calcium reactors and kalk reactors

[REEFKEEPER10]

I am looking to get into sps in the future so I am trying to learn as much as possible first. my question is can I just run a kalk reactor or do I need to use a calcium reactor to. it will be a 150 mixed reef with sps being dominant.

 

[skinz78]

I just drip Kalk in my 120g, but recently I have had to dose quite a bit of 2 part.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I get so busy around the house that I forget to dose so I am looking to automate it.

 

[dallas reefer]

Can't you just dose everything in you top off water?

 

[jabbott]

I found the easiest way to automate is to just use 2 part with 2 dossers running on timers. I have seen a lot of people get frustrated with calcium reactors.

 

[five O]

I went the simple route. Kalk reactor from Avast. Safe and Simple

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

two part will be to expensive on a 150 gallon tank. this tank is going be setup on a low budget. I am eirher going to use a calcium reactor or fauna marin balling method. the calcium reactor is going to be a coralife 250.

 

[Reef Pets]

I use a Coralvue Kalk Stirrer and its awesome. Keeps Alk and Calcium right were it needs to be. Its maintenance free, I put Kalk powder it the chamber about once every two weeks, which takes about 2 minutes to do and thats it.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

so do you dose magnesium and how is it setup.

 

[dallas reefer]

I use 2-part on my 175 & I was talking with some local guys, evidently if you use mrs wages pickling lime, it maintains alkalinity AND calcium. But it doesn't maintain magnesium. You've got to stay on top of magnesium. Or else it throws the other two outta whack.

Oh you have to get them at the right levels first.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I dose with seachems reef buffer and I think kents reef complete on my 75 gallon. at night I drip lime water in to my sump.

 

[jabbott]

two part will be to expensive on a 150 gallon tank. this tank is going be setup on a low budget. I am eirher going to use a calcium reactor or fauna marin balling method. the calcium reactor is going to be a coralife 250.

I don't know why you think 2 part is expensive. The Bulk Reef Supply 2 part (actually 3 part, comes with mag) large kit is $70. and it makes 8 gallons of calc and alk and 3 gallons of mag. Depending on your tank load that's enough for a couple years for only $70.
O and do a little research on the coralife unit. A lot of people have had problems with the bubble counters.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I never thought about mixing my own and I did research the coralife calcium reactor and it does have a few problems but I am unemployed at the moment and if I am going to set up my 150 in the next year I have to cut a few corners. but I want go cheap on filtration and lighting.