calc/alk dosing

[chaotic]

I know that BB systems don't have as high of a calc/alk demand, so I'm wondering what most of you are doing for this? 2-part? Kalk? 2-part + kalk? anyone use a ca reactor, and do you notice phosphate issues? Thanks!

[crvz]

Don't know about phosphate issues with calcium reactor, havent heard anything about that.

I use a calcium reactor and kalkwasser reactor to maintain relatively consistent levels of calc and alk. I find it's nice not to have to bother dosing.

[King-Kong]

I only use Kalk, and am able to maintain Ca and Alk at high levels.

Spanky is the one who regularly mentions phosphate showing up from Ca reactor usage.

But I dont know if he doses anything regularly.. I believe he enjoys the theory of, "test water once every few months, toss in some baked baking soda".

[volivier]

are you saying you don't need to add calcium or alk, like reef builder or reef advantage calcium, if you dose with a kalk reactor?

[Hop]

Yes and no

You still need to bring waterchanges up to par, but kalk aids in a balanced ca and alk addition. But you need to watch the pH and some other things and bump when necessary. Or at least I do Others may have completely different strategies.

[volivier]

i've got a 135 newly BB with sps frags, trying to figure out the fine tuning of additives and reactors or 2 parts myself....not to hijack the thread....just want to learn too...

[Hop]

Well I'm likely the oddball in this thread as I enjoy the BB philosophy, but hate the looks of it So I'm in a little different club than the BB people, but not a DSB or SSB guy either

[King-Kong]

As hop says, Kalk adds both Alk and Ca. I add kalkwasser through my topoff via a Kalkwasser reactor. I have it hooked up to a pH monitor that will turn it off if pH gets too high (this has never happened).


Oh, and I dont dose anything else.

[chaotic]

with that huge clam and those massive colonies that's really impressive!

[tperk9784]

I read that you should only get phosphates form our CR if you are using CR Media that contains sea shells, as they themselves can release the phsophates.

[NoSchwag]

Kalk on a litermeter is my choice.

[chaotic]

in case anyone was interested, if you use a CA reactor it seems carib ARM is the way to go for media:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm

but you are introducing phosphates with a CA reactor. whether or not 2 ppm is significant I don't know.

[trueblackpercula]

I never use Kalk but i dose Randys 2 part in my 120 BB cube with a reefdosing pump daily ALK/CAL are great.
Michael

[Geoff]

i also do not dose anything in my system. i have a kalk reactor for top off and that is it. i also use the horribly low Ca IO salt for my system.

G~

[hng]

I wonder how much phosphate is added to the system with reactor media? And how does that compare to the phosphate added with a single feeding for the fish? Spanky, where are you?