Has anyone switch from calcium reactor to dosing, and why?

[CyberGuy]

Has anyone switch from calcium reactor to dosing, and why?

I thought that calcium reactor would be more stable, less trouble, and less cost in the long run.... and more importantly, provide good sps growth.

So why the switch?

 

[Reefer40b]

I guess im not really understanding... Are you wanting to switch to dosing from a calcium reactor?

 

[CyberGuy]

I have a Geo calcium reactor, media, Co2 tank, carbondoser regulator, Kamoer pump.... yeah.... the whole set up.

My tank is about 1. 5 month old with test sps and LPS frags that are doing well.

I just want to know if I should use the calcium reactor or do dosing to have success on my (will be) sps dominant 120 gallon tank.

Oh, I also have dosing pump ready to use if I go that route.

 

[jlts21]

I’m doing the opposite for the reasons you’ve already stated. Stable, less work (daily/weekly), and costs less than dosing

 

[Softhammer]

I run both. I tried decommissioning the reactor for ph purposes, the reduction due to co2, also my pump was leaking. No idea if that had any affect but I was tearing through an obscene amount of 2 part. So pump repaired (gotta love a 25 year old Eheim, still can get parts!) and reactor re installed. I still dose as it allows me to individually tweak Ca, Alk and Mg. I am slowly ramping the reactor back up but in my case dosing is here to stay. Reactor cannot keep up with demand. I have probably 230-250 gallons but packed with sps and the kicker is my 16” Derasa and 2 rapidly growing Gigas clams. So long story long, if you have one I’d keep it. If dosing keep it. The adjustability is fantastic but that is a curse for many who like to jack with stuff too much. Either way works great.

 

[NanoDJS]

I stopped using a reactor a long time ago , and manually dose only , I can keep everything exactly the way I want if Im trying too , with my system its really no issue ( 170g total) If I had a massive tank setup with all acros I would def get one on that badboi , I think theyre good for some systems but most people who run them honestly dont need them and its just a "gearpeen" notch in the belt.

 

[ReefHomieJon]

I run both. I tried decommissioning the reactor for ph purposes, the reduction due to co2, also my pump was leaking. No idea if that had any affect but I was tearing through an obscene amount of 2 part. So pump repaired (gotta love a 25 year old Eheim, still can get parts!) and reactor re installed. I still dose as it allows me to individually tweak Ca, Alk and Mg. I am slowly ramping the reactor back up but in my case dosing is here to stay. Reactor cannot keep up with demand. I have probably 230-250 gallons but packed with sps and the kicker is my 16” Derasa and 2 rapidly growing Gigas clams. So long story long, if you have one I’d keep it. If dosing keep it. The adjustability is fantastic but that is a curse for many who like to jack with stuff too much. Either way works great.

Tank pics pleaselol

 

[DarthSimon]

I run a CaRx as well as Dos with a Trident doing Controlled Dosing. If my CO2 was to ever run empty, the DOS would take over and step on the gas and Dos more if my parameters dropped.... Fail Safe.

 

[jlts21]

Reactor cannot keep up with demand. I have probably 230-250 gallons but packed with sps and the kicker is my 16” Derasa and 2 rapidly growing Gigas clams.

Sounds like you need a bigger reactor ;Hilarious

I just picked up a Reef Octo SRO5000D for a killer deal. It should keep up with my demand no problem lol

 

[Softhammer]

Thanks. The date and where in the works the tank was would be helpful.

Tank pics pleaselol

 

[Softhammer]

I do need a much bigger reactor but all my equipment is concealed in a custom built stand. Bigger won’t fit And having crap all over the place doesn’t work for me.

 

[SeaDweller]

My homie did. He said he couldn't deal with the effluent clogging "all the time", and he's a travelling person, so he didn't want issues happening while he was away.

I've never had an issue with my effluent clogging, ever.

 

[nezw0001]

I went from a calcium reactor to dosing. I had issues getting my calcium reactor dialed in and if there were problems while i was out of town no one could help. now with dosing I mixed up 30 gallons of ALK and don't worry about it. Plus my KHD keeps is totally stable.

 

[Softhammer]

I travel for a living and literally my reactor is set and forget. Twice a year I refill media and Co2. That’s it.

 

[Reefahholic]

I run both. I tried decommissioning the reactor for ph purposes, the reduction due to co2, also my pump was leaking. No idea if that had any affect but I was tearing through an obscene amount of 2 part. So pump repaired (gotta love a 25 year old Eheim, still can get parts!) and reactor re installed. I still dose as it allows me to individually tweak Ca, Alk and Mg. I am slowly ramping the reactor back up but in my case dosing is here to stay. Reactor cannot keep up with demand. I have probably 230-250 gallons but packed with sps and the kicker is my 16” Derasa and 2 rapidly growing Gigas clams. So long story long, if you have one I’d keep it. If dosing keep it. The adjustability is fantastic but that is a curse for many who like to jack with stuff too much. Either way works great.

Sounds like you need a bigger reactor and @OrionN Calcium Reactor Mod.

 

[Reefahholic]

I went from a calcium reactor to dosing. I had issues getting my calcium reactor dialed in and if there were problems while i was out of town no one could help. now with dosing I mixed up 30 gallons of ALK and don't worry about it. Plus my KHD keeps is totally stable.

I can do the same thing with my Apex and Calcium Reactor. I have a dosing pump too. If I have issues with one I can bring the other online. I can peg the internal pH of the reactor and it's fairly stable. Of Course I can run it without the Apex altogether, but having that tool is nice. I have mine set to were the Apex rarely has to turn it off/on. If the reactor "for whatever reason" happened to jump too high, I can cut the CO2 to the chamber or the feed pump/ Alk effluent to the tank. That simple.

 

[Reefahholic]

I run a CaRx as well as Dos with a Trident doing Controlled Dosing. If my CO2 was to ever run empty, the DOS would take over and step on the gas and Dos more if my parameters dropped.... Fail Safe.

Same thing I'm doing except I don't have the Trident. I have my wife test if needed and if the reactor wasn't delivering enough or too much I can cut the CO2 or use my phone to dose with my GHL 2.1 pump.

 

[OrionN]

Try to modify your Calcium reactor this way. It will drastically increase the Ca output. I can keep the pH of my Ca reactor chamber at 6.6 with very high flow through.
Orion's Calcium Reactor Modification

 

[Reefahholic]

Try to modify your Calcium reactor this way. It will drastically increase the Ca output. I can keep the pH of my Ca reactor chamber at 6.6 with very high flow through.
Orion's Calcium Reactor Modification

Minh, see my new thread about depressed pH.

 

[Rich Klein]

I run a CaRx as well as Dos with a Trident doing Controlled Dosing. If my CO2 was to ever run empty, the DOS would take over and step on the gas and Dos more if my parameters dropped.... Fail Safe.

Just ordered my Trident (finally ), and run a CaRx. I have a spare reactor and pump parts, and thought that I would just monitor my reactor's ALK and CA output with the Trident, which would allow me to be able to react quickly to a CaRx / equipment issue. But your idea is interesting and bears consideration. Thanks