Dosing or calcium reactor pros and cons

Lonelyreef · Apr 23, 2014

Ok so I finally have my stands built in my basement and I'm setting up my 93 cube and my 80 deepblue as my frag tank. I have seriously been considering using a doser but I have many friends that use calcium reactors with great success. I know there are many pros and cons on this subject. I have a mixed reef quite a bit of acans, zooas, shrooms, and sps little bit of everything. Money is not really the issue here but I want to try to understand the differences in what each can provide to you aquarium. I wouldn't mix my own dosing solutions I would get either a premix or a mix your own and add it to the doser.

I'd appreciate any help and or preferences you may have as far growth color and stability. Any pictures maybe of different setups and results are greatly appreciated thanks.

Lonelyreef · Apr 24, 2014

Bump. I need some input here please.

ReeferEric · Apr 24, 2014

Short recap of why and what I plan on doing.

Currently my system is on 2 part, I like it because my alkalinity gets depleted quicker. So adjusting the doser to put out more alkalinity is great for the tank.

Calcium reactor is an equal part, much like kalkwasser BUT the key thing here is that it runs 24/7 as an additive to the tank. Consistency is the key to success much like a constant water change rather then a bigger water change per month. If you use Julian's Reborn media, it melts down old dead coral which in turns puts alkalinity, calcium, trace elements, etc back into the system for corals to take up. Something 2 part and Kalk does not, that's unless you buy the ones with additives in them. Once things are dialed in, it's ALMOST set and forget but I would still do testing on alkalinity every few days to make sure it doesn't drift. At some point, 2 part will be needed if the level ever gets out of balance.

Cost wise, 2 part depending on how much intake your tank is using can eat up some money. BRS sells their stuff which is excellent, people love it. I would suggest using kalk on a constant drip and using 2 part to balance the levels as needed. That will save money but time for mixing and then adjustment are needed. Calcium reactor, media replacement every 6-8 months, again depending on use and same goes with Co2 gas.

Lonelyreef · Apr 24, 2014

Awesome advice I appreciate it. Any one else care to chime in is greatly appreciated.

StikHedRon · Apr 24, 2014

I too dose 2 part, you can get a couple peristaltic pumps and a whole bunch of BRS salts for what a cal reactor costs and I've heard many of people talk about how their always fiddling with their reactor to get it right. Sounds like a pain to me.

Lonelyreef · Apr 24, 2014

I too have heard this same thing. I just wonder if its not a good setup to begin with. However doses seem easy to use once dialed in. I just wonder if growth rates are the same

StikHedRon · Apr 24, 2014

I personally don't think its how you get the nutrients back into the tank that determines success. It's how well you can do it at a consistent level to allow your tank to succeed that matters... But that's just my 2 pennies.