The best way to add calcium
 

Has anybody used the Kent Liquid Reactor?
I'm trying to decided if it is better to use this stuff, or if it is better to use Kent Turbo Calcium and Super Buffer dKh and mix it myself. Would you say they are about equal? I am considering using the liquid reactor since you don't have to mix it and it is harder to overdose. John at J&L said that liquid reactor last for a long time. When you run out of liquid, all you do if add more water and you can keep on doing this untill all the stuff at the bottom is disolved. Has anybody done this? Is this stuff really soluble? Do you have to use DI/RO water to disolve it?

What do people think of the Turbo Calcium and the Super Buffer dKh?

When I kept African Cichlids I tried out the Kent stuff, I figured if it was expensive it must be good, lets just say it was an expensive lesson. I've never had good luck with Kent products and have sworn off them completely now. I use mainly SeaChem stuff and have NEVER had an issue with any of it. IMHO try the SeaChem stuff you wont regret it.

Tigger, you're better using the 2 part solution. Also, do you use kalk to maintain levels? You can get it cheap from Shao. Using turbo calcium is going to increase your chloride levels over time, and that isn't a good thing. You should only use it for one time adjustments. Really the best and cheapest way is to use kalk to maintain levels.
Also, a note on seachem products....I wouldn't dump that crap in my tank if you paid me!! Anytime I used it in the past, I got major ugly algae problems. Most people I talk to report the same thing.

Interesting I have just the opposite thing, Kent etc all cause issues for me but SeaChem has always been good. I guess it is like everything else, if you believe in a product it works for you and if you don't like it..... oddly enough it doesn't meet your expectations. It's like salt, some people swear by IO, some Bio Sea etc etc... I tried Bio Sea and found my pH consistantly over 8.8 and my alk close to 14dKH, with in a few days the alk drops but the pH stays high, also Ca has never been above 220ppt for me with Bio Sea. I add the SeaChem stuff and bang my water comes into balance and the livestock doesn't complain at all.. infact, it seems to thrive but maybe I just see it that way because I want to.

I go with Brad on this one. One of the 2-parts are the best. I have used both ESV B-Ionic and still do, plus I have also used C-Balance. Both are top quality products.

The cheapest way to add calcium, is to replace all evaporated water with kalk.

And remember, if you're in the lower manland, Smokinreefer (Shao) has the best deal on kalk.

When you say the 2 part solution, do you mean to use the Turbo Calcium and the Buffer, or do you mean a different product?

Tigger, a different product. Kent has a 2 part A and B set of products.
One is KENT TECH-CB PART A CALCIUM BUFFER and the other is PART B. J&L can show you what it is.

I was refering to the one mentioned by Brad or the two mentioned by me above. They are designed to be dosed in equal parts of 1 & 2. One part is the calcium and the other a buffer. They also add elements like strontium, magnesium and others.

Thanks Guys!

I read that we shouldn't mix them together, but can / should we add both parts to the tank at the same time?

Steve