Nilsen vs. Calcium Reactor

CaymanLoversII · 05-02-2002, 10:58 AM

I have read so much about these two apparati and think, but am not sure, that the end result of each is the same - stable alkalinity and calcium. Is that correct? Am I missing something? And since I am at a point where I want to decide between continuing daily B-ionic supplements or a calc reactor or a Nisen reactor, what are the pros and cons of each?

Thanks!

Jimbo · 05-02-2002, 02:19 PM

Hi,

Have heard that people running a calcium reactor are also using a nilson reactor. The calcium reactor can lower your PH from what other people have said and the nilson reactor will raise it. So the combination of the two keeps your PH stable. Just my 2 cents.

XeniaPhobe · 05-02-2002, 05:59 PM

I run both for just the reasons mentioned

. The function of both IMO, is as you stated, to stabilize the alkalinity and calcium levels in the reef tank at what most coral keepers consider correct but find difficult and expensive to do with additives and such if the tank is large or the level of consumption is high. IMO a Nilsen reactor is cheaper to DIY or buy, but more expensive to keep running and requires more frequent maintenance. A calcium reactor is more expensive to buy or DIY but once running becomes cheaper to refill and the maintenance cycle is much less frequent. JME. HTH.

tdwyatt · 05-03-2002, 02:25 PM

My experience with the Kalk reactor vs. the CO2/Calcium reactors is mostly related to size of the system and population of hermatypic corals. In systems where there are large dense populations of calcifying organisms, both systems will stabilize your calcium levels and your alkalinity at optimum levels, with an occasional tweak from one of the 2 part additives (Bionic USV seems to work the best for this). The biggest problem with using the Kalk reactor is that it requires a great deal of evaporation from your system in order to satisfy the calcium needs of a densely populated system, usually meaning extra fans, even possibly an evaporation tower (which fortunately eliminates the need for a chiller in even MH lighted systems). With systems at 125 gallons down, Kalk reactors are prolly the way to go, even up to 180 gal if the system is not too densely populated (say less than 20 thriving stony coral specimens smaller than 10cm diameter polyp spread), just need to monitor your Ca and Alk for the occasional tweak, and use a pH meter, when you see the morning pH begin to shift down, it will be time to replenish the kalk.

Calcium/CO2 reactors so take a little more time to dial in, but once there, they are usually maintenance free, although I have seen them tend to drive down pH, as most folks have a tendency to dial the CO2 delivery rate a little too high (2 bubble rate is about right for most systems, prevents the excess CO2 spillover into the tank). If you decide to use the Calcium/CO2 system, dial the reactor in based on the bubble rate, then allow the system to run for 2 days and check the water params for the system, AND THE pH OF THE EFFLUENT FOR THE REACTOR AS WELL. If your water column in the aquarium is too low in the mornings (Below 7.95 is the absolute bottom limit), then adjust your bubble rate a very small amount and recheck again in 2 days. Use the effluent pH level to see that you are actually making (small) changes with the CO2 delivery rate. In my experience, it is not necessary to use both reactors once you have fine tuned the CO2 based reactors. They will deliver the necessary Ca and alk as long as the CO2 delivery rate is not too high (A large number of folks use the Ca levels in the tank as the titration point, this leads many to adjust the CO2 too high.) Adjust your delivery based on am pH (when the lights first come on), then micromanage the Ca up to the 400 PPM level, the reactor will keep this level if the pH parameters are met. If after a 2 week period of adjustments your Ca is below 350, then it is time to add both reactors to your system. This will occur only in systems that have very dense populations of Corals with very intense lighting.

Although I like the Calcium/CO2 reactors, I will prolly revert back to the Kalk reactors (Neilsen reactors), not because they are any better than the CO2 systems, but because I see the CO2 reactors trend toward the acid side over time (this could be an issue with the regulators) and I don't like the concept of having the large tank of pressurized CO2 in the house (I have the image of the tank falling over and knocking the regulator and valve ass'ly off, turning the tank into a rocket...)

Hope this helps.

CaymanLoversII · 05-05-2002, 12:15 AM

Tom -

You never fail to amaze me! You can take the most complicated chemistry - biology - etc. issues and give the minute details but still make common sense of them.

You are a true asset to this board!

Thanks

Steve & Alice

inthesand · 05-05-2002, 11:13 AM

nice explaination, i stopped running my calcium carbonate reactor in a previous tank due to tremendous about of grape caulerpa that was taking over. Since i've been using a Nilsen type reactor or just dripping and find algae is never a problem. Time went by and i set up the co2 reactor again simply because i have it laying around and within two weeks, grape was back and i haven't seen it in all the while i was using only the calcium hydroxide. i think that should be a consideration especially in a small tank like my 50 gallon.

Doug1 · 05-05-2002, 01:39 PM

One of the things I rarely see mentioned in regards to Calc reactors is running effluent into the input side of a refuge, it seems to me that would help utilize any excess CO2. Anyway when I get a CR thats what I will do

Flatlander · 05-05-2002, 02:19 PM

Doug, I was experimenting with mine by running it into the intake of the pump feeding the scrubber.

Never noticed much ph difference, but the scrubber algae loved it.

Perhaps it was to short of an experiment.

Mangrove · 11-17-2002, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by inthesand
nice explaination, i stopped running my calcium carbonate reactor in a previous tank due to tremendous about of grape caulerpa that was taking over. Since i've been using a Nilsen type reactor or just dripping and find algae is never a problem. Time went by and i set up the co2 reactor again simply because i have it laying around and within two weeks, grape was back and i haven't seen it in all the while i was using only the calcium hydroxide. i think that should be a consideration especially in a small tank like my 50 gallon.

Whats making the grape caulerpa grow crazy in 1 situation and not another? Reason I ask is that I WANT my caulpera to grow fast....

cyberchef · 11-17-2002, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mangrove
Whats making the grape caulerpa grow crazy in 1 situation and not another? Reason I ask is that I WANT my caulpera to grow fast....

My guess would be the addition of CO2 to the system.

ckreef · 11-17-2002, 08:09 AM

One thing to consider w/ calc reactors.

When researching what to use I read alot about using a dual stage instead of a single. The second stage should pull more of the co2 out before it hits the system and thus your effluent pH should be a little higher.

In my system (90 gals including all sumps, filters ect..) pH going into the tank was an issue for me. Was planning on only sps so calc usage would be high. Getting a standard sized dual chamber seemed a little overkill (most are rated for systems > 300 gals).

So I got Andy at MyReef to build me a custom, smaller, dual chamber calc reactor. I also add a small dosage of kalkwasser to my makeup water. My early morning pH runs approx 8.10 and just before lights out pH runs approx 8.25. alk is steady at 11 kh and calc is steady at 420. My second stage effluent runs about .5 pH higher than 1 st stage.

Charles

My baby boy was helping w/ this post and made me put in a red smiley face.