Importance Of Calcium Reactor

Mich3417 · 06-24-2005, 01:16 PM

I have had several reef tanks in the past and presently have a new 250 gallon tank up and running. My question is, how important are Calcium reactors? I have never had one. I do not skimp on anything else in my tank...Chiller, halides, pumps you name it I have it. But i can't figure out why use a Calcium reactor. I check my calcium, magnsium, Ph, alkalinity, nitrates and phosphates bi monthly. I do a 10 percent water change per week. If I need to raise calcium I use Reef Advantage Calcium, if I need to raise alkalinity I use Reef Carbonate, both by Seachem.....Why shoud I spend $400 to $500 on a reactor. Please give me a reason...I always like to buy new toys.....

Thanks Mike

yardboy · 06-24-2005, 01:30 PM

Isn't that a good enough reason!

My experience was when I got a tank full of calcium and carbonate consuming corals it became a chore equal to hauling water form the lfs for topoff just adding Seachem products, which I used also. Even then it was sometimes difficult to keep enough calcium and alkalinity in the tank (plus it gets expensive with a 150 or bigger tank) With a reactor, once you get it "dialed in" (another way of saying that the consumption equals the input of CaCO3) you can more or less forget it. They are low maintenance and will, in the long run, be cheaper to operate than additives. They are not absolutely perfect though. It can be tricky to get them balanced with consumption, and if you are a little excessive in your carbon dioxide additions, you may have to add kalk or alk for some pH control, but if that happens you readjust until its right and go on again.
Bottom line is , in my opinion, if you have a smaller tank, additives are just as easy and not so expensive to use, but as the size of the tank increases, a calcium reactor is cost and hassle reducing.

tdwyatt · 06-24-2005, 11:22 PM

totally agree with Roger!

tims · 06-25-2005, 07:48 AM

Just to continue this...( i thnk this would be a great Diss. of the week, but since it is already started....)

what do you think is a cut in tank size for use of a Ca reactor, 90 g?, 100g? 150g?

autochek · 06-25-2005, 08:29 AM

I have a 125 reef with my 90 gallon plummed as a refugium. Would I be better with a kalk drip or should I hook up the knop hd reactor I bought used that is cluttering my garage.
I have mostly softies with a large croacea.
I'm cautious since the reactor is used and I'm inexperienced with them.
Tdwyatt I picked up Dales reactor when he sold it on the ARC thread.
Is a knop HD wich is for tanks up to 400 g going to be too large for my system?
Tom

Loverotties · 06-25-2005, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autochek

Is a knop HD wich is for tanks up to 400 g

You answered your own question!

autochek · 06-25-2005, 10:15 AM

Alright rottie, I'll give you that one. After reading my own post and waking up a little more. I must appologize for what appears to be a stupid question on my part.

tdwyatt · 06-25-2005, 11:40 PM

AutoTom: it isnt such a dumb question, but it is mostly dependant on the number of corals( calcium consumers) in your tank. i hav eused kalk with a ca reactor when the density of the hermatypic corals was high, but as of late with andy's (MRC) reactor and carefu adjustment,. I have heavy coral populations and Ca in the 400-425 PPM and alk at 9-11 dKH ith just a ca reactor. The essence of this is taking the time over a period of several weeks to et the reactor right and tank pH in ight (and low CO2 consumption). I burn up the primary column's ARM in about 8 months (about 30 lbs) abut it takes a year to go through 20 lbs of CO2. You need a good regulator and a good pH controller to do the job. make sure to use the probe in an adequate detection chamber so that degassing doesn't affect the pH of the affluent soln.