Kalkwasser stirrer or Calcium reactor...Pros & Cons

davidr · 01/07/2009, 03:32 PM

Currently 2 part calcium supplementing and looking into either kalkwasser stirrer for my top off, which seems pretty cheap and easy, or a calcium reactor. Not really sure of pros and cons of them comparatively...any thoughts would be great!

kajung2k · 01/07/2009, 03:38 PM

If you can afford it, you should do both. The Calcium reactor will maintain your calcium level at whatever level you choose, but when you add in fresh rodi top off water there is no calcium in it. Therefore the kalkwasser will keep your calcium levels maintained when adding in top off

Zimster · 01/07/2009, 03:42 PM

last week i had a great discussion about this with the owner of my LFS. I asked about a certain calcium reactor. He came right out and said that a reactor was more trouble than its worth. According to him, sales of reactors have dropped significantly because people are going back to kalkwasser.

pH is a big problem with reactors and they can mess with your whole tank pH even with a tiny bit of tuning. However they can save some time and money with large tanks that have a large calcium load.

i was persuaded and went with the kalk since i have a smaller tank

davidr · 01/07/2009, 03:50 PM

Either way I go I will be using the Reefkeeper 2 controller w/ ph monitor, so will that make the Ca reactor for fesable...the largest I want to eventually go is 125gal with stonies.

davidr · 01/07/2009, 03:51 PM

*feasible*

01/07/2009, 03:32 PM	#1
davidr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 40	Kalkwasser stirrer or Calcium reactor...Pros & Cons Currently 2 part calcium supplementing and looking into either kalkwasser stirrer for my top off, which seems pretty cheap and easy, or a calcium reactor. Not really sure of pros and cons of them comparatively...any thoughts would be great!

01/07/2009, 03:38 PM	#2
kajung2k Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 1,002	If you can afford it, you should do both. The Calcium reactor will maintain your calcium level at whatever level you choose, but when you add in fresh rodi top off water there is no calcium in it. Therefore the kalkwasser will keep your calcium levels maintained when adding in top off

01/07/2009, 03:42 PM	#3
Zimster Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maple Grove, MN Posts: 86	last week i had a great discussion about this with the owner of my LFS. I asked about a certain calcium reactor. He came right out and said that a reactor was more trouble than its worth. According to him, sales of reactors have dropped significantly because people are going back to kalkwasser. pH is a big problem with reactors and they can mess with your whole tank pH even with a tiny bit of tuning. However they can save some time and money with large tanks that have a large calcium load. i was persuaded and went with the kalk since i have a smaller tank

01/07/2009, 03:50 PM	#4
davidr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 40	Either way I go I will be using the Reefkeeper 2 controller w/ ph monitor, so will that make the Ca reactor for fesable...the largest I want to eventually go is 125gal with stonies.

01/07/2009, 03:51 PM	#5
davidr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 40	feasible