Calcium Reactor

Michelle_02 · 10/26/2009, 07:12 PM

I am setting up my reef tank and I am reading so much about dosing calcium. With my old 180 gallon tank I dosed calcium and magnesium using Kent trace elements. I would keep Magnesium at 1300 ppm and calcium at 400 ppm. I checked the parameters every couple days. With my new tank I wanted to look into calcium reactors. I see that the Kent Marine AquaDose doesn't use CO2(it uses a medical drip line and roll adjuster) while other reactors do. I know that it is probably a personal preference item, but what would the pros and cons be for using liquid/manual dose, CO2 assisted dose or Non CO2 drip.

My other question is how would I dose Magnesium? Would I do it the same way?

Thanks.
Michelle

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2009, 06:24 AM

A doser that does not use CO2 MUST use soluble calcium and or alkalinity supplements. Such as limewater in one doser or a two part in two different dosers. It cannot use calcium carbonate they way a CO2 reactor does.

This has more:

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

and these may help:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

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

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

tkeracer619 · 10/27/2009, 07:32 AM

Both drip and reactors work well. I prefer reactors but only if a quality setup is used. A poorly set up reactor can be more of a pain then manually dosing. A properly set up and adjusted reactor can keep a tank stable for months.

Michelle_02 · 10/27/2009, 12:48 PM

Thank you for your help.

)

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2009, 01:11 PM

Good luck.

10/26/2009, 07:12 PM	#1
Michelle_02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincoln,CA Posts: 8	Calcium Reactor I am setting up my reef tank and I am reading so much about dosing calcium. With my old 180 gallon tank I dosed calcium and magnesium using Kent trace elements. I would keep Magnesium at 1300 ppm and calcium at 400 ppm. I checked the parameters every couple days. With my new tank I wanted to look into calcium reactors. I see that the Kent Marine AquaDose doesn't use CO2(it uses a medical drip line and roll adjuster) while other reactors do. I know that it is probably a personal preference item, but what would the pros and cons be for using liquid/manual dose, CO2 assisted dose or Non CO2 drip. My other question is how would I dose Magnesium? Would I do it the same way? Thanks. Michelle

10/27/2009, 06:24 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	A doser that does not use CO2 MUST use soluble calcium and or alkalinity supplements. Such as limewater in one doser or a two part in two different dosers. It cannot use calcium carbonate they way a CO2 reactor does. This has more: How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm and these may help: The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php 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 The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2009, 07:32 AM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Both drip and reactors work well. I prefer reactors but only if a quality setup is used. A poorly set up reactor can be more of a pain then manually dosing. A properly set up and adjusted reactor can keep a tank stable for months. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/27/2009, 01:11 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2009, 12:48 PM	#4
Michelle_02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincoln,CA Posts: 8	Thank you for your help. )