To add a calcium reactor or not?

[Currdawg12]

So my tank is a 45 gallon with a reef breeders photonv2 and one power head but seems like my coral aren’t taking off like I would like. Would adding a calcium reactor or adding a t5 light be better?

 

[lapin]

Without any numbers on water or par levels on lighting in your tank we can not make a good guess .

 

[Currdawg12]

Without any numbers on water or par levels on lighting in your tank we can not make a good guess .

Calcium-350
Phosphate-0
Nitrate-5
Ammonia-0
Salt 1.023

Don’t have par reading on my tank but at 12 inch above the water and 24inch long tank I should be getting around 150 to 200 everywhere

 

[Realposition]

I've run a calcium reactor and 2 part. I didn't notice growth increase with 1 over the other so I would honestly look elsewhere.

 

[xaflatoonx]

That’s like asking would getting a car be better or buying a blender.

Two different things. That do two different jobs.

Get a calcium reactor when you have enough alk and cal consumption to justify the expense. Get the lights when you are ready to get corals because without good lights a cal reactor would be just an expensive paperweight.

I meant no offense by the way. The analogy was meant to be a joke not an insult.

 

[DarthSimon]

That’s like asking would getting a car be better or buying a blender.

Two different things. That do two different jobs.

Get a calcium reactor when you have enough alk and cal consumption to justify the expense. Get the lights when you are ready to get corals because without good lights a cal reactor would be just an expensive paperweight.

I meant no offense by the way. The analogy was meant to be a joke not an insult.

Spot on.

 

[Seminoles76]

I would try and get parameters in a more acceptable range first. Acceptable range meaning based off what the bulk of other reefers are running.
If it were my tank I would bump calcium over 400. Get some po4 in the tank by feeding more. I would raise salinity to 1.025/1.026.
I would stick with 2 part if you are not seeing a lot of growth. More than likely it’s your parameters causing growth inhibition without knowing your par/spectrum and the age of your tank.

 

[Currdawg12]

That’s like asking would getting a car be better or buying a blender.

Two different things. That do two different jobs.

Get a calcium reactor when you have enough alk and cal consumption to justify the expense. Get the lights when you are ready to get corals because without good lights a cal reactor would be just an expensive paperweight.

I meant no offense by the way. The analogy was meant to be a joke not an insult.

Lol no offense here! I’m new to everything. But I do have good leds but just curious if adding a t5 would help but I think I’ll will try working on the parameters more

 

[Currdawg12]

I would try and get parameters in a more acceptable range first. Acceptable range meaning based off what the bulk of other reefers are running.
If it were my tank I would bump calcium over 400. Get some po4 in the tank by feeding more. I would raise salinity to 1.025/1.026.
I would stick with 2 part if you are not seeing a lot of growth. More than likely it’s your parameters causing growth inhibition without knowing your par/spectrum and the age of your tank.

Tanks only 4 months old but I’m just curious if there are tricks or things I can add on now to help me later. Mostly because I have a little extra money at the moment

 

[ryeguyy84]

Tanks only 4 months old but I’m just curious if there are tricks or things I can add on now to help me later. Mostly because I have a little extra money at the moment

Get your parameters in line, especially alk. You need stability more than anything.

What led are you running?

 

[Acroporaaddict]

Your led is fine. I've grown sps with photon v2s. What is your alkalinity. I see you didnt post it and in my opinion that's the most important parameter to be testing

 

[Hemmdog]

Magnesium matters just as much as alk and cal as well.

 

[Acroporaaddict]

Magnesium matters just as much as alk and cal as well.

I disagree. Some people dont dose mag, some dose once a week, some dose daily. Mag can be ran from 1300 - 1500 and still be good. Let your alk bounce around from 8-10 and see what happens. Ime alk swings should be at most .2dkh per week, but I keep only sps. Other corals may tolerate more of a swing

 

[Currdawg12]

I disagree. Some people dont dose mag, some dose once a week, some dose daily. Mag can be ran from 1300 - 1500 and still be good. Let your alk bounce around from 8-10 and see what happens. Ime alk swings should be at most .2dkh per week, but I keep only sps. Other corals may tolerate more of a swing

Honestly I haven’t ever checked alk and don’t really know how

 

[High ICP]

Get calcium reactor out of your head until you are bored silly dosing 2 part or kalk

And you have done so many DKH tests that you can tell what your alk is by looking at your corals

 

[Acroporaaddict]

Honestly I haven’t ever checked alk and don’t really know how

I switch between a hanna checker and a salifert carbonate hardness test kit. I check my dkh every other day if not daily. Takes roughly 1 minute each time

 

[Hemmdog]

I disagree. Some people dont dose mag, some dose once a week, some dose daily. Mag can be ran from 1300 - 1500 and still be good. Let your alk bounce around from 8-10 and see what happens. Ime alk swings should be at most .2dkh per week, but I keep only sps. Other corals may tolerate more of a swing

I agree alk swings are more harmful; I just meant mag should be included in testing just like alk and cal to insure the big 3 are in balance.

 

[Currdawg12]

So if I can a alk swing how do I stabilize it

 

[ryeguyy84]

So if I can a alk swing how do I stabilize it

Stop dosing until the alk goes down then adjust your dose.

The Hanna checker is the easiest tester I know of for alk, I use the ultra low range version

https://clearchoiceaquatics.com/collections/hanna-instruments-1

 

[Currdawg12]

Stop dosing until the alk goes down then adjust your dose.

The Hanna checker is the easiest tester I know of for alk, I use the ultra low range version

https://clearchoiceaquatics.com/collections/hanna-instruments-1

Everyone keeps saying dosing but I don’t dose anything?