Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Calcium Reactors ???

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Lots of great info in this thread thank you all.
Would anyone know of a particular reactor with a very small footprint yet still suitable for a 90 gal tank? Im hoping on having a combination of softies and sps.
Thanks
Oxy

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefermadness (Post 361069)

I've never known that limewater only supplies calcium is a common misconception?

It should be that it does a better job of supplying Ca than it does Alk, and in a high usage tank it won't keep up as it is only added by make up water. but in the same turn, if you have a tank that the alk is stable but the Ca drops then it works.

the biggest advantage to the Ca reactor is that it buffers the Alk way better and can maintains it slightly elivated compared to Ca.

I used to run my alk at 12dkh as I found once I got above 11 my colors just popped. when I took my Ca reactor off line for a redesigning, my Kalk reactor couldn't keep up on its own with 7 gals per day of make up water in a 120 gal system. This was a high consumption tank with extreamly fast SPS growth.

now having said all this, in one tank it might work perfectly, where the other it may not, every tank is different, and what works for one won't nessasarly work for another.

Steve

neither a Ca reactor or a Kalk reactor will add a perfectly balanced amount of both Ca and Alk.

Calcium reactors increase alkalinity more than calcium and as a result you'll probably always find yourself having to dose a calcium additive or maintain a higher than normal alkalinity.

With Kalkwasser or Calcium Hydroxide it's the opposite. It will increase calcium more than alkalinity. So when using Kalk you'll likely always find yourself having to add a buffer to maintain your alkalinity. However calcium hydroxide does not directly add carbonate, it adds hydroxide which is not used by corals. The hydroxide however will react instantly with carbon dioxide to form carbonate. This is why many people using Kalk will have a difference in opinion on how much it is actually buffing their water.

For these reasons many of us believe the obvious solution would be to run both systems, however this will probably only work for a high demand system and could be difficult to tune to your tank's requirements. The obvious solution to me would be to use neither and employ a system which adds the exact amount of each in a balanced amount to meet your system requirements.

ViaAqua Acro-Cal Calcium Reactor

Anyone have any experience with this reactor for a small <100 gal tank?

Quote:

The obvious solution to me would be to use neither and employ a system which adds the exact amount of each in a balanced amount to meet your system requirements.

Could you elaborate on this a bit for me please.
What kind of system do you use ?
Thanks

Steve Im constantly using more CAL then I am with Alk. my ALk is staying at 8.8 and my CAl is 370 could be alot higher like 400 thou, but remember that when dosing Kalk for a long period of time you are not getting the magnesuim too with a Cal Reactor you are maintaining the Magnesuim. so you ahv a tbest of both worlds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 361314)

I personally think it comes down to what the person wants to do. a Calcium reactor is a great way to sort of levels. you are constantly getting the right amount of MAG ,ALk ,CAL for the tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus (Post 361544)

Steve Im constantly using more CAL then I am with Alk. my ALk is staying at 8.8 and my CAl is 370 could be alot higher like 400 thou,

I don't see much wrong with 370, I kept mine at 380 and never had faster growth.

Steve

If you have an imbalance in Ca and KH boost your Mg. That will stabalize it. That seems to be the achillies heel with the calcium reactors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxymoron (Post 361543)

Could you elaborate on this a bit for me please.
What kind of system do you use ?
Thanks

I was hinting towards an automated dosing system which will add each element separately and can be adjusted to match the requirements of your system.

I currently use a Ca reactor but would like to upgrade to a dosing system, only thing in my way is money and time.