Not Sure What To Do Next

Eel-byte · 02/22/2010, 11:23 AM

I picked up a calcium reactor to help keep calcium levels in my tank at a constant level. Mostly due to my busy life and couldn't remember to dose my 2 part. This is on a 58g tank with a very light bio load. A few stoney's , mostly mushrooms. I had great success with the B-Ionic 2 part solution. Great coraline growth, great stony coral growth. But since switching to the reactor I cannot keep stony corals and my coraline has stopped "reproducing". I'm thinking of going back to dosing. But i am planning on moving up from my 58g to a 120g come spring. I don't know how dosing will handle that size of tank. I'm not planning on having a huge forest of sps. Either i'm replacing the rock or bleaching it to get rid of the shrooms. I was looking at the Profilux stand alone, lots of $$$$. I did pick up an RKE to replace my RK2. So possibly instead of the Profilux going with two BSR dosing pumps. I have never tested for magnesium. But my dkh is 8.5 with a calcium level of 450. I'm using Reef Crystals.

Thanks for the help

Eel-byte · 02/23/2010, 06:20 AM

Anyone? I bought a chalice about a week ago and have already noticed tissue resession.

Chiefsurfer · 02/23/2010, 09:51 AM

you have a grounding probe? Might just be coincidance, or the calcium reactor leaking electricity.

karsco · 02/23/2010, 11:15 AM

EB,

I can tell you my experience with using Two Part. (BRS) I have been manually dosing my 140 cube for about three months now with two part (Alk & Calc.) about 100 ml of each every day. I dose 20 oz of Mag when I go through a gallon of the Calc. & Alk. This regimen keeps my Calc in the 460 range, my Alk at around 8-9dKH and my Mag at around 1350-1400. I just bought two (2) BRS dosing pumps, and will be hooking this up to automate my dosing. The dosing pumps will be controlled by my RKL. I have been very happy with the results and all my corals, SPS,LPS and softies are doing very well. I have two large SPS colonies, and a couple bigger LPS but most of the SPS are little sticks right now so my dosing amounts will definitely be going up in the future.

I have never had a Calcium reactor so I can't comment on that, although I know a lot of people who have switched from using a reactor to dosing two part with dosing pumps due to it being a little more stable.

Eel-byte · 02/23/2010, 03:47 PM

I do not have a grounding probe. I did just test my magnesium, it is at 1290. I know that is a little low.

Reefbox · 02/23/2010, 04:35 PM

I'll employ automated dosing anyday over a calcium reactor. Especially if you r gone frequently or for lon times. Calcium reactors need constant attention.

An aqualifter and a timer with minutes or seconds increments is a cheap way of dosing.

Eel-byte · 02/23/2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefbox

I'll employ automated dosing anyday over a calcium reactor. Especially if you r gone frequently or for lon times. Calcium reactors need constant attention.

An aqualifter and a timer with minutes or seconds increments is a cheap way of dosing.

If I switch, I was planning on using my RKE for controlling dosing. If I get lucky enough to find a used Profilux stand alone doser I'll go that way.

02/22/2010, 11:23 AM	#1
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,508	Not Sure What To Do Next I picked up a calcium reactor to help keep calcium levels in my tank at a constant level. Mostly due to my busy life and couldn't remember to dose my 2 part. This is on a 58g tank with a very light bio load. A few stoney's , mostly mushrooms. I had great success with the B-Ionic 2 part solution. Great coraline growth, great stony coral growth. But since switching to the reactor I cannot keep stony corals and my coraline has stopped "reproducing". I'm thinking of going back to dosing. But i am planning on moving up from my 58g to a 120g come spring. I don't know how dosing will handle that size of tank. I'm not planning on having a huge forest of sps. Either i'm replacing the rock or bleaching it to get rid of the shrooms. I was looking at the Profilux stand alone, lots of $$$$. I did pick up an RKE to replace my RK2. So possibly instead of the Profilux going with two BSR dosing pumps. I have never tested for magnesium. But my dkh is 8.5 with a calcium level of 450. I'm using Reef Crystals. Thanks for the help

02/23/2010, 09:51 AM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	you have a grounding probe? Might just be coincidance, or the calcium reactor leaking electricity. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/23/2010, 04:35 PM	#6
Reefbox Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,045	I'll employ automated dosing anyday over a calcium reactor. Especially if you r gone frequently or for lon times. Calcium reactors need constant attention. An aqualifter and a timer with minutes or seconds increments is a cheap way of dosing. __________________ Jason

02/23/2010, 06:20 AM	#2
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,508	Anyone? I bought a chalice about a week ago and have already noticed tissue resession.

02/23/2010, 11:15 AM	#4
karsco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 645	EB, I can tell you my experience with using Two Part. (BRS) I have been manually dosing my 140 cube for about three months now with two part (Alk & Calc.) about 100 ml of each every day. I dose 20 oz of Mag when I go through a gallon of the Calc. & Alk. This regimen keeps my Calc in the 460 range, my Alk at around 8-9dKH and my Mag at around 1350-1400. I just bought two (2) BRS dosing pumps, and will be hooking this up to automate my dosing. The dosing pumps will be controlled by my RKL. I have been very happy with the results and all my corals, SPS,LPS and softies are doing very well. I have two large SPS colonies, and a couple bigger LPS but most of the SPS are little sticks right now so my dosing amounts will definitely be going up in the future. I have never had a Calcium reactor so I can't comment on that, although I know a lot of people who have switched from using a reactor to dosing two part with dosing pumps due to it being a little more stable.

02/23/2010, 03:47 PM	#5
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,508	I do not have a grounding probe. I did just test my magnesium, it is at 1290. I know that is a little low.