Calcium reactor question

[Budman's Corals]

When is the right time to switch to a calcium reactor ,I'm using bulk reef supply 2 part and I'm dosing 600ml a day of alk & cal Is it time for me to switch? Is there more advantages then just not having to mix solution up.

 

[melev]

600ml per day? Definitely time for a calcium reactor. I've been running one since 2004. Dosing two part is way more work in comparison.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are pros and cons to each, but both work well.

A CaCO3/CO2 reactor tends to lower pH while a two part can be designed to keep pH unchanged (e.g., B-ionic Bicarbonate or my Recipe #2) or to raise pH (e.g., B-ionic or my Recipe #1). Some people use limewater (kalkwasser) along with CaCO3/CO2 reactors, primarily to offset the lower pH.

The two part systems will slowly raise salinity, requiring occasional salinity adjustments.

Two part systems allow more tinkering of the relative amounts of calcium and alkalinity and magnesium added if, for example, one is trying to correct for issues relating to salt mixes not exactly matching your desired tank parameters.

I compare various methods here:

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/the-many-methods-for-supplementing-calcium-and-alkalinity

 

[Budman's Corals]

600ml per day? Definitely time for a calcium reactor. I've been running one since 2004. Dosing two part is way more work in comparison.

I Agree it is more time consuming and my time is precious im going thru a gallon a week and finally started making 3 gallons up every time but would think reactor would add better stuff to tank Thanks
Corey

 

[Budman's Corals]

600ml per day? Definitely time for a calcium reactor. I've been running one since 2004. Dosing two part is way more work in comparison.

oh and yes 600 but every morning im low and 10ppm so i have to add 125ml solution so like today i gotta add then up my daily dose so now im at 650 a day

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I Agree it is more time consuming and my time is precious im going thru a gallon a week and finally started making 3 gallons up every time but would think reactor would add better stuff to tank Thanks
Corey

Not sure what you mean by add better stuff. Not everything in a coral skeleton is desirable, and the skeletons/media used may lack adequate amounts of some components, such as magnesium.

 

[Budman's Corals]

well i added 10% magnesium granulate to the meadia and for some reason while dosing 2 part i never had to add magnesium
Isnt there trace elements that are in the coral that they once absorbed and now are being released when disolved?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

well i added 10% magnesium granulate to the meadia and for some reason while dosing 2 part i never had to add magnesium
Isnt there trace elements that are in the coral that they once absorbed and now are being released when disolved?

Yes, there are trace elements. Two parts also typically have trace elements in them. Which one has more desirable ones and less of the undesirable ones probably depends on exactly what you are using and what your tank needs.

Definitely one can add dolomite to a reactor to get more magnesium from it.

I show some comparative analysis of different trace elements in reactor media here (Table 6 in the link), but that data is pretty old and may not represent actual products currently being sold:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rhf/feature/

 

[Budman's Corals]

Yes, there are trace elements. Two parts also typically have trace elements in them. Which one has more desirable ones and less of the undesirable ones probably depends on exactly what you are using and what your tank needs.

Definitely one can add dolomite to a reactor to get more magnesium from it.

I show some comparative analysis of different trace elements in reactor media here (Table 6 in the link), but that data is pretty old and may not represent actual products currently being sold:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rhf/feature/

Wow. Thanks for taking time to respond back , i really appreciate all the info you provided,
Im set for today on reading great articles.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wow. Thanks for taking time to respond back , i really appreciate all the info you provided,
Im set for today on reading great articles.

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[cb684]

@Randy Holmes-Farley: how the lower pH caused by a calcium reactor will impact SPS growth if one is running a skimmer and has good surface water turbulence? Offsetting that pH drop is important or only cosmetic?

 

[melev]

@Randy Holmes-Farley: how the lower pH caused by a calcium reactor will impact SPS growth if one is running a skimmer and has good surface water turbulence? Offsetting that pH drop is important or only cosmetic?

I'm not Randy but I can chime in on this one. When I run out of Co2 and the calcium reactor essentially goes offline, the pH of my system rises .2ppm and when I get the tank refilled, it drops .2 to where it normally is.

Normally the tank runs 8.1 to 8.3, and if the calcium reactor is offline, it measures 8.3 to 8.5 daily. Does that make sense?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley: how the lower pH caused by a calcium reactor will impact SPS growth if one is running a skimmer and has good surface water turbulence? Offsetting that pH drop is important or only cosmetic?

The effect on corals of the pH change that Melev shows is not entirely clear, but most scientists think that coral skeleton growth is faster at higher pH based on lab coral growth tests. Some recent tests acidifying small patches of the ocean show no difference. So I can't be sure, but I tend to think it will reduce growth. However, fastest growth may not always be the goal.