Upgrading and help is needed.

[Flyflicker]

I currently have a 100 gal... well you can see what I have below. I have been running this setup for a long time and am actually thinking of setting up a little larger tank. I do not have any sps but I was thinking of adding a few into the new tank. So I was planning on adding some Mh's, a Kalk reactor, and calcium reactor.
The problem is that I am clueless when it comes to these reactors. I understand what they do (in theory) but I don't know how they are setup or which one(s) are the best to purchase. So I suppoise that my main question is which kalk reactor to get and which calcium reactor to get. Personally I was leaning toward the KORALLIN KALKREAKTOR for the kalk reactor and the premium aquatics GEO for the calcium reactor. Can anyone lead me in a better direction or better advice.
I also read that people hooked one or different reactors to a top off unit which is what I was thinking about... providing that I knew what I was talking about.
Can someone please help this poor newbie... or this ignorant not-so-new bee.

[ReefWreak]

I've heard great things about the GEO reactor for calcium. Dunno about kalk though, sorry. If you'll only be growing out SPS from frags, then for the first year or so of growth, you can add calcium, raise pH, and raise alk by just using kalkwasser (ro+di water + kalk powder/pickling lime/etc) and you'll be fine and save a buttload of money for when you really need the reactors. Just use one teaspoon to each gallon of top-off water, or drip/pump it as needed. Check out reefkeeping magazine for kalk ideas.

[Flyflicker]

Thanks for the advice. So you think that it might be best to just wait to get the reactors until everything gets a little bigger? I was also planning on adding some clams, keeping my lps, crabs, shrimp etc.. do you think holding off on the reactor would still be a good idea? Because anytime I can save money sounds good to me!

[Henry Bowman]

I am setting up another 90 and have gone through the Ca reactor research grinder for over a month. I was EXACTLY where you are regarding the choice between the Korallin and GEO. After reading through the Korallin thread, there are many folks that have a hard time dialing them in and the instructions are pretty poor. I have not heard anyone complain about setting up the GEO so that's the way I am going from premium aquatics.

I am going ahead and getting the reactor as I am plumbing and setting up but will probably use kalk and a 2 part to supplement the tank until the demand goes up. That way, it'll be ready to go when I decide to bring it on line. I also understand that it is important to have the calcium and alk at pretty good levels when you bring the reactor online so that you are "maintaining" levels with the reactor, not adjusting. Rendy-Holmes Farley and Jdiek on the Chemistry forum has some pretty good info on his site regarding reactor set up and dial in.

[Flyflicker]

That's some good information to know... thanks for the help. I was thinking the GEO and now from what you said I will definately lean that way.
I will also take a look at the chemistry forum.

So do you think that I should supplement and hold off on the reactor until the demands go way up?

[Henry Bowman]

I think that the demand in the tank needs to be working from low / minimal to moderate before I am going to start my reactor. I dont know that "way-up" is the appropriate timing (for me).
I do know that without some load on the system in terms of Ca and Alk, a reactor can oversaturate the tank and cause a precipitation event where the Ca will fall out of soloution and start coating the pumps and heaters in the tank.


LIke I said, I'm going ahead with plumbing it in when I set the tank up. Therefore, after the tank cycles and things are moving along, I can decide when to start it up.

[Flyflicker]

I think that I will do the same.. Thanks for the advice.