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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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09-21-2009, 04:05 PM
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#1
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Tarpon
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Orange Park Florida!
Posts: 1,816
Reviews: 48
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Means of Calcium addition
What do YOU use in YOUR tank? Im looking at my options right now and I found a great deal on a calcium reactor from a guy in my local reef club. Im dosing two part now......and im getting tired of doing it EVERY morning. I would like to have something I can go on vacation with and not worry about it the whole time. Right now im game for any of them, I will only stick with the Two Part solution that im using if I can automatically dose it.(which I think you HAVE to shake the two part solutions before you use them,and if thats the case theres no way to automatically dose it)
Which do YOU use?
1) Calcium Reactor
2) Kalkwasser
3) Two part solution
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09-21-2009, 04:19 PM
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#2
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Gone Snorkeling...
  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,543
Reviews: 52
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calcium reactor 
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My 135RR Tank build
Upstate SC Reefers Unite!! Join the PMAC!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
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09-21-2009, 04:39 PM
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#3
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 271
Reviews: 23
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calcium reactor
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09-21-2009, 04:54 PM
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#4
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,217
Reviews: 1
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I use Kalk to keep the ca and alk stable, but i think it really depends on how densly stocked your tank is w/ sps. I have about 30 pieces, (plus some lps and zoa's) but most are smaller than 3 or 4 in., so the kalk works fine and it is cheap and easy. However, i believe if your tank is very full of large sps you either dose or get the ca reactor. If it's a good deal you might want to go ahead and buy it now, you'll eventually need it.
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Don 75 gl bb reef w/ 30 gl sump, Vertex IN 100, Tek 6 x 54 T5's - 10gl nano w/ 2 x 20 T5's
One out of four people in this country is mentally imbalanced. Think of your three closest friends - if they seem okay, then you're the one. Ann Landers
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09-21-2009, 10:03 PM
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#5
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,201
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Calcium reactors, and I boost Ca++ and alk in my water changes (IO salt & RO/DI) with Kalkwasser to get it up to tank parameters ( system @ Ca++=420 PPT, Alk = 10 dKH)
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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09-21-2009, 10:43 PM
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#6
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They call me EC
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lakeland Florida
Posts: 3,615
Reviews: 3
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I dose kalk. Two part is a pain and bad for long term water quality. Calcium reactors are expensive and have their own potential problems. Kalk has its limitations too. It can have problems keeping calcium levels up, if the tank is full of calcium depleting critters like SPS and clams. I've never had a problem with kalk in a regular mixed reef tank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdwyatt
Calcium reactors, and I boost Ca++ and alk in my water changes (IO salt & RO/DI) with Kalkwasser to get it up to tank parameters ( system @ Ca++=420 PPT, Alk = 10 dKH)
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I've heard of other people doing that as well. What does adding kalk to your fresh salt water do to the PH?
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"Research and setup a solid tank"CRVZ
"my arch nemesis EC is warping your minds." Geoff 
Buy only AUSSIE Elegance corals.
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09-21-2009, 10:54 PM
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#7
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Tarpon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Orange Park Florida!
Posts: 1,816
Reviews: 48
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Well, im 95% sure im going with the calcium reactor. I already know its going to be overkill on my 45 gallon. I dont have many sps at the moment, but Im working on that too. I just want to get all my equipment how I want it to the T, then I will add massive amounts of coral to finish off my tank.
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09-21-2009, 11:12 PM
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#8
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,201
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fihsboy
Well, im 95% sure im going with the calcium reactor. I already know its going to be overkill on my 45 gallon. I dont have many sps at the moment, but Im working on that too. I just want to get all my equipment how I want it to the T, then I will add massive amounts of coral to finish off my tank.
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AHHHHHhhh!!! 45 gal, I'd use kalk in your ATO, much easier and less of a hassle for 45. I keep a 45 gal quarantine tank for incoming specimens and use only kalkwasser in that system.
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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09-21-2009, 11:34 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 303
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I use a stuff call fiji gold and I have no issue just started keeping sps no problems
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09-21-2009, 11:37 PM
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#10
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Son of Jor El
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 4,615
Reviews: 52
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I dose a little kalk with my waterchange, but I do not have a large or calcification intense setup.
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Jeremy http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-119089.html
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky went hunting? Well anyway, Brasky decides he's gonna hunt down all four members of the Banana Splits. He stalks and kills every one of them with a machete. They all beg for their lives, except Fleagul.
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09-21-2009, 11:55 PM
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#11
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Little Fishy
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 393
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fihsboy
Well, im 95% sure im going with the calcium reactor. I already know its going to be overkill on my 45 gallon. I dont have many sps at the moment, but Im working on that too. I just want to get all my equipment how I want it to the T, then I will add massive amounts of coral to finish off my tank.
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Im starting to keep my eye open for a decent price on a used one. So much money ive been spending on my system these months and have to get a hold of it. Not a good time to run out of spending freedom cuz with the latest additions calcium has been getting sucked out MUCH faster. It requires constant testing too. Could really use a reactor. But until then i think im going to have to switch to Kalk. From what Ive gathered it really seems to be plenty effective for what I have. A 130-140 gallon total system with a few sps frags, lots of coralline and 3 large porites encrusted rocks. So if it keeps these specimens supplied with Ca, plus the few more Ill be adding over the next few weeks, Ill gladly switch to a constant drip of kalk, especially if it means a break from all this testing.
Can anyone list any advantages of 2 part dosing over dripping kalkwasser?
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09-22-2009, 12:05 AM
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#12
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Tarpon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Orange Park Florida!
Posts: 1,816
Reviews: 48
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I dont think there are advantages of dosing 2 part. its a pain in the rear, you have to do it everday, you have to constantly monitor everything in your tank to make sure its okay, salinity levels get out of wack if you do it wrong, and its expensive. Kalkwasser on the otherhand can be dangerous if not done properly. And ive heard a lot of people complain about the mess it causes. Im still on the fence on the calcium reactor or kalkwasser.......but im starting to fall on the calcium reactor side. Especially for the price I was offered, it would be cheaper for me to go ahead and get the calcium reactor, then to buy a kalkwasser stirrer. |
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09-22-2009, 12:29 AM
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#13
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Little Fishy
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 393
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fihsboy
I dont think there are advantages of dosing 2 part. its a pain in the rear, you have to do it everday, you have to constantly monitor everything in your tank to make sure its okay, salinity levels get out of wack if you do it wrong, and its expensive. Kalkwasser on the otherhand can be dangerous if not done properly. And ive heard a lot of people complain about the mess it causes. Im still on the fence on the calcium reactor or kalkwasser.......but im starting to fall on the calcium reactor side. Especially for the price I was offered, it would be cheaper for me to go ahead and get the calcium reactor, then to buy a kalkwasser stirrer. |
If ya dont mind me askin, about how much do ya think you might wind up paying for said reactor? If it was around $200-$300 for all components to it, I could probably go ahead and get one quite soon. But after preliminary research it seems like its going tobe around $500 or more?
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09-22-2009, 06:53 AM
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#14
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,543
Reviews: 52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuttlefish
If ya dont mind me askin, about how much do ya think you might wind up paying for said reactor? If it was around $200-$300 for all components to it, I could probably go ahead and get one quite soon. But after preliminary research it seems like its going tobe around $500 or more?
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You have to find a deal on a nice used setup. I paid only 225 for my Korallin reactor complete (minus requisite pH controller, but I already had an AC Jr to control it)
You just have to watch the classifieds sections.
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My 135RR Tank build
Upstate SC Reefers Unite!! Join the PMAC!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
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09-22-2009, 08:53 AM
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#15
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Tarpon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Orange Park Florida!
Posts: 1,816
Reviews: 48
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If your buying new.........500+ easy. im paying less then half of that for EVERYTHING. The guy im buying it from is a really good guy, been in the hobby for a long time, and helps people out in the club when he can. He is really doing me a favor. Like Tony said, you just about have to buy used to get a decent price. Ill just need to buy media, and fill the CO2 cartridge. so the only additional costs will be under 100 bucks, still keeping me way under a new setup.
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