i bought a double dosing pump for about $310 bux after taxes
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s..._ID=am-d370105
I never ran a reactor but i was stuck in the middle i had 30 pounds of dry dosing products and a full co2 set up front an old planted tank. the decision was made based on my already full stand with a 3 footsump and closed loop pump in a stand with an inside total length of 40 " so i was going to have something sitting outside the stand..........2-1G jugs or a co2 tank/regulator and a calcium reactor pump ect..........
i hung the pump unit in the stand and have 2-1G jugs that are between a chair and the stand so you barely notice them
I always found it was a severe pain in the ass for me to get my co2 tank filled as i work close to home and the closest/decent priced fill was 45 min in rush hour.
so i figured from my situation the reactor was uglyier noiser and more expensive to set up some people say set and forget some have to tinker none stop
dosing I throw some baking soda on a baking sheet bake for an hour fill a 1 g jug with the baking soda and water shake and im done calcium is measure and pour into jug and shake done.
im lazy so i throw it in a 5 G pail with a powerhead for a couple min to mix but shaking works as well.
I go through just over a pound of Ca and a pound of baking soda a month so costs for chemicals are under $5 a month and maybe 4 pounds Mag a year
i ordered dry chemicals 20 lbs at a time and shipping isnt too bad