Calcium Reactor on 75 Gallon Tank

Juano908 · Oct 12, 2018

So I’ve been thinking about switching from 2 parts dosing to a Calcium Reactor but not sure if it is worth on my system size.
My tank is a regular 75 gallon with a 40B sump, total water volume is around 85 gallons SPS dominated.

I’d like to your opinions or recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

ourcoralreef · Oct 12, 2018

Personally i think two part is easier to deal with and consistent

Bpb · Oct 12, 2018

As far as ease of use and time saving, a correctly set up calcium reactor is absolutely "worth" it. Will you save money from 2 part dosing? Not likely. Your set up cost will vastly eclipse any amount you'd be able to sell your dosing pumps for, and it would take years and years to break even. But...you'd be supplementing with a complete and balanced calcium/alkalinity/trace element profile for skeleton building. Your supplementing will be far more stable, and if you set it up correctly, the amount of time spent on the act of supplementing is greatly reduced.

spartanman22 · Oct 12, 2018

What is your daily consumption for dosing currently?

I dose on my 35 gallon AIO, SPS tank. If I had the option I’d go with a calcium reactor.

I spent roughly $400 on the GHL doser 2.0 and another $100 on dosing containers (not necessary). So startup costs of about $500. I use AF component dosing products. I dose roughly 130 mL a day of all three components, which equates to roughly 38 days of supply. The kit costs $59.99 on BRS. So my annual dosing costs for the Component 1+, 2+, 3+ is $576.21.

I also dose AF magnesium at roughly 50 mL a day. This equates to a roughly 40 day supply. At $33.99 for the Mg Plus, I’m spending $310.15 for the magnesium.

So my annual dosing costs are $886.36. Now granted this is assuming my SPS continue thriving and growing.

I wouldn’t necessarily think that dosing is any cheaper than a reactor, even on startup. Yes you can certain dose way cheaper than I am. I bought the GHL doser for the WiFi app aspect (ironically never works). And you can go a cheaper route with dosing solutions.

I’ve got someone local to me selling a PM2 calcium reactor, 5lb tank, and regulator for $80. I think you could startup and run a reactor setup cheaper than dosing. If my tank wasn’t an AIO I’d be using a reactor.

Bpb · Oct 12, 2018

One thing to keep in mind for you guys and gals contemplating making the switch. A poorly set up reactor will lead to MORE work, and wide alkalinity swings than 2 part dosing. Using a cheap regulator and trying to drip your effluent with a needle valve will lead to daily fluctuations in output pressure, difficulty adjusting the output with the regulator valve, and clogging of the effluent line. You’ll be twisting knobs daily and having your alkalinity yo-yo a lot.

For it to be worthwhile you really need to have a high quality peristaltic feed pump with a stable output, OR a quality low flow Ac pump with a fuel filter before the needle valve, as well as a high end dual stage regulator. Those things will add significantly to the cost. My feed pump and regulator cost more than the calcium reactor itself. But....this way my gas output never changes, and the effluent rate never changes, so the reactor ph never changes unless I want it to. That is the goal.