When to add Calcium Reactor? A poll.

[KenRexford]

I am curious as to when fellow reef keepers start think Calcium Reactors. I switched years ago from basic Kalkwasser to BRS two-part dosing. I feel like I am burning through that. So, when to add Calcium
Reactor?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I'd say if your burning through 2 part then it's time to step it up to the next level. But to be honest I only clicked on this because your posts are usually hilarious. Where are the jokes

 

[KenRexford]

I'd say if your burning through 2 part then it's time to step it up to the next level. But to be honest I only clicked on this because your posts are usually hilarious. Where are the jokes

Well, I usually like to let someone warm up the crowd first, you know?

 

[X-37B]

I was at 45ml of esv 1&2 when I switched.
Best thing I ever did for ease of operation and overall stability.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Strange to not include a "Not my preferred method" choice.

The poll also follows the ambiguous way of describing dosing by mL, which varies a lot from product to product, rather than a standardized measure like dKH per day.

 

[homer1475]

I voted "higher".

I would call my tank fairly stocked, but not packed. I dose 102ml of alk daily and have not even considered a reactor yet.

 

[ajjw0828]

I started for the first month or so with 2 part until I was able to find a good deal on a used CaRx. I know myself and I suck at monitoring two part and making it so wanted a CaRx right from the start to easily control CA & ALK. Best decision I ever made to be successful for my tank in my opinion.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree on doh rather than ml
Vast difference.

 

[aznreef99]

I switched from 2 parts after 1 1/2 year when most frags turned into mini colonies. With 2 parts, I find myself keeping to adjust dosages and unstable. I am happier now but still in tuning stage. Still
Keeping close eyes

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I switched from 2 parts after 1 1/2 year when most frags turned into mini colonies. With 2 parts, I find myself keeping to adjust dosages and unstable. I am happier now but still in tuning stage. Still
Keeping close eyes

IMO, that is the truly remarkable thing about the psychology of a two part vs a reactor (or limewater/kalkwasser).

With a reactor (or limewater), it is not possible to adjust alk vs calcium dosing, so no one worries about it. If needed, they just make occasional corrections with whatever is needed. Folks are happy with that.

A two part could be used EXACTLY the same way, but so many reefers think it is better to be constantly adjusting the doses independently.

Reefers always want to do something to improve their tanks, and that seems to lead many to stress over two part dosing, not because there is a need to do so, but simply because it is possible to do so. lol

 

[Loosechangereef]

So remember calreactors have moving parts, i had one years ago and it clogged output, instability
But my understanding there is eqiupment that stopps clogging kamour doser, aqaurium plants regulator, in todays market

 

[Jarry]

A two part could be used EXACTLY the same way, but so many reefers think it is better to be constantly adjusting the doses independently.

Definitely true, I never had to change the Ca and KH dosing ratio in 2 years of original Balling dosing and daily consumption over 2dKH. I believe that consumption ratio is more precise, then Salifert Ca test kit I'm using

 

[X-37B]

IMO, that is the truly remarkable thing about the psychology of a two part vs a reactor (or limewater/kalkwasser).

With a reactor (or limewater), it is not possible to adjust alk vs calcium dosing, so no one worries about it. If needed, they just make occasional corrections with whatever is needed. Folks are happy with that.

A two part could be used EXACTLY the same way, but so many reefers think it is better to be constantly adjusting the doses independently.

Reefers always want to do something to improve their tanks, and that seems to lead many to stress over two part dosing, not because there is a need to do so, but simply because it is possible to do so. lol

As always very well said!
Its really not that difficult to run a reef tank. Pick your style and parameters and focus on keeping them stable.
Carx or 2 part. I run one system carx and the other 2 part.
Both are very stable systems.
Best way to improve your system is to keep it stable.

 

[aznreef99]

I also find Apex Trident very helpful during the transition from two parts to calcium reactor since it is very important to know your numbers during dialing faze of the reactor. My Kh is good at 8.5-9, CA on the higher side at 450-570 and MG on the lower side at 1250-1300 which I manual dose to bring to 1350-1400. Surprisingly, it dose not decrease, maybe a little here and there

 

[KenRexford]

Strange to not include a "Not my preferred method" choice.

The poll also follows the ambiguous way of describing dosing by mL, which varies a lot from product to product, rather than a standardized measure like dKH per day.

I cannot imagine considering it. Deciding no? Sure. But not considering?

Then, the reason I went ml in as my basis is that cost seems to be the reason. Dosing two-part is easy, but a calc reactor might be cheaper at higher levels? I don’t care whether it’s a 10-gallon or 1000-gallon, the ml of two-part costs the same.

If cost is not the reason, then the amount of two-part per day is irrelevant.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I was on two part it wants bad 55ml a day I swapped over to carx because I didn't want to try to dial it in when my acros get to full colonies. I just figured it would be easier to adjust the carx along with the growth and I believe I save money with carx verses two part in the long run IMO. And I really like how my carx is keeping parameters stable too.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I cannot imagine considering it. Deciding no? Sure. But not considering?

Then, the reason I went ml in as my basis is that cost seems to be the reason. Dosing two-part is easy, but a calc reactor might be cheaper at higher levels? I don’t care whether it’s a 10-gallon or 1000-gallon, the ml of two-part costs the same.

If cost is not the reason, then the amount of two-part per day is irrelevant.

I think you may misunderstand two parts. Some cost far more per mL than others. And they have different potency, although the is not the primary driver of the cost difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I cannot imagine considering it. Deciding no? Sure. But not considering?

Well, I ran my tank for 20 years without using a two part or a CaCO3/CO2 reactor, so the dichotomy of the choice is perplexing. lol

 

[KenRexford]

Well, I ran my tank for 20 years without using a two part or a CaCO3/CO2 reactor, so the dichotomy of the choice is perplexing. lol

There are obviously other choices. I used to use kalkwasser. But, the poll clearly was designed for a specific person, one who uses 2-part and is interested in the idea of a calcium reactor. If you are a pure water changer and thinking about kalkwasser, then the question obviously wouldn’t be relevant yet.

I may be off base here, but my own experience runs sort of like this. A lot of people start with water changes. Then, you can’t keep up, so you move to kalkwasser. As uptake increases, slight variances start developing and pH is worrisome, so a lot of us switch to two-part kind of like opting to drive manual vs automatic. Then, the tank matures more and more, with dosage increasing, so you skim wetter to counter the salinity increase and add sodium bicarbonate to avoid weekly adjustment swings on an already high pH tank, possibly because the co2 scrubber is working so well. Then, at least for me, the craziest complicated reactor beast becomes intriguing, but that seems like a lot unless you really need to. So, some 2-part daily dosing level seems logical. Why? The danged dosing pump schedule gets more and more complicated, with higher and higher spikes throughout the day. The more level drip drip drip of the calcium
Reactor seems more stable somehow.

That’s how my experience has been. I assumed some shared experience.