Curious what the costs are for some of you and at what point does getting a calcium reactor start to benefit? I use 2 little fishes 2 part and I’m going through a gallon of Part A every 23 days. Roughly the same for Part B.
How much do you spend on dosing?
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Crabs McJones
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I've been using the brs 2 part, the 1 gallon mix bags. 8 bucks a piece and it takes me about 3 to 4 months to go through it. Only dosing about 35ml a day though.
WWIII
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I use a gallon of alk and a gallon of calcium roughly every 3 weeks, similar to you it sounds. I use @Randy Holmes-Farley diy recipe and have purcased the chemicals in bulk. It's pretty cheap when you do it that way, even using pharmaceutical grade/food grade materials. I figured out the cost before and it was somewhere around $7 per gallon for both parts using high quality chemicals.
Having said that, lot's of guys like using calcium reactors on big tanks with lots of corals. Not sure if it's a cost prohibitive decision solely though?
Having said that, lot's of guys like using calcium reactors on big tanks with lots of corals. Not sure if it's a cost prohibitive decision solely though?
I was under the assumption that using a calcium reactor at some point becomes more of a value than dosing if you’re using a lot. I didn’t have to dose much with my last tank. For the amount of coral I currently have and the tank being under 2 weeks old I was surprised of the daily consumption. What size tank? SPS or mixed? Mine is well mixed at the moment. I’m still learning a bit more before I take the SPS bait.
happyhourhero
Burner of the Tips
I use a bag of Mrs wages pickling lime about once a month so around $5 a month for calcium and alk.
WWIII
2500 Club Member
I think it can end up saving a little money if you have a tank full of corals sucking up the major elements. I have yet to try a calcium reactor on any of my tanks. I'm just not sure how the math works out since the good reactor setups seem to cost quite a bit up front. Or if one could find a used setup and get it rolling, it may pay for itself sooner rather than later. Seems like some guys still use kalk or 2 part along with their calcium reactors, just less of it. Many love them, some hate them, but for me personally I wouldn't look to implement one thinking I would save money.
My tank is a 250 gallon system, mixed reef, about 2.5 years old. I keep my alk at 8.3ish and do auto water changes that amount to 10% weekly. Maybe if I was using a gallon of 2 part every week I would look into a calc reactor, but I'm not sure what that would take coral wise, or even if that's possible on a system similar to mine? Hopefully some guys that have made the switch can chime in!
Interesting. I didn’t know they would supplement with kalk, is that to help manage ph or specifically to supplement the reactor? That’s a nice sized tank! I’ve yet to do a water change, I’m trying biopellets and the suggestion was to hold off to allow the bacteria to culture properly. I’ve noticed you’re in Louisville as well, it’s awesome to see some local reefers on this forum!
Bpb
2500 Club Member
Cost savings haven’t been part of the reason for a reactor for me personally. I’m 2 years in and probably still haven’t broken even. If you do a reliable correct setup it’s not cheap. Even without a masterflex pump you’re looking at $700-800 for a small to medium sized setup. Even with a Neptune DOS and boutique brand 2 part it would be a couple years or more before you even break even. The choice to use a reactor for most people lies in the lack of maintenance involved and how much they can handle
