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

hatfielj · Feb 2, 2020

For those of you who mention finding the right regulator and pump is key...which do you use/recommend? Just curious if there’s consensus there.

motortrendz · Feb 2, 2020

Since going to a carx, I'd never go back to dosing. I think dosing is important in the beginning stages of a reef tank as your system starts to use up alk and calcium. But once it starts consuming large amounts of product the daily swings become larger unless your using a doser multiple times through out the day. I had my reactor set up off a manifold and used a needle valve to control drip rate, which would clog up if I wasnt paying attention. But since I changed the system over to a kamoer on the return end and let it draw a syphon from my sump, I can dial it in to the exact amount of effluent I want. I'm not concerned about the bubble rate in my reactor as I use a ph controller to maintain 6.8 inside my chamber. It has worked flawlessly.

I dont think I would ever go back to just manually dosing. But I do like the idea of having one set up with the Neptune system to automatically dose if the reactor clogged or didnt keep up. It's a good fail safe for larger systems with high demand.

stephj03 · Feb 2, 2020

hatfielj said:
For those of you who mention finding the right regulator and pump is key...which do you use/recommend? Just curious if there’s consensus there.

Pump:. Masterflex with EasyLoad head, or Kamoer fx-stp if your budget constrained.

Google:

"official masterflex calcium reactor setup thread"

&

Regulator:. True dual stage welding/medical grade reg, carbon doser if budget constrained

Google:
"How to build a CO2 regulator for your calcium reactor"

JAMSOURY · Feb 3, 2020

Running the new EcoTech Versa pump for my calcium reactor. Switched from the Kamoer. They’re a lot cheaper than the Kamoers and they work perfectly!

jlts21 · Feb 3, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
Running the new EcoTech Versa pump for my calcium reactor. Switched from the Kamoer. They’re a lot cheaper than the Kamoers and they work perfectly!

I’ve been contemplating this as well. Save ~$100 and they state it is a continuous use pump, but with it being new I’m hesitant

Daniel@R2R · Feb 3, 2020

C. Eymann said:
This point is often down played or even wildly misunderstood by those who dont have experience with reactors.

The most probable way a reactor would "crash" a tank would be via a leak. Lets say a kid messes with the regulator/cranks bubble count way up, the reactor will probably spring a leak due to pressure build up long before its effect on the tanks actual chemistry will cause harm, quickly crashing a tank with a reactor would take actual effort, it doesn't happen overnight via mistake or poor tuning unless like mentioned a leak happens.

Its a misconception that should be thrown out, typical reactor effluent can range from 17- 35dkh
where as two part alkalinity components are usually over 5,000dkh.

Its pretty obvious that a OD of a solution with a dkh of say 25 will be far less detrimental than the OD of a solution with 5,000dkh

I think we're actually on the same page. I was saying I would choose a reactor over a doser. Reactor's are unlikely to cause quick swings in a tank. On a doser, it just takes 1 pump getting stuck on to crash a tank in a very short time.

DarthSimon · Feb 3, 2020

Dan,
Spot on, a CaRx is safer, and better for long term stability. Running a Trident for example, you get constant feedback on your parameters, alk, calcium and mag.

You have the ability to test alk (The most Important IMHO) 4 times a day and could have an alarm trigger if it goes up or down fast, if you were using an Apex Dos and something went wrong.

What I like about having a CaRx and an Apex Dos, if I ever run out of CO2, and I'm a few days away from my tank,
(vacation) I can up the dosing.

willtheld · Feb 4, 2020

I travel for work as well and could never quite dial my calcium reactor in with needle valves. the co2 would need adjustment every few days, the effluent would need declogging every few days. I could never trust it while away. I switched to a Dos for effluent and a carbon doser for the co2, its been pretty much set and forget since that. I would have gone the kameor, but being able to adjust how much effluent to meet demands based off trident won me over.

JAMSOURY · Feb 4, 2020

willtheld said:
I travel for work as well and could never quite dial my calcium reactor in with needle valves. the co2 would need adjustment every few days, the effluent would need declogging every few days. I could never trust it while away. I switched to a Dos for effluent and a carbon doser for the co2, its been pretty much set and forget since that. I would have gone the kameor, but being able to adjust how much effluent to meet demands based off trident won me over.

Do you do continuos dosing with the dos?

OrionN · Feb 4, 2020

willtheld said:
I travel for work as well and could never quite dial my calcium reactor in with needle valves. the co2 would need adjustment every few days, the effluent would need declogging every few days. I could never trust it while away. I switched to a Dos for effluent and a carbon doser for the co2, its been pretty much set and forget since that. I would have gone the kameor, but being able to adjust how much effluent to meet demands based off trident won me over.

All you need is a good CO2 regulator and a dosing pump for the Ca reactor. These are essential equipment for Ca reactor. Dosing CO2 with a cheap regulator and effluent rate with pressure from the return pump or Maxijet PH won't do (Does Maxijet still make those small PH).
It seem like this was the problem you had.

willtheld · Feb 5, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
Do you do continuos dosing with the dos?

I do, I have been running it for months as a straight 24 single dose, but I just turned on trident alk controlled dosing with it.

Forshurley · Feb 5, 2020

was wondering how is it running a calc reactor on a new tank? Wouldnt you have to wait for bio load to have high enough alk and calc uptake?

JAMSOURY · Feb 5, 2020

Forshurley said:
was wondering how is it running a calc reactor on a new tank? Wouldnt you have to wait for bio load to have high enough alk and calc uptake?

You can tune it down all the way if you’re not consuming much alk or cal

OrionN · Feb 5, 2020

Forshurley said:
was wondering how is it running a calc reactor on a new tank? Wouldnt you have to wait for bio load to have high enough alk and calc uptake?

You can put in minimal CO2 so there will not be much CaCO3 dissolves. This is how I turn it down. Once you need the Ca turn up the CO2. Increase the CO2 as the tank demand increase. Once the pH reach a minimum, and you still need more then increase both CO2 and flow rate.

Lollipop · Jun 3, 2023

nothing is failsafe especially when you use so many equipment. my system was stable and flourishing before Carx. when I expanded my system i went for Carx. all the right equipment you guys mentioned here. set-it forget-it isnt what i experienced. i found it difficult to control the effluent alkalinity- it changes due to so many things. ph level dropped so i had to install anothe media chamber and a two-canister co2 absorber system. i had to run my Skimmer 24-7. it was fine for a year with frequent tasks etc. when my main tank had a leak, i downsized and adjusted the system....

fast forward, i lost many corals due to alkalinity spikes and got fed up with all tasks involved. Now expecting a sabbatical leave, i call it quit- so glad that I am getting rid of all large equipment and electrical lines!!! Dosing is way easier to control and fix problems if there is any - a dosing pump and 3 liquids jugs are the only ones to pay attention! Today is the last day of the transition. no more testing everyday!!! it could be just me being lazy.

things to keep up for care when use Carx. It's not set it forget it.
-co2 tank fill
-co2 input (pressure of co2 tank and the controls)
-level of media in reactor
-pump to feed (it went dead a couple of times)
-pump for carx (i never had an issue with this one though)
-all the dosing line that can clog
-Kamore wifi stupid thing sometimes stops when i never clicked stop
-Komoer tubing change and then calibrating
-Co2 absorber media change

Rich Klein · Jun 3, 2023

Lollipop said:
nothing is failsafe especially when you use so many equipment. my system was stable and flourishing before Carx. when I expanded my system i went for Carx. all the right equipment you guys mentioned here. set-it forget-it isnt what i experienced. i found it difficult to control the effluent alkalinity- it changes due to so many things. ph level dropped so i had to install anothe media chamber and a two-canister co2 absorber system. i had to run my Skimmer 24-7. it was fine for a year with frequent tasks etc. when my main tank had a leak, i downsized and adjusted the system....

fast forward, i lost many corals due to alkalinity spikes and got fed up with all tasks involved. Now expecting a sabbatical leave, i call it quit- so glad that I am getting rid of all large equipment and electrical lines!!! Dosing is way easier to control and fix problems if there is any - a dosing pump and 3 liquids jugs are the only ones to pay attention! Today is the last day of the transition. no more testing everyday!!! it could be just me being lazy.

things to keep up for care when use Carx. It's not set it forget it.
-co2 tank fill
-co2 input (pressure of co2 tank and the controls)
-level of media in reactor
-pump to feed (it went dead a couple of times)
-pump for carx (i never had an issue with this one though)
-all the dosing line that can clog
-Kamore wifi stupid thing sometimes stops when i never clicked stop
-Komoer tubing change and then calibrating
-Co2 absorber media change

Posted earlier - for all those reasons after 3 years with a CA I switched to All-4-Reef and have been so happy. Emptied all of that equipment from my cabinet, don’t have to ever service and tweak that stuff again.

JB Reefer · Jun 3, 2023

CyberGuy said:
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?

YES Kalk at Night and Alk with a little Calcium during the day PH and Tank has never looked better and been stable. But I've also seen great tanks with Calcium reactors.