newbie!!!

fishyness · 01/21/2009, 10:58 AM

I'm still in the planning stages of a 90 g reef. I have been thru this site pretty thoroughly but just want an opinion on calcium reactors. Would you seasoned reefers use one on a 90? I can afford one. It's going to have a sump @ 30 gallon

phish guy · 01/21/2009, 11:06 AM

i have never used one, but if your going for SPS dominated, i would say yeah.

Playa-1 · 01/21/2009, 11:29 AM

It's something that you can add on later if you need it. If you think you may need it someday then leave a little room for it. A little dosing of Kalk or a two part system is likely all you would ever need.

craftedpacket · 01/21/2009, 11:31 AM

It will help with your coralline growth and help keep your alk in check. Until you get a good stony population going your calcium demands wont be that high.

What ever you do, like in anything else, you will be cussing yourself later if you don't go ahead and buy the good equipment now. You will end up buying it twice otherwise. Make sure you try to build in redundancy to everything you do, especially if you ever want to go on vacation and don't have someone to watch your tank. I have lost thousands of dollars of livestock to pump failures.

Before getting a Calc reactor make sure you are getting good return pumps, powerheads, heaters and skimmer. When you finaly get going, I have also had good luck with Turbo start. http://www.fritzpet.com/turbo-start-900/

It will get your bacteria going and allow you to add livestock more quickly. It really does work.

I am now working on rebuilding my tank due to my pump failure. One thing I will definitely have this time around is some sort of controller that can email me alerts.

Good luck

w16227 · 01/21/2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Playa-1
It's something that you can add on later if you need it. If you think you may need it someday then leave a little room for it. A little dosing of Kalk or a two part system is likely all you would ever need.

+1

When you are beginning - plan ahead for dosing and additives. Do not start out of the gate as you can cause more harm than good while the tank is developing. Long term plans may require the use of a reactor - but initially you should not. Most "additives" are already included in good salt mixes. Regular water changes cover all beginning tanks need. At some point - the bio load that you add will outgrow what you can provide through water changes. A good testing regime will let you know when additives will be needed.

Good luck

fishyness · 01/21/2009, 12:12 PM

ok thanks. going on vacation soon and then some serious planning begins. I will be posting a list of what I plan to buy for approval!!! or debate?

Playa-1 · 01/21/2009, 12:31 PM

Enjoy your vaction, We will be looking forward to the debate when you get back

01/21/2009, 10:58 AM	#1
fishyness Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 219	newbie!!! I'm still in the planning stages of a 90 g reef. I have been thru this site pretty thoroughly but just want an opinion on calcium reactors. Would you seasoned reefers use one on a 90? I can afford one. It's going to have a sump @ 30 gallon __________________ fish happens Current Tank Info: 120 reef w/basement sump

01/21/2009, 11:06 AM	#2
phish guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,003	i have never used one, but if your going for SPS dominated, i would say yeah. __________________ Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef, Reeftech LEDs ( on their way out for reefbreeder Photons), Reef Octoput NWB250, Custom made Sump/Refufium, Mp40wES, Koralia's. SPS, LPS, Zoas/Palys

01/21/2009, 12:12 PM	#6
fishyness Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 219	ok thanks. going on vacation soon and then some serious planning begins. I will be posting a list of what I plan to buy for approval!!! or debate? __________________ fish happens Current Tank Info: 120 reef w/basement sump

01/21/2009, 11:29 AM	#3
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	It's something that you can add on later if you need it. If you think you may need it someday then leave a little room for it. A little dosing of Kalk or a two part system is likely all you would ever need.

01/21/2009, 11:31 AM	#4
craftedpacket Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Odessa, TX Posts: 239	It will help with your coralline growth and help keep your alk in check. Until you get a good stony population going your calcium demands wont be that high. What ever you do, like in anything else, you will be cussing yourself later if you don't go ahead and buy the good equipment now. You will end up buying it twice otherwise. Make sure you try to build in redundancy to everything you do, especially if you ever want to go on vacation and don't have someone to watch your tank. I have lost thousands of dollars of livestock to pump failures. Before getting a Calc reactor make sure you are getting good return pumps, powerheads, heaters and skimmer. When you finaly get going, I have also had good luck with Turbo start. http://www.fritzpet.com/turbo-start-900/ It will get your bacteria going and allow you to add livestock more quickly. It really does work. I am now working on rebuilding my tank due to my pump failure. One thing I will definitely have this time around is some sort of controller that can email me alerts. Good luck

01/21/2009, 12:31 PM	#7
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Enjoy your vaction, We will be looking forward to the debate when you get back