Kalk Reactor OR Dosing pump ?

[427HISS]

I'm building a 125g mixed reef, with no planned,.....SPS's, but all other corals.

Reef Dynamics has his KWM135 - Kalkwasser Mixer for aquariums from 50-150 gallons,
on sale now. 10% off.

Kalkwasser Mixer for aquariums from 50-150 gallons.

Questions-

What is better, a Kalk reactor or just simply mix up a container and use a dosing pump
like BRS's or,... I do have a new Bubble Magus to use, but that is intended for the 93g cube
all SPS tank, that I'll be setting up sometime.

How well does Reef Dynamics reactor work compared to other brands and types of reactors,
stir, magnet etc. ?

 

[jent]

What are you doing now to maintain Ca levels? Are you using kalk in your ATO? Are you manually dosing? Is water changes enough to maintain your levels? I am just curious why your looking for more. When I used to run a primarily softy + lps tank, with just some monti, I never had a need for a reactor or dosing pumps. It was only once I got into clams, and more SPS intense that those simple means became unreasonable.

 

[427HISS]

We're just now putting together a system, but from past experiences, I used to just use a DIY container
with a medication IV drip line. That was a in the wall reef with a reef room, so I did not mind the appearance.
This tank is in the living room, with a stand and a planned 55g sump.

So everything needs to be neat and tidy.

I like keeping the calcium level up to 425-440 for LPS's, coralline and I'm sure the only true stony's
will be my wife's clams. Water changes alone will not supply enough calcium.

 

[jent]

I would supply kalk with your ATO system first. WC's alone may not be enough, but I bet a little kalk in your ATO system may be able to keep up...why make it more complicated, expensive if it is not needed yet?

 

[heathd.hd]

Kalk in ato container and any simple ato setup will work just fine. I use a 20 dollar lift pump plugged into my controller. If you get a pure sps tank going with large colonies the kalk will not keep up but for a normal tank all will be just peachy.

 

[heathd.hd]

I also throw a 1/3 cup vinegar in my mix per 5 gallons! 2 birds one stone. Really simple and cheap. A bag of pickling lime is 2.99 and lasts me 6 months.

 

[427HISS]

I also throw a 1/3 cup vinegar in my mix per 5 gallons! 2 birds one stone. Really simple and cheap. A bag of pickling lime is 2.99 and lasts me 6 months.

I haven't heard/read much about vinegar dosing. How much does that keep your nitrates down (assuming that's what you use it for) ?

I may just hook up my BRS dosing pump for the Kalk then.

 

[heathd.hd]

I'm not sure exactly but my tank runs almost Ulns with cheato that grows like weeds and monthly water changes. I started the vinegar dosing because I couldn't get rid of some cyano. My phosphates and nitrates barely register on red sea test kits. I'm actually going to back off on the amount I dose. The cyano I'm thinking was my use of aqua vitro fuel. I stopped dosing that and my cyano has been gone.

 

[heathd.hd]

People say that the kalk water in the ato will ruin dosing pumps. That's why I've stuck to the cheapo lift pump.

 

[heathd.hd]

I haven't heard/read much about vinegar dosing. How much does that keep your nitrates down (assuming that's what you use it for) ?

I may just hook up my BRS dosing pump for the Kalk then.

Read this about vinegar dosing.

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

 

[427HISS]

I'll read the information. Thanks.

I watched a BRS video about using Kalk, and they say to run water through
the doser to clean it out.