Cal. Reactor VS Dosing?

robertifly · 05/20/2007, 07:56 PM

1. Am I correct that a Calcium Reactor will have the benefit of being a tool tool to maintain both calcium and alk levels and can do so by using a controller/solenoid set up that monitors PH levels to turn on and off the reactor?
2. If 1. is correct then it will negate the need to dose Kalk?

Thanks for responses, I am looking for the better way to maintain Calcium and PH levels for SPS and CLAM species.

bertoni · 05/20/2007, 09:02 PM

The Ca reactor will dose both alkalinity and calcium, and the tank might not need any kalk if one is used. Kalk can help with low pH problems, and reactors tend to lower pH, since they use acid to dissolve the media.

robertifly · 05/21/2007, 05:11 AM

Thanks Bertoni, I believe the answer to 1. is Yes the best method for maintaining the cal and alk is to use a cal reactor w/controller. Is that what you are doing?

Tupps11 · 05/21/2007, 05:15 AM

Good question...i too am contemplating the installation of a calcium reactor. Id love to hear some more infor about them.

DSMpunk · 05/21/2007, 09:14 AM

I never have low pH problems with my Ca reactor installed. In fact my pH is actually a little on the high side of the scale. I dont dose anything but Mg and the occasional Ca because for some reason my Alk goes down slower than my Ca consumption. Check out this table from my ACIII

Date Temp pH ORP
13:00 05/14/2007 78.6 8.59 312
14:00 05/14/2007 78.9 8.61 312
15:00 05/14/2007 78.5 8.62 312
16:00 05/14/2007 78.2 8.63 310
17:00 05/14/2007 78.6 8.66 308
18:00 05/14/2007 78.9 8.69 311
19:00 05/14/2007 78.1 8.70 298
20:00 05/14/2007 78.3 8.65 313
21:00 05/14/2007 78.8 8.66 304
22:00 05/14/2007 78.4 8.63 306
23:00 05/14/2007 78.0 8.54 313
00:00 05/15/2007 77.8 8.50 319
01:00 05/15/2007 77.5 8.46 319
02:00 05/15/2007 77.4 8.44 321
03:00 05/15/2007 77.3 8.42 323
04:00 05/15/2007 77.2 8.41 319
05:00 05/15/2007 77.2 8.41 316
06:00 05/15/2007 77.1 8.42 319
07:00 05/15/2007 77.1 8.43 324
08:00 05/15/2007 77.0 8.41 322
09:00 05/15/2007 77.6 8.40 328
10:00 05/15/2007 77.7 8.46 330
11:00 05/15/2007 77.9 8.51 324

The second row from the right is my pH. I think the probe is about .2 on the high side but as you can see it never dips below 8.2 even at night. I dont have my reactor on a controller and it never turns off.

Out of all of my gadgets in my arsenal I think my Ca reactor is my favorite. Once you get it dialed in it needs very little maintenence and it makes life much easier in the long run.

robertifly · 05/21/2007, 04:10 PM

Thanks DSMpunk, and like Tupps11, I would like to hear from others about their use or non use of cal. reactors.

HAVE THEY MADE YOUR TANKS AND YOUR LIVES BETTER??

Also, what kind do they use and problems if any with them. I'm thinking GEO618 w/controller for my 90gal. DT and 40gal. sump/refuguim. I saw package deal on one of the online stores. They had two dif ones, one w/Milwaukee the other pinpoint. $600-800 but it is complete with supply of aragonite.

robertifly · 05/21/2007, 04:15 PM

What I think I]ve been seeing at least with the better reactors is
"set it and forget it" for about 3-4 months when you have to clean it out and reload it for another 3-4 months of near perfct calcium and alk levels with dosing left to maybe magnesium. With great coral growth. Now that's what I want!

05/20/2007, 07:56 PM	#1
robertifly Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milan, Tn Posts: 867	Cal. Reactor VS Dosing? 1. Am I correct that a Calcium Reactor will have the benefit of being a tool tool to maintain both calcium and alk levels and can do so by using a controller/solenoid set up that monitors PH levels to turn on and off the reactor? 2. If 1. is correct then it will negate the need to dose Kalk? Thanks for responses, I am looking for the better way to maintain Calcium and PH levels for SPS and CLAM species. __________________ reefracer Current Tank Info: none

05/20/2007, 09:02 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Ca reactor will dose both alkalinity and calcium, and the tank might not need any kalk if one is used. Kalk can help with low pH problems, and reactors tend to lower pH, since they use acid to dissolve the media. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/21/2007, 05:11 AM	#3
robertifly Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milan, Tn Posts: 867	Thanks Bertoni, I believe the answer to 1. is Yes the best method for maintaining the cal and alk is to use a cal reactor w/controller. Is that what you are doing? __________________ reefracer Current Tank Info: none

05/21/2007, 09:14 AM	#5
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	I never have low pH problems with my Ca reactor installed. In fact my pH is actually a little on the high side of the scale. I dont dose anything but Mg and the occasional Ca because for some reason my Alk goes down slower than my Ca consumption. Check out this table from my ACIII Date Temp pH ORP 13:00 05/14/2007 78.6 8.59 312 14:00 05/14/2007 78.9 8.61 312 15:00 05/14/2007 78.5 8.62 312 16:00 05/14/2007 78.2 8.63 310 17:00 05/14/2007 78.6 8.66 308 18:00 05/14/2007 78.9 8.69 311 19:00 05/14/2007 78.1 8.70 298 20:00 05/14/2007 78.3 8.65 313 21:00 05/14/2007 78.8 8.66 304 22:00 05/14/2007 78.4 8.63 306 23:00 05/14/2007 78.0 8.54 313 00:00 05/15/2007 77.8 8.50 319 01:00 05/15/2007 77.5 8.46 319 02:00 05/15/2007 77.4 8.44 321 03:00 05/15/2007 77.3 8.42 323 04:00 05/15/2007 77.2 8.41 319 05:00 05/15/2007 77.2 8.41 316 06:00 05/15/2007 77.1 8.42 319 07:00 05/15/2007 77.1 8.43 324 08:00 05/15/2007 77.0 8.41 322 09:00 05/15/2007 77.6 8.40 328 10:00 05/15/2007 77.7 8.46 330 11:00 05/15/2007 77.9 8.51 324 The second row from the right is my pH. I think the probe is about .2 on the high side but as you can see it never dips below 8.2 even at night. I dont have my reactor on a controller and it never turns off. Out of all of my gadgets in my arsenal I think my Ca reactor is my favorite. Once you get it dialed in it needs very little maintenence and it makes life much easier in the long run. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

05/21/2007, 04:10 PM	#6
robertifly Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milan, Tn Posts: 867	Thanks DSMpunk, and like Tupps11, I would like to hear from others about their use or non use of cal. reactors. HAVE THEY MADE YOUR TANKS AND YOUR LIVES BETTER?? Also, what kind do they use and problems if any with them. I'm thinking GEO618 w/controller for my 90gal. DT and 40gal. sump/refuguim. I saw package deal on one of the online stores. They had two dif ones, one w/Milwaukee the other pinpoint. $600-800 but it is complete with supply of aragonite. __________________ reefracer Current Tank Info: none

05/21/2007, 05:15 AM	#4
Tupps11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Beirut/Lebanon Posts: 153	Good question...i too am contemplating the installation of a calcium reactor. Id love to hear some more infor about them.

05/21/2007, 04:15 PM	#7
robertifly Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milan, Tn Posts: 867	What I think I]ve been seeing at least with the better reactors is "set it and forget it" for about 3-4 months when you have to clean it out and reload it for another 3-4 months of near perfct calcium and alk levels with dosing left to maybe magnesium. With great coral growth. Now that's what I want! __________________ reefracer Current Tank Info: none