Calcium Reactors ???

[Reefer Rob]

Never had a calcium reactor... never wanted one. High Ca/kH demand, SPS tank. Automate you 2 part (3 part), it's the easiest way!

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by 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?

no, different all together with one common element.

Kalk is just Ca and will raise PH. With a Ca reactor you are maintaining both Ca, Alk, and trace elements. Some times they can lower Ph so then you would use Kalk in addition through a kalk reactor to balance it.

the purpose of the reactors weather it be Kalk or Ca is stability, better control with less work. With a Ca reactor you are not dosing once a day and causing swings of levels but you are dosing every second so it is constant. The are a bit of work for the first few days to get them dialed in, but once that is done....

One thing to note, a Ca reactor shouldn't be used to correct bad levels, only to maintain good ones.. before starting the reactor make sure your levels (Ca, Alk, Mg) are good.

Steve

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

no, different all together with one common element.

Kalk is just Ca and will raise PH.

Steve

That is not true. Kalkwasser or calcium hydroxide (chemical term) is a balanced calcium and alkalinity supplement which also has the ability to raise pH.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

That is not true. Kalkwasser or calcium hydroxide (chemical term) is a balanced calcium and alkalinity supplement which also has the ability to raise pH.

when I ran just kalk my Ca was good but my alk always dropped. when I added my Ca reactor to the mix all was good.

I ran kalk only for about 3 years and on 2 different tanks, both the same, so where is the balanced part? even RHF uses it in his recipies as only 1/2 of a ballanced additive mix.

Steve

[reefermadness]

Again I'm sorry but you are wrong. Randy does use kalkwasser but does not use it as only 1/2 of a balanced additive mix.

This is taken from Randy's Article -- How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme

"Limewater (also known by the German term kalkwasser) has been used very successfully by aquarists for a number of years, and it is the system that I use on my tank."

"The calcium ions in the solution obviously supply calcium to the tank, and the hydroxide ions supply alkalinity."

That is all I have time for now but if you don't believe me do some research. You will find that kalkwasser can be used as a balanced additive that supplies calcium and alkalinity.