Calcium Reactors ???

[sphelps]

neither a Ca reactor or a Kalk reactor will add a perfectly balanced amount of both Ca and Alk.

Calcium reactors increase alkalinity more than calcium and as a result you'll probably always find yourself having to dose a calcium additive or maintain a higher than normal alkalinity.

With Kalkwasser or Calcium Hydroxide it's the opposite. It will increase calcium more than alkalinity. So when using Kalk you'll likely always find yourself having to add a buffer to maintain your alkalinity. However calcium hydroxide does not directly add carbonate, it adds hydroxide which is not used by corals. The hydroxide however will react instantly with carbon dioxide to form carbonate. This is why many people using Kalk will have a difference in opinion on how much it is actually buffing their water.

For these reasons many of us believe the obvious solution would be to run both systems, however this will probably only work for a high demand system and could be difficult to tune to your tank's requirements. The obvious solution to me would be to use neither and employ a system which adds the exact amount of each in a balanced amount to meet your system requirements.

[Dr.Turf]

Anyone have any experience with this reactor for a small <100 gal tank?

[Oxymoron]

The obvious solution to me would be to use neither and employ a system which adds the exact amount of each in a balanced amount to meet your system requirements.

Could you elaborate on this a bit for me please.
What kind of system do you use ?
Thanks

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Oxymoron

Could you elaborate on this a bit for me please.
What kind of system do you use ?
Thanks

I was hinting towards an automated dosing system which will add each element separately and can be adjusted to match the requirements of your system.

I currently use a Ca reactor but would like to upgrade to a dosing system, only thing in my way is money and time.

[mark]

Don't find my reactor a whole lot out of balance. Can go months and months before I notice a little slip in Ca relative to Alk. Just give a single hit a of the Ca I have around anyways to supplement my IO salt (along with MagFlake) and I'm good.

[Skimmerking]

Steve Im constantly using more CAL then I am with Alk. my ALk is staying at 8.8 and my CAl is 370 could be alot higher like 400 thou, but remember that when dosing Kalk for a long period of time you are not getting the magnesuim too with a Cal Reactor you are maintaining the Magnesuim. so you ahv a tbest of both worlds.

Originally Posted by sphelps

neither a Ca reactor or a Kalk reactor will add a perfectly balanced amount of both Ca and Alk.

Calcium reactors increase alkalinity more than calcium and as a result you'll probably always find yourself having to dose a calcium additive or maintain a higher than normal alkalinity.

With Kalkwasser or Calcium Hydroxide it's the opposite. It will increase calcium more than alkalinity. So when using Kalk you'll likely always find yourself having to add a buffer to maintain your alkalinity. However calcium hydroxide does not directly add carbonate, it adds hydroxide which is not used by corals. The hydroxide however will react instantly with carbon dioxide to form carbonate. This is why many people using Kalk will have a difference in opinion on how much it is actually buffing their water.

For these reasons many of us believe the obvious solution would be to run both systems, however this will probably only work for a high demand system and could be difficult to tune to your tank's requirements. The obvious solution to me would be to use neither and employ a system which adds the exact amount of each in a balanced amount to meet your system requirements.

[Skimmerking]

I personally think it comes down to what the person wants to do. a Calcium reactor is a great way to sort of levels. you are constantly getting the right amount of MAG ,ALk ,CAL for the tank.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

Steve Im constantly using more CAL then I am with Alk. my ALk is staying at 8.8 and my CAl is 370 could be alot higher like 400 thou,

I don't see much wrong with 370, I kept mine at 380 and never had faster growth.

Steve

[NAS]

If you have an imbalance in Ca and KH boost your Mg. That will stabalize it. That seems to be the achillies heel with the calcium reactors.