Calcium Reactors ???

[Sam1969]

I see quite a few reefers talking about calcium reactors. I am unsure as to why I need one ... i realize that we need calcium for our tank to survive ... but is that not why we use additives ? what exactly does the calcium reactor do for us ? do we still need to add to our tank if we use one ? what are the pros and cons of using the calcium reactor ?

[martym]

They are suppose to add Cal and Alk into the tank at a balanced rate. I find with mine, it keeps up with the Alk but not Cal. Not sure if they are worth the expense. I would imagine the larger tanks benefit from it more that the smaller tanks like yours and mine.

[Pescador]

For me it was when the expense of adding two part Calc/alk on a bigger tank justified a calcium reactor. Also being to able to go on vacation without someone having to dose the tank.
There are DIY recipes for 2 part that would bring the cost down and dosers that would automate it.

[fkshiu]

A calcium reactor works by dissolving what are essentially dead coral skeletons and putting the effluent back into the tank. As a result, it provides provides both Ca, Alk and Mg as well as trace elements.

Here's a Randy Holmes Farley article comparing various methods of Ca/Alk supplementation:
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=3&gl=ca

Here's one of RC's interminable threads with people arguing back and forth about the merits each method. As usual, it was finally closed due to it degenerating into personal attacks:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=7

Randy also has another article which I can't find now comparing the relative costs. The conclusion I believe was that the bigger the tank you have, the more cost efficient a calcium reactor is in the long run. The "tipping point" where a reactor becomes the better deal was around the 125 gallon mark, I think. The costs he calculated were with respect to his two-part method using bulk CaCl, baking soda and MgCl/MgSO4 rather than fancy German dosing pumps with pretty labelled CaCl, baking soda and MgCl/MgSO4 which cost more.

[Whatigot]

come on guys
Ca reactors look sexy.
So many of my aquatic ignorant friends are ore impressed with my ca reactor than anything in the tank...
They're like, wow, I never knew this stuff was so high tech....lol

you can't impress people with a couple of bottles.....

[sphelps]

I think the goal is stability, which is key for coral growth and vitality. Constantly adding additives gets tiresome and expensive. Once you have a tank that can suck up 20ppm of calcium a day you'll understand better. Most people don't have the need for constant addition of Ca and Alk and do well with a simple two part additive method or just frequent water changes.

Now buying additives in bulk and using an automatic dosing system is to me the best method, but this is fairly new technology for us

[brizzo]

A calcium reactor is also a good excuse to get a decent controller .... That's my "excuse"

You also don't have to purchase one, lots of info out there on DIY calcium reactors!

[Whatigot]

there is a diy job in the classifieds right now with co2 for 150.

How much 2 part additive would it take to cover that cost?

[Oxymoron]

Im not trying to thread hijack but what is the difference between a calcium reactor and a kalk drip? Do they serve the same purpose?

[Marlin65]

Same end result more or less but different process.