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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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08-30-2009, 12:16 PM
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#1
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Plankton
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Westchester, N.Y.
Posts: 17
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What are the benifits of running a calcium reactor?
I currently do not run a calcium reactor and was wondering what the benifts would be? I have a 90 gal and I've been adding more sps's lately. I don't know alot about these reactors and never seen one in place. Any advice would be appreciated.
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08-30-2009, 01:13 PM
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#2
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 992
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this also interests me!BUMP-drew
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08-30-2009, 01:54 PM
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#3
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spaceman spiff
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,638
Reviews: 72
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Are you monitoring any chemicals in your tank? With many stony corals, it's necessary to replenish calcium and alkalinity. There are many ways of doing this, including a calcium reactor (which replenishes both calcium AND alkalinity, despite its name). The drawback is that it can deplete tank pH and there's an investment cost that can be near $500 for new hardware, but once set up it is a mostly hands-off device. The more common solution is probably dosing powdered chemicals, but this can be a bit more labor intensive and, with large setups, may even be necessary on a daily basis.
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08-30-2009, 01:58 PM
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#4
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 992
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hmm so instead of dosing 2 part some use a calcium reactor?-drew
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08-30-2009, 02:14 PM
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#5
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Gone Snorkeling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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Yes, a calcium reactor replaces the need (mostly, other than level adjustments every now and then) to use 2 part.
For a smaller tank, you should be able to dose 2 part, or rely on waterchanges until you start getting some serious growth on SPS or clams. The depth of the sandbed will also help determine what your alk load will be.... I recommend my reef creations, one of their smaller reactors for your tank Drew...
This would be a good start.... you will have to buy quite a bit more items to go along with it as wel.. it will normally run about $500-1k to set up a calcium reactor properly.
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08-30-2009, 03:00 PM
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#6
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 992
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dang thats some serious cash..but i guess if you needed calcium replenishment constantly and you werent around a lot..it would almost be a must..-drew
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08-30-2009, 04:01 PM
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#7
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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and here's a kicker for you... I have 2, yes 2 Korallin c1502 reactors running on my tank.. go do a check on the price of one of those puppies, then add a bottle or 2 and a controller and a regulator and needle valve.... yeah I'm in it for some serious cash..LOL
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08-30-2009, 04:11 PM
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#8
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 992
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count me out!LOL-drew
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08-30-2009, 04:13 PM
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#9
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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LOL.. don't count yourself out yet... I said the same thing. You will want one in the end more than likely... as your maintenance starts to take more of your personal time, you will want to automate anything that you can...LOL
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My 135RR Tank build
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08-30-2009, 04:16 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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A lot of it is a matter of scale. For my 30 gallon mostly softie tank it would be silly to rum one. If you had a 220 w/ SPS and very bright lighting and a couple of big clams.... you are goiung to hate dosing all the time. JMO
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08-30-2009, 04:16 PM
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#11
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 992
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that scary thing is i know your right...  -drew |
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08-30-2009, 06:34 PM
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#12
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Highland Heights, KY
Posts: 781
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not to thread jack, but is there a benefit to dosing 2 part vs liquid calcium suppliment?
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08-30-2009, 09:57 PM
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#13
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 544
Reviews: 26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Tony
... as your maintenance starts to take more of your personal time, you will want to automate anything that you can...LOL
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I am training my 4 year old on water changes now lol.
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08-30-2009, 09:59 PM
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#14
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,546
Reviews: 52
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LOL.. getting an early start on him huh? Good for you 
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09-01-2009, 12:05 PM
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#15
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ca
Posts: 225
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A cal reactor adds a lot more then just CA and Alk. And yes the starts up cost is high but it last a long time and when you don’t need it anymore you can easily sell it at 70% of what you spent. If you do setup one consider adding Magnesium Granulate to boost Mg output.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoK
not to thread jack, but is there a benefit to dosing 2 part vs liquid calcium suppliment?
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Two part adds a ballanced ratio of CA and Alk, Calcium is just calcium. |
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