DOSER OR CALCIUM REACTOR

[jose hernandez]

SO SETTIN UP A REEFER 750XXL THIS WILL BE A SPS DOMINANT I HAVE 2 NEPTUNE DOS N 2 DDR MY QUESTION WOULD BE SHOULD I STAY DOSING OR GET A CALCIUM REACTOR NEVER HAD A CALCIUM REACTOR SO DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM

 

[melanotaenia]

For a tank that size a calcium reactor would be a much better idea especially with SPS that will consume massive amount of CA/ALK once they start to grow out in a tank that size.

 

[jose hernandez]

MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE WHICH NAME BRAND REACTOR

 

[C. Eymann]

Personally like Geo and Korallin, however Korallin reactors can be a little intimidating to new calcium reactor users, their build quality and CO² efficiency is outstanding though.
Geo is definitely more user friendly
I have heard good things about aquamaxx and vertex as well.


Once you get the hang of tuning and are feeding the reactor with water from consistent source, it's easypezy and you will never want to go back.

 

[jose hernandez]

K THNKS

 

[SPR1968]

I asked myself exactly the same question for my new tank a few days/weeks ago. I spent hours reading up on them and the principal is fairly simple, in theory.

I looked into calcium reactors for ages and decided on the Deltec range, but in the US the Vertex reactor got a good review on BRS TV and there’s a video all about it. It’s difficult to get in the UK and parts etc.

At 750 XXL size your still fine with dosing as you are, and of course you also understand how to do it, and this is also my dilemma. My current tank is just a little smaller than your new one.

My new tank is around 530 USG, so perfect for a calcium reactor, but having never used one, I’m thinking at least to start, stick with what you know, and then maybe look into experiments with other equipment later once your happy with everything

 

[jose hernandez]

still debating

 

[jose hernandez]

thnks to evryone for the advice

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

I’m a dosing guy for me it has just work and plan to keep dosing once my 240 gallon sps grow out is full. Dosing keeps your ph high and for me high ph is a key to excellent growth.

 

[RJKain-777]

I have a calcium reactor on my Red Sea 425xl. Set it and forget it. Super easy.

 

[X-37B]

Use the doser you have. Once demand is thier you can decide on a calcium reactor or just stay dosing.
I dose esv 2 part by hand every morning. Started at 5ml now at 25ml 3.5 months in.
I have a tunze 7131 calcium reactor when demand is needed down the road.

 

[ScottB]

My reflex answer was similar to @SPR1968 to stick with what you know.

But given where I am at now, I am going to change my opinion. Go with the calcium reactor NOW. My logic:

An SPS dominant in a 750 growing well will be consuming 150 to 200ml of two part EACH DAY. My 525 consumes 150 and is still climbing. APEX warns me to refill every week. My basement is full of 5 gallon two part buckets (ESV Bionic loves me; poor UPS guy not so much.)

So BEFORE you get into this situation -- with thousands of $ in expensive sticks at stake -- learn now how to make the CalRx work. Over/under dosing NOW has minimal consequences.

Someday, I hope to learn how to take my own advice.

 

[jose hernandez]

so much good advice here this will be my first sps tank i was always a lps softies type now i want a challenge wanna set this up right from the start do want to be adding equipment later on as far as reactors looking at deltec cr twin tech geo and the vertex are these good choices

 

[C. Eymann]

so much good advice here this will be my first sps tank i was always a lps softies type now i want a challenge wanna set this up right from the start do want to be adding equipment later on as far as reactors looking at deltec cr twin tech geo and the vertex are these good choices

Vertex, geo, deltech are all good brands.
Calcium reactors are sometimes made out to be much more complex than they actually are,

Do however agree with what was said above about maybe using two part in the beginning when your demand rate will be changing as you will be gradually adding more calcifying inhabitants you will need to adjust your tuning accordingly.
this may not pose a challenge for a veteran calcium reactor user, but for someone with little experience with them it may be easier to use two part, then bring the calcium reactor online once your done stocking with coral for the most part and their growth is taking off.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Vertex, geo, or Korallin- NO Coralife or off brand

 

[jose hernandez]

REEF FISH SELLIN A CALCIUM REACTOR IT HAS DUAL CHAMBERS WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DUAL CHAMBER IS IT BETTER?

 

[C. Eymann]

REEF FISH SELLIN A CALCIUM REACTOR IT HAS DUAL CHAMBERS WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DUAL CHAMBER IS IT BETTER?

It helps buffer the pH of the output (effluent) and makes it a bit more saturated with calcium carbonate, thus a tad more efficient and less potiental impact on aquarium pH.

Edit : Its not really necessary, but nice to have none the less.

I built my own out of an old RO/DI canister to add on to my single chamber Korallin

 

[Bpb]

Whatever you decide there is a learning curve to them. So bear in mine the longer you wait, the more problematic it could be.

Also. If I were starting over, I’d absolutely just save my pennies longer and get a Dastaco or a Deltec.

Do I love my Geo? Sure. They’re well made. But the need for a high end separate feed pump, as well as a high end regulator in order to run it stable and make fine adjustments could be avoided through one of the above mentioned units, and without much difference in cost

 

[jose hernandez]

i was looking at the deltec cr twin tech 1500 calcium recator i see others have a carbon doser regulator as well as a kamoer pump and a ph probe with there reactors would i still need to buy all of that along with the deltec?

 

[Breadman03]

Based on the info from this site, it appears you would need to buy the following:

• CO2 bottle, CO2 regulator (important, 2 stage regulator is required) and CO2 hose.
• Calcium reactor media.

For the regulator, I'd suggest looking up Alan Le. I think his forum presence is on Reef Central, but he has provided info to build your own regulator and what parts need to be sourced. It's possible to build them fairly inexpensively if you have some time to shop around.

I recommend getting 2 CO2 bottles so that you can always have one filled and ready to swap out. I don't have anywhere convenient that refills them, just places that exchange, so I'm not worried about having a nice looking bottle. I just swap out as needed.

There is debate as to which reactor media is best, so feel free to jump into that discussion. I chose TLF Reborn as it comes up in that "best" category often. Note that calcium reactor media often falls short in replenishing magnesium. Many folks choose to either dose it seperately or add a little bit of special media to the reactor that is high in magnesium. Neomag and Remag are two popular choices.