calcium reactor instead of 2 part dosing....?

ctniners · 10/16/2009, 12:01 PM

Hi Guys,
Maybe I should google this stuff but I rather hear from the actual reefers.....I was going to buy some 2 part B-Ionic from somebody and the person told me he was selling it because he now has a calcium reactor.....so my ignorant question is, does the calcium reactor replaces the 2 part supplements?.....and how?

Thanks guys

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/16/2009, 12:09 PM

They serve the same purpose, yes.

These have more:

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

seapug · 10/16/2009, 12:12 PM

yes, calcium reactors use the acidity of CO2 gas to slowly dissolve a calcium based substrate that creates an effluent very rich in calcium and alkalinity. A good calcium reactor setup with all the proper controllers can be expensive to set up and tricky to "dial in", but it is usually cheaper and less labor intensive than 2 part supplements in the long run if you have a tank with a high calcium and alkalinity demand. It's a worthwhile investment for tanks with strong lighting and large numbers of SPS corals and clams.

EDIT: See Randy's articles above.

ctniners · 10/16/2009, 01:17 PM

Thank you guys.....I will have an only SPS reef tank with maybe one or two clams in the future, so perhaps I should look into investing in one, my system is in the small side (75 gal tank)

Frogmanx82 · 10/16/2009, 02:19 PM

I just read through some of Randy's articles. He does a great job explaining the issues of calcium and carbonate balance and the choices we have to keep it in balance.

Mako · 10/16/2009, 08:45 PM

Nice article in this months Reefkeeping on CA reactors.

10/16/2009, 12:01 PM	#1
ctniners Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT Posts: 938	calcium reactor instead of 2 part dosing....? Hi Guys, Maybe I should google this stuff but I rather hear from the actual reefers.....I was going to buy some 2 part B-Ionic from somebody and the person told me he was selling it because he now has a calcium reactor.....so my ignorant question is, does the calcium reactor replaces the 2 part supplements?.....and how? Thanks guys

10/16/2009, 12:09 PM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	They serve the same purpose, yes. These have more: How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/16/2009, 02:19 PM	#5
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	I just read through some of Randy's articles. He does a great job explaining the issues of calcium and carbonate balance and the choices we have to keep it in balance. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

10/16/2009, 08:45 PM	#6
Mako Will Dive For Food Join Date: May 2001 Location: FL Posts: 5,652	Nice article in this months Reefkeeping on CA reactors. __________________ -Chuck "One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." -- W Durant Current Tank Info: 300 mixed reef

10/16/2009, 12:12 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	yes, calcium reactors use the acidity of CO2 gas to slowly dissolve a calcium based substrate that creates an effluent very rich in calcium and alkalinity. A good calcium reactor setup with all the proper controllers can be expensive to set up and tricky to "dial in", but it is usually cheaper and less labor intensive than 2 part supplements in the long run if you have a tank with a high calcium and alkalinity demand. It's a worthwhile investment for tanks with strong lighting and large numbers of SPS corals and clams. EDIT: See Randy's articles above.

10/16/2009, 01:17 PM	#4
ctniners Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT Posts: 938	Thank you guys.....I will have an only SPS reef tank with maybe one or two clams in the future, so perhaps I should look into investing in one, my system is in the small side (75 gal tank)