Maintaining Levels in Tank

[Galizio]

I use a doser, can't complain, pretty simple and need some adjustment every once in a while, I use C-Balance and mag to keep the levels steady... my tank is only 100g water volume, so I do not have to dose much at the moment.
I think mostly depends on what is the demand of your tank, and maybe for a tank over 120-150g a calcium reactor is a better option due to the cost in the long run...


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[straightrazorguy]

For a tank your size, a calcium reactor would probably make the most sense, especially if you have lots of SPS. It's fiddly to set up, but once you nail it it's set it and forget it. I know, because I went from manual dosing to dosing pumps to calcium reactor (plus kalk). I found the routine of constantly having to make and replenish the Alk and Calcium solutions annoying.

Just my $ 0.02

[gmann]

thanks. I only have lps atm. I guess my issue with a CA reactor is I have some weird fear that the CO2 tank will leak or something and blow up my house (I don't know if its possible or not, but yeah paranoid lol).

Anyways i'll look more into a reactor. thanks

[gmann]

no this is my concern lol

Originally Posted by gmann

I guess my issue with a CA reactor is I have some weird fear that the CO2 tank will leak or something and blow up my house (I don't know if its possible or not, but yeah paranoid lol).

[maron6977]

I wouldn't worry about the tank exploding. Worst case , it leaks , you go to sleep & not wake up . No explosion !

[gmann]

Originally Posted by maron6977

I wouldn't worry about the tank exploding. Worst case , it leaks , you go to sleep & not wake up . No explosion !

could be worse I guess lol

[whatcaneyedo]

Wow some of these posts hit a whole new level of ignorants that I haven't seen for a while on this forum. Okay heres a story for all of you unnecessarily paranoid folk. About 10 years ago I had a roommate looking after my tank for a week while I went out of town. One day (probably the day I was returning home) while feeding the fish or topping off the water lost to evaporation he bumped one of the valves further open on the C02 regulator. What I came home to was an empty 20 lbs C02 cylinder (which had been full when I left) two very alive roommates (although I felt like killing them myself), and one ticked off tank. The pH was low and the fish were gasping but not dead. I dealt with the problem quickly, no one died or even noticed for that matter and all of the fish and coral lived too.

Most hobbyists use smaller 5 or 10 lbs C02 cylinders which do not contain enough gas to do anything harm unless you accidentally open the valves and purge the entire thing into your tank (a pH controller should stop this) or start sucking on the end yourself. FYI too much Ca or Alk solution from a 2 part dosing system can nuke a tank too.

Compressed gas cylinders don't just rupture on their own either. It takes a strong impact to damage the unit and send it flying like a missile. Sitting idle in a house you'd need a toddler with a hammer or a good old fashioned house levelling earth quake to make that happen.

[tang daddy]

I've seen your tank and while you're lightly stocked on corals unless your planning on stuffing your tank with full of sps a doser will work fine, just order the 5g pails from brs and you're good to go.

I have 2 jebao dosers and they are hassle free calibrate it and off you go.

I've also owned a vertex doser before aswell easy to set up and touch screen display is awesome but clunky size is a downside.

Also a ca reactor I think initially costs a lot, like over $1k once you factor in the reactor a 20lb tank, selenoid and ph controller....

A doser like the jebao is about $100, the bulk chems are $400 but that can last you atleast 4-5 years.

[gmann]

Originally Posted by tang daddy

I've seen your tank and while you're lightly stocked on corals unless your planning on stuffing your tank with full of sps a doser will work fine, just order the 5g pails from brs and you're good to go.

I have 2 jebao dosers and they are hassle free calibrate it and off you go.

I've also owned a vertex doser before aswell easy to set up and touch screen display is awesome but clunky size is a downside.

Also a ca reactor I think initially costs a lot, like over $1k once you factor in the reactor a 20lb tank, selenoid and ph controller....

A doser like the jebao is about $100, the bulk chems are $400 but that can last you atleast 4-5 years.

thanks for this

[whatcaneyedo]

Calcium reactors unlike skimmers and lighting haven't changed much over the past decade. So a used one will work just as well as a new one for around half the price if cost is a concern.