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07-31-2007, 03:14 PM
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#1
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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Calcium reactors??
I am thinking that with this big 180 i am going to have, I may need a calcium reactor...
can someone please explain what they do and how they work and ALSO and this is most important to me..which ones are the easiest to set up and maintain?
thanks.
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__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 03:27 PM
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#2
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,452
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Basically they maintain CA, Alk and Mag,.. but it is a very complex way to do it.
I prefer not to use them if possible,.. On my SPS tank I need one,.. on my softie tank with some SPS I dont' use one.
Do you plan a SPS/CLam dominated tank? If so a ca reactor would probably make your life easer,.. If you plan a softie/LPS tank then it will probably make your life more complicated.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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07-31-2007, 03:31 PM
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#3
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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thanks Whiskey..
this will just be a LPS/softie tank with maybe a few SPS...so what would be the easier, less expensive way of maintianing those things in a tank this size... Lord knows i do NOT want complicated in this tank.
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 03:35 PM
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#4
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spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 7,890
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Simpler way to maintain the levels is with water changes. If you do them regularly enough, you shouldnt have any trouble. I would do that, and just test things ever so often and have some powdered suppliments/additives to dose when needed. They are pretty easy to figure out...
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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
Tank thread
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07-31-2007, 03:37 PM
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#5
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,294
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I have a Ca reactor on my 180. However I have about 85% SPS 10% softies and 5% LPS with one clam. Like Wiskey said they are good to maintain levels in tanks that require stable Ca, Alk, and Mg levels as they make it eaiser to maintain these levels once they are achived by using additives.
For your setup you could use a kalk reactor (this would dose Kalkwasser), or you could simply use a two part Ca buffer system like C balance, Kent's Tech CB, or simply use water changes.
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They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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07-31-2007, 03:40 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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can someone point me to a kalk reactor.. I thought this was just another name for a Ca reactor...
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 03:50 PM
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#7
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,294
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Here is a link to a GEO kalkwasser reactor. There are cheaper models out there but this will let you see what one looks like.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...&Category_Code=
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They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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07-31-2007, 03:53 PM
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#8
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,452
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jennmac415
thanks Whiskey..
this will just be a LPS/softie tank with maybe a few SPS...so what would be the easier, less expensive way of maintianing those things in a tank this size... Lord knows i do NOT want complicated in this tank.
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My 50G uses a DIY Kalk reactor that cost me about $20 to make, that maintaines all my levels and only requires bi-monthly matnenece.
BUT! It did cost me the tank due to float valve failure,.. so it would be wise to have a backup topoff shutdown.
Other options are Baking soda and driveway de icer, dosed by hand to maintain levels,.. or you can make it into a DIY 2 part and dose it with a dosing pump.
Or the dosing pump (Or by hand) and a commertial 2 part system.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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07-31-2007, 03:59 PM
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#9
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 11,032
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Honestly Jenn, with the demands that that tank will have you will be just fine dumping in some homemade two part every couple of days.
Plus it will be cheap, and zero risk of hurting/killing anything. And you can even miss dosing days and it wont affect much at all.
jmo
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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07-31-2007, 03:59 PM
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#10
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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what is the difference between a calcium reactor and a kalkwasser reactor?
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 04:01 PM
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#11
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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Hey Bill... how is your tank after the big mess? HAHA hijacked my own thread... anyway.. can you explain this do it yourself homemade 2 part stuff? It sounds kindof scarey...but I like the idea of cheap and simple to do...
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 04:07 PM
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#12
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 11,032
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jennmac415
Hey Bill... how is your tank after the big mess? HAHA hijacked my own thread... anyway.. can you explain this do it yourself homemade 2 part stuff? It sounds kindof scarey...but I like the idea of cheap and simple to do...
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look here...top left of the home page for complete directions
http://www.twopartsolution.com/
It is super simple, cheap and zero risk to your tank if you choose to just dump it in which is all your tank would require
as far as my tanks......Both my tanks are on the rebuild road. Have already began restocking both, as well as gave the big tank a major aquascaping makeover which i am pleased with 
__________________
I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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07-31-2007, 04:09 PM
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#13
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,294
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A calcium reactor uses CO2 gas to dissovle aragonite media to release Calcium carbonate.
A kalkwasser reactor uses a pump to add water to the reactor, mix the the water with kalkwasser (a powder) to saturate the water and then dose it back to the tank.
Honestly, with your setup, you really don't need either one.
__________________
They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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07-31-2007, 04:16 PM
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#14
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Shark
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Andover, KS
Posts: 3,499
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Bill thanks for the info... will probably just go that route for whaile and see how it works...I may have more ??s about it...
Glad to hear about your tanks.. what a horrible thing...post some new pics if you haven't already... I have been gone and have not seen thme if they are already on here...
__________________
Jenni AKA "Reefmama"
180 gallon AGA RR mixed reef inwall, 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump, 10 gallon hex fuge, Quiet one 5000 return pump, PCI PS-3000 skimmer with Octopus needlewheel pump, 72" Constellation from Aquactinics, 2 Triton Aquatics GS2 maxijet mods, 2 250 watt heaters, 200 lbs live rock, 200 lbs pulverized limestone
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07-31-2007, 04:19 PM
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#15
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,452
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Woh! That was worked out quick
Cool deal.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
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