calcium and alkalinity methods?

[fiorano]

just wondering which methods people are using on their tanks. and now i am on the fence as to whether go the route of a dosing pump or a reactor. thanks for the input

[kien]

Randy-Holms 2 1/2 part.

* 1 part Alk (baking soda), dosed via dosing pump at 12am, 6am, 12pm, 6pm; 33ml per dosing.

* 1 part Calcium, dosed via dosing pump at 3am, 9am, 3pm, 9pm; 50ml per dosing.

* Magnesium once in a blue moon.

Parameters hold steady with very little fluctuation:

Alk @ 8 dkH
Calc @ 420ppm
Mag @ 1400.
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Baking soda (Arm and Hammer) from Sobey's. Calcium and Magnesium from Chemmaster/Littlesilvermax in bulk.
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Pretty much idiot proof. Kind of set and forget. Just have to remember to refill the reservoirs of Alk and Calc (2 liter coke bottles), when they empty.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/4073856663_db2037b40b.jpg

[Reefer Rob]

Ive never owned a calcium reactor, I've read too many posts by people struggling to get them "dialed in". 3 part with dosing pumps.

[christyf5]

Same as Kien. Auto-dosing Randy Holmes-Farleys 2.5 part via Aquatronica doser

Calcium and Magnesium from ChemMaster
Alk via baking soda

Its pretty darn easy, I used to have issues with my CO2 needle valve and went through CO2 like crazy with my alk all over the map. This is much easier.

[untamed]

You probably should have included Kalk in your poll...

I run a Ca reactor, but unlike most I have removed all the weaknesses in the system. Flow through the reactor is controlled by peristaltic pump and CO2 is controlled by pH probe and controller.

I also use Kalk in a Kalkreactor. It goes in only at night to help stabilize pH, but also contributes to Ca/Alk. Like my Ca Reactor, it is controlled by peristaltic pumps and monitored by pH.

[fkshiu]

Both Ca reactor and a passive kalk reactor.

My GEO Ca reactor was dead easy to set up and dial in. Maybe I was just lucky?

[Myka]

I manually dose reef designed products for calcium and alkalinity, and use littlesilvermax's magnesium.

[lastlight]

I'll eventually be dosing exactly what Kien does but without any automation for a bit.

[BlueAbyss]

I dose Ca and Mg, and let water changes take care of alk (my IO mixes up pretty high).

[whatcaneyedo]

Depends on which tank.
120gal Calcium Reactor and Kalkwasser Reactor
20gal Water changes only
135gal (not mine but I help to look after it) Kalkwasser and 2 part dosing by hand.

[Dez]

I use a calcium reactor and Littlesilvermax's magnesium. I used to use a kalk reactor but with the zeovit system it is not recommended. I test the alk once every few days (because it's really easy to test) to make sure my calcium reactor is maintaining my levels. Magnesium I test once a week during water changes to see if it needs "topping up".

[michika]

I use both a Calcium reactor and Kalk. reactor. My yearly costs are considerably cheaper then what I budgeted out for a dosing system. I also run magnesium in my Calcium reactor, which generally gives me a 'set-it & forget it' option.