I've been running a Ca Reactor since 2006. My current PM 622 (old down flow style) was purchased used and has worked very well for me since 2007. The only issue I've had is with the CO2 Regulator. I tried a Milwaukee and then an Aquariumplants.com unit, both have given me more trouble than they should have. I'm not sure what the best on the market is right now but its well worth your while to not cheep out there.

Total system volume is 240gal.

Do I sniff a frag sale???

I'll give it a try diy dosing. If My tank and I like it then get a better pump. If it doesn't work, I have to upgrade my reactor. My negotiation will start pretty soon. Hopefully my wife says ok to get nice one.

I'll never understand you guys!! Isn't the goal to get the wife to say "ok, I'll forgive you this time" ?
And if you're good, you lead in with "huh? This old thing? I've had it in a box downstairs for years!!"

what if the wife is watching over the budget and the money that come out? That old excuse "I've had it for years" wont help to justify the 500$ hole in the bank account :)

That's crazy talk!! Who would do such a thing?

I am also trying to figure out what I want to do.
I have a 66 gallon now and will upgrade in a couple of years

Doser

Kalk Reactor

or Calc Reactor...


I dunno what do to just yet

My wife never watch the bank account or credit card bill, but I know she is giving up a lots of stuff she wants. I try to be honest and never hide anything from my wife.

I've run a full sps tank for 2.5 years with crazy amounts of growth and good colours. I run a calcium reactor and haven't tested any parameters except for salinity for the past year. I just run my reactor full blown and my corals are still growing. I have only had to remove corals over the last year due to excessive growth.

On the flip side, I've never tried dosing so I can't compare. I simply fill my reactor every 6 months or so with media and the CO2 gets filled about every 6 months as well.

Hope this helps.

you will need to decide for yourself.
I have originally started with a calcium reactor and always worried about excess CO2 into the tank,checking the pump making sure no leeks and not saying all reactors are the same but these are some of the problems I ran into until I started dosing and now with a few tanks full mix reef using top quality pharmaceutical chemicals never worry about a thing I test my water maybe every 6 or so months and the doser I use never gave me any hassle as it has few safety features witch I like never needed but safety in the mind.
Bottom line good luck and keep us posted.