep your reactor running to standard. With the A.C.R. you can forget about adjusting...

www.aquariumeng.com

Calcium Reactors | Aquarium Engineering

Our calcium reactors are up flow units with oversized pumps and are equipped with Co2 recirculation. This ensures that less Co2 ends up in your tank and more stays in the reactor to do the work.

www.aquariumeng.com

Very cool. I'll need to look into those. Avast Marine is also getting ready to release an upflow calcium reactor. Its an interesting concept.

AZMSGT · Oct 25, 2019

I’m looking at these gadgets as well. So many variables to consider.

All the below need a CO2 tank

Deltec 1500 is easily the most expensive. Also you need to buy a regulator

DaStaCo is next comes with everything Less the CO2. I’ve seen them in action and they do the job well.

AE looks nice but to many negative stories about the guy that makes them.

The above are all pretty much set it and forget it.

Geo and Vertex are in the category of needing some extra work to get going. Also need pump, CO2 regulator and PH probe.

Then you need to do something to get PH in your tank back up. You can Kalk dose or use a CO2 scrubber on your skimmer air intake.

UWC · Oct 25, 2019

The nice thing about these AE units are they come with the controller and regulator. So you just need media and the Co2 tank. Simple plug and play

UWC · Oct 25, 2019

AZMSGT said:
AE looks nice but to many negative stories about the guy that makes them.

We use them and they’re great. Bills fine, he’s one of those, he’s almost too smart for his own good. He should stick to making stuff and leave advertising and social media to someone else

C. Eymann · Oct 25, 2019

Cant argue with automatic calcium reactors, that's obviously pretty neat, too much $$$ for my blood.

However, I dont actually mind the few days it takes to tune a reactor, because once set its automatic on it's own already for the most part.

AZMSGT · Oct 25, 2019

UWC said:
We use them and they’re great. Bills fine, he’s one of those, he’s almost too smart for his own good. He should stick to making stuff and leave advertising and social media to someone else

I appreciate that you like him and use his gear. But to many others to consider and not get a head ache if there are problems. A company can have the best item out there but if they can’t communicate or support people it’s not going to succeed. No company in todays internet searching world can afford negative press.

Gareth elliott · Oct 25, 2019

I have added a carx to my small 40b. I was running out of ati essentials, brs had on sale, and i had just added my profilux so now had ph monitoring anyway, without needing its own ph controller.

Really i just didnt want to reprogram my doser since they changed, their formula since i last purchased in bulk.

Bonus is with your kh director get an extra bit of control as well.