calcium reactor vs dosing pump

[Amadod2]

So if you guys had a choice, and could afford either set up, what would you get and why, a calcium reactor or a couple of dosing pumps with a two part selotion????

Im thinking calcium reactor but i dont like the idea of having a co2 bottle in the stand.

[Aquattro]

I've always used a reactor and wouldn't switch. I fill the tank once a year and replace media every 6 months, otherwise a set and forget setup. I also believe the quality of dissolved media is better for the tank, vs dosing that can leave salts of the compounds being dosed (chloride, sulfates, etc)

[kien]

Originally Posted by Amadod2

.. i dont like the idea of having a co2 bottle in the stand.

This is why I choice dosing. However, it does get quite costly the higher in volume you go. At a certain volume you're better off (more economical) to use a CA reactor.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've always used a reactor and wouldn't switch. I fill the tank once a year and replace media every 6 months, otherwise a set and forget setup. I also believe the quality of dissolved media is better for the tank, vs dosing that can leave salts of the compounds being dosed (chloride, sulfates, etc)

I agree. It was tricky for me when first setting up my reactor but once dialed in it's pretty simple.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by kien

This is why I choice dosing. However, it does get quite costly the higher in volume you go. At a certain volume you're better off (more economical) to use a CA reactor.

It was shown to be around the 180 gallon mark according to a pretty thorough experiment done by some random dude off reef central. I still prefer having ultimate control though and chose to ignore that with my 404g and ran a doser...

... which became too costly to run. hey wait one dang second...

[sphelps]

Ca reactor all the way, I switched to dosing before after thinking it was better, it was not, switched back. With dosing you have to control each element individually meaning measuring each element more often, you have to maintain each container and the lines are pretty prone to clogging IME. It's a lot more work for no gain.

With Ca reactor it's pretty much set and forget, ph controller maintains reactor ph so you just have to watch for a steady drip. Fill media like once a year and really you only have to measure Alk which is an easy test. The CO2 lasts a very long time, you can get small 5lb bottles and all together it should take up much less space than a dosing system. If your issue with the CO2 bottle related to safety you can strap it down to prevent it from going anywhere but really it's no different than a fire extinguisher.

[Amadod2]

i am thinking of going with a nano type calcium reactor, my tank that i just finished setting up is only a 75G, do you guys recommend any type of reactor in particular?

[rhody605]

I love my reactor. Set it and sit back and relax. I have a vertex rx-6. It takes up a lot of space. The rx-4 is smaller but still would take up a lot of space. I'm sure someone with more knowledge of other reactors will chime in.

[Seth81]

I dose, I also mix up 5 Gallons of CA, Mg, and Alk at a time, so it's really not too much of a head ache.

For those people who use a reactor, Does a Ca reactor also add Alk too ?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Seth81

I dose, I also mix up 5 Gallons of CA, Mg, and Alk at a time, so it's really not too much of a head ache.

For those people who use a reactor, Does a Ca reactor also add Alk too ?

Yes it does, it adds Mag and trace elements as well, it dissolves dried coral so pretty much whatever is needed to grow coral skeleton is added. You can also get supplemental chambers added to for extra dosing of certain elements.