Neptune Trident/DOS

JurisHP · 01/29/2020, 07:56 PM

Now that I’m comfortable with my Trident, I want to use the dosing feature (Ca and KH). I do have a very good CaReactor—-isn’t it redundant to have a Ca Reactor AND dosing Ca and KH?

Krazie4Acans · 01/30/2020, 12:27 AM

Since when is redundant a bad thing in this hobby? Lol

It's not usually redundant like we think of most items on our tank. In the case of a reactor buffered by dosing it gives precision and partial redundancy. A reactor running a set pH and effluent drip rate does not have the ability to adjust for consumption during photo and non photo periods. So even with a tightly tuned reactor you will have an alk increase when the lights are out and an alk decrease when the lights or on. Yes the average throughout the 24 hour period looks like a target number. It's really not. Running the combined reactor and 2 part setup let's you set the reactor for just less than what your tank is consuming and then tune the eb and flow amounts using 2 part to really flatten out the swing. It's also been shown that using multiple types of carbonate yields better results tab just using one. Reactors supplemented with kalk top off or dosing have been the go to combination for years but very similar results occur using a reactor and soda ash.

EnderG60 · 01/31/2020, 09:44 AM

Im planning to do the same on my upcoming system.

Use the calc reactor for the majority of dosing and use the 2-part for the fine tuning.

Fine tuning a calc reactor is a PINA, this way you can use the 2 part and when you start using too much you can crank the reactor up a notch.

01/29/2020, 07:56 PM	#1
JurisHP Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 168	Neptune Trident/DOS Now that I’m comfortable with my Trident, I want to use the dosing feature (Ca and KH). I do have a very good CaReactor—-isn’t it redundant to have a Ca Reactor AND dosing Ca and KH?

01/30/2020, 12:27 AM	#2
Krazie4Acans Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 360	Since when is redundant a bad thing in this hobby? Lol It's not usually redundant like we think of most items on our tank. In the case of a reactor buffered by dosing it gives precision and partial redundancy. A reactor running a set pH and effluent drip rate does not have the ability to adjust for consumption during photo and non photo periods. So even with a tightly tuned reactor you will have an alk increase when the lights are out and an alk decrease when the lights or on. Yes the average throughout the 24 hour period looks like a target number. It's really not. Running the combined reactor and 2 part setup let's you set the reactor for just less than what your tank is consuming and then tune the eb and flow amounts using 2 part to really flatten out the swing. It's also been shown that using multiple types of carbonate yields better results tab just using one. Reactors supplemented with kalk top off or dosing have been the go to combination for years but very similar results occur using a reactor and soda ash.

01/31/2020, 09:44 AM	#3
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Im planning to do the same on my upcoming system. Use the calc reactor for the majority of dosing and use the 2-part for the fine tuning. Fine tuning a calc reactor is a PINA, this way you can use the 2 part and when you start using too much you can crank the reactor up a notch.