I need a Calcium reactor education

[Richard_dicosimo]

I am in the process of setting up my 210 mixed reef. I have never run a calcium reactor or dosed kalk before.

On the new tank I am hoping to have a game plan so I have enough room for all the equipment I need. I want to have a super clean setup and I like knowing where my next step is.

How early should I be setting up a calcium reactor? Obviously to start the tank wont have much demand.

If you have a calcium reactor do you still dose for alk? Or does the calcium reactor handle that?

Is there a calcium reactor you would recommend for probably 250-300gal of system volume?

Additionally I'm planning a continuous waterchange system that will change 3ish gallons of water a day.

 

[Bpb]

If you use TLF reborn media it will supplement calcium, alkalinity, and whatever trace elements the previous organism used to assemble skeleton. It provides those elements in the perfect ratio. If you use the expensive synthetic aragonite you will only be adding calcium and alkalinity.

I’m noticing often lately that people are mistakenly believing calcium reactors only supplement calcium. I’m guessing people have moved away from them so much their mechanism of operation isn’t as common knowledge anymore.

Anyhow. Hope that helps

 

[Genetics]

Their real name should be alk reactors. Dialed in they will provide you with all the alk and calcium you will need.

 

[Richard_dicosimo]

How soon should I set one up?
Are calcium reactors rated the same way skimmers are?(often being rated for more capacity then is true)

 

[Sallstrom]

We've used ordinary coral gravel in our calcium reactors for many years. They should keep the alk where you want it, and the rest follows. Over time you might need to add some extra Ca, Mg, K, Sr etc, to correct the numbers. But that can be once a year or so depending on the consumption.

I can't recommend any since all I've worked with could have been better

 

[Sallstrom]

How soon should I set one up?
Are calcium reactors rated the same way skimmers are?(often being rated for more capacity then is true)

Depending on what you plan on putting in the tank. But I would install it pretty soon so you are ready when you need to start it. It might take a while to tune in too.

No, larger reactor just means you don't have to refill the media as often. Basically.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I'm so glad you asked this question! I'm standing by taking notes. ;Writing

 

[Genetics]

Throw out a few ideas of reactors you are looking at. If you buy smaller just realize that you will have to take apart and add media more often. I’d recommend a reactor that holds at least a whole container of ARM or equivalent for a system that size.

Kalk reactors are nice when combined through an auto top-off setup.

 

[FishTruck]

I wonder if you will even need a calcium reactor... if you are using a continuous WC system ???

 

[lapin]

I am in the process of setting up my 210 mixed reef. I have never run a calcium reactor or dosed kalk before.
On the new tank I am hoping to have a game plan so I have enough room for all the equipment I need. I want to have a super clean setup and I like knowing where my next step is.
How early should I be setting up a calcium reactor? Obviously to start the tank wont have much demand.

No need to run it for a few months. Normal water changes will take care of everything until you get a lot things growing in your tank. An advantage of starting it early, is that it will help you stablize alk if thats a problem.

If you have a calcium reactor do you still dose for alk? Or does the calcium reactor handle that?

The purpose of the reactor is to add what your tank uses up. You need to dose what ever to get to your numbers, then the reactor will keep them there.

Is there a calcium reactor you would recommend for probably 250-300gal of system volume?

I use a older model of the GEO 818. Works great on my 600g. Was a bit over kill on my 125g. It holds 22lbs (1/2 box) of Reborn media. I would also put in about 3/4 of a 1kg bag of Zeomag to help keep your mag up.

Here is a big boy. Not for home use.

 

[Richard_dicosimo]

I wonder if you will even need a calcium reactor... if you are using a continuous WC system ???

I imagine I certainly will need some additional supplementation. 3 gal/day of waterchange will only be 1% a day. Every day I will change a percentage of the previous days 3gallons aswell. So even though I'm continually changing water it will equal less than 30% a month.

I just like the idea of the stability of a continuous waterchange. Aswell once the waterchange system is setup it will just be a matter of making new saltwater and monitoring my tanks chemistry to stay ontop of that chore. My last tank the waterchange were not convenient and occasionally were neglected.

 

[Richard_dicosimo]

That calcium reactor is a beast!!! I am not sure I would have room under my stand for that beast and a decent sized sump.