Dosing versus old school

[Graffiti Spot]

I don't know why dosing, over a cal rx, would make colors better. I ran dosing pumps until my tanks uptake of two part became way too much. After switching to the reactor only difference is all my sticks took off even more

Dosing isn't going to give you better colors. I agree a reactor is better and all I will use now. I tried bionic which is said to have all the elements but switched to a calcium reactor in no time. I saw no difference in growth or color from using bionic vs randys two part. Coral skeletons have ALL the elements you need in the right amount. No human product will equal what melting coral gives you.

Use a carbon Doser electronic regulator and a good reactor with a strong pump with some zeomag in it and life will be good!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy,
As the leading expert in this field, What systems have you ran and what recommendation would you make to a very old school guy like myself? The people that help service my tank are leading the push to change to dosing and have recommended the Balling sysstem. My actual experience is almost zero for any type of dosing.

Thanks.

I use limewater only for my system (along with water changes, some iron and some silicate), but mine is not an SPS system.

For a smaller SPS system, I'd probably use two part dosing, such as B-ionic or a DIY.

For a big system, I might use a CaCO3/CO2 reactor.

With any of these methods, you might need to monitor and/or dose some other elements since none of these Ca/Alk/Mg systems are designed to replace what growing organisms use up that is not in a skeleton, such as iron, maybe potassium, etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, I have an update article on selecting an alkalinity and calcium supplement method, describing the pros and cons of each, as well as cost estimates, coming out in a couple of weeks.

 

[Chameleon]

two part works for me...ive got a calcium reactor gathering dust on a shelf because two part...per randy's recipe...works great and isn't too expensive on 100 gallon system supplemented with kalk in the top off. No more worries of a filled CO2 tank and pH

 

[Zero Nitrates]

Randy, how big of a system is switching to a reactor recommended? in your opinion

 

[zemuss]

I just recently had a alk issue but it didn't crash the tank. It really just made a big *** mess because the calcium came out of suspension and created a snow affect. Calcium is back to 380 to 390 and Alk is 10.5, slowly dropping. Trust me i freaked and thought i was done for but everything is ok.

 

[sealbeach1]

It seems that there is mixed feelings (closer to fifty-fifty) about this subject, I think I need to research this issue more before I can make up my mine to switch to dosing...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to everybody here on R2R