How do you maintain calcium and alkalinity?

[Steelerfan747]

Hi all, I have been looking into setting up a new tank and I am trying to simplify myself when it comes to maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels so I was hoping I could get some input from all my reefing brothers and sisters. I have heard everything from adding 2-part, auto dosing of 2-part, co2, kalkawasser in auto top off and constant water changes.
Please share with me what method you use and how easy, economical and successful it has been in your system.

Thank you all for taking the time

 

[McMullen]

Simple tank like FOWLR or Sps tank and easy way to maintain alk and Ca+?

 

[Justiful]

I use Seachem reef carbonate, Seachem reef complete and Kent marine magnesium. Along with this calculator twice a week after testing. http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

 

[o2manyfish]

I use a Calcium Reactor. Every 8 months it takes about 45 minutes to open it up, wash it out, and refill the media. Every 2 months the Apex lets me know when the CO2 tank runs out and it takes 5 mins to swap that. I also run all my topoff water through a Kalk Rx. Every 2 weeks the Apex lets me know when the Kalk runs out and it takes about 90 seconds to add 4 cups of Kalkwasser to the Kalk Rx.

This handles the Calc & Alk demands of 100's of corals. It's pretty much set and forget till the Apex emails you a reminder.

Dave B

 

[redfishbluefish]

I have been a two part user (Randy's two part) since 2008. I'm thinking about switching to Kalkwasser in the top off with two part supplement. FYI, my two part is currently dosed with pumps connected to a ReefKeeper 2.

 

[ksanfranfan]

I dose 2 part calcium and alkalinity and drip kalkwasser 24/7.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I use kalkwasser as my top off, slow drip at night if possible.. I just set up a temporary drip system for my new tank that's only been going a couple days but I have used this simple method for many years on other systems with great results, I have some nice heavy wall 4" acrylic tubing that I'm going to make a more substantial reservoir/doser and use air line and a air adjustment valve to control drip to 1 drop every 5 to 10 seconds into my nano's sump.. I only add max amount of desired kalkwasser to the reservoir to prevent salinity drop or over dose of Ca

 

[twilliard]

This is how I dose

 

[Diesel]

This is how I dose

Dude, I love that doser.
Tell me more.... tell me more.....

Oh I second the calcium reactor to simplify the system.
Two part isn't bad either just a little more work.