Two tanks, two reactors?

[Cobalt]

I'm debating setting up another tank because of duplicate hardware. I've already decided to go skimmerless on both, but I can't do away with calcium reactors. The investment in one reactor is large, about $300. Any opinions if I should buy two whole setups, or run two reactors off my single 20lb tank, or just split the reactor output into the two sumps?? My ocotpus controller can only mointor one sump at a time though...

[Casey]

300 thats cheap where??

[David Grigor]

Where are the two tanks located ? Do you have options to locate them share same wall or anything so you can tie them together ?

[Cobalt]

In a basement, totally unfinished, stuff is everywhere, the tanks are 20 feet apart. so it can look somewhat bad (not afraid to connect the two systems via 1" PVC lines). I want to maintain seperate systems for so I can have "redundant" systems at the cost of one larger more stable system. Or is that bad thinking? Should I just hook the two 90s, a 30g sump, and a 40g refuge all together? I have a Little Giant pump that could probably do this. All tanks are drilled, just blast the water into the highest system and let it all trickle back down by gravity and crazy pipes going everywhere?

I got a used Knop for $150 and regulator kits can be had for $150. I guess I forgot the cost of my bottly ($100) and I was given tons of media free by other reefers.

[David Grigor]

Obviously this would be a no-brainer if the tanks were next to each other.

I don't see how it would be possible to use 1 reactor for 2 systems without the systems being hooked together either sharing common sumps plumbing the sump together etc. somehow. You would have to feed the reactor from one tank and how would you compensate for the water loss in one and water gain in the other plus tanks will consume CA at different levels.

I have heard of people sharing the same CO2 and regualator and splitting off to serperate needle valves that go to seperate reactors. Really though that doesn't save you too much money. At least IMO not worth the trouble.

My other concern is this a Knop C or the larger model ? I had the Knop C years ago and honestly not impressed. Since it was my first reactor, I didn't have much to compare to. The gallon size is way over estimated as even on my old 90g had trouble keeping CA/Alk elevated enough for a heavily SPS stocked tank........

If you haven't done so already check into the regulator from www.customaquatics.com comes with dual guages/needle valve/solenoid and even bubble counter for $89. Several people in our club have them and can't beat the price for all the features.

[wasabi]

i have a 135 and a 450 gallon system feeding off one 20 pound Co2 it has worked out great for the 8 month's. i just have a tee after the regulator.