Keep CO2 setup?

rainsong · 06/12/2021, 07:43 PM

I am converting my high tech 150 gallon planted freshwater tank to saltwater (never tried salt before). I read something about CA reactors. Should I keep my CO2 tank/regulator/solenoid in the small chance that I might need it at some point, or is CA reactor only for really large reef tanks?

Thanks

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Sk8r · 06/12/2021, 08:12 PM

I found that simple hand-dosing calcium ( ie you add it to your topoff water) fully sufficient for a wildly growing 50 gallon reef, and it probably could have handled a 75. It's all, however, dependent on how MUCH stony coral you have and of what type. I was growing hammer, which is real hungry and grows heavy skeleton (calcium),

SantaMonica · 07/30/2021, 04:50 PM

Good question on if a fw co2 setup will also work with a ca reactor. I'm sure the tank would, but my guess is that the other parts would not be suited.

Michael Hoaster · 07/31/2021, 10:25 AM

Yes, your CO2 setup will work with a calcium reactor. So, depending on what you end up doing, corals-wise, a calcium reactor can be a great option.

Dan. · 08/01/2021, 01:11 PM

I'd keep it. A calcium reactor can be a great piece on a reef setup once it's dialed in.
Great on high demand systems when dosing manually gets to be too much.

06/12/2021, 07:43 PM	#1
rainsong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Seattle area Posts: 6	Keep CO2 setup? I am converting my high tech 150 gallon planted freshwater tank to saltwater (never tried salt before). I read something about CA reactors. Should I keep my CO2 tank/regulator/solenoid in the small chance that I might need it at some point, or is CA reactor only for really large reef tanks? Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/12/2021, 08:12 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I found that simple hand-dosing calcium ( ie you add it to your topoff water) fully sufficient for a wildly growing 50 gallon reef, and it probably could have handled a 75. It's all, however, dependent on how MUCH stony coral you have and of what type. I was growing hammer, which is real hungry and grows heavy skeleton (calcium), __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/30/2021, 04:50 PM	#3
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Good question on if a fw co2 setup will also work with a ca reactor. I'm sure the tank would, but my guess is that the other parts would not be suited. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

07/31/2021, 10:25 AM	#4
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Yes, your CO2 setup will work with a calcium reactor. So, depending on what you end up doing, corals-wise, a calcium reactor can be a great option. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

08/01/2021, 01:11 PM	#5
Dan. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 53	I'd keep it. A calcium reactor can be a great piece on a reef setup once it's dialed in. Great on high demand systems when dosing manually gets to be too much.