For those who run kalkreactors and calcium reactors..

[Delphinus]

Thanks Doug. I'll test the reactor's Alk output, I have no idea what it's at, I've only measured pH of the effluent.

One thing catches my eye in what you just said - "good kalk mix." I'm wondering if part of my problem is I'm using Mrs Wages pickling lime (Someone gave me theirs when they left the hobby). I don't really like the stuff very much. It turns poo brown after a week although the pH is still 11ish so I think it's still working but nevertheless I'm wondering I should switch to a proper kalk mix.. I only use a few tablespoons per week or two so it takes me forever to use it up..

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

Well, kalk will add both Ca and Alk, as will a Ca reactor. Tony, on my 150g, once I set the parameters where I wanted them using Kent A&B, my Ca reactor was able to maintain those levels all the time. I never needed both, and that was with a lot of SPS growth. If your Ca reactor is sized to your tank/bio-load, maybe just try running that AFTER you set the right levels.

Hi Brad, thanks, that is basically what I'm trying as I try to dial in the two reactors together. (Ie. using the two-parts until I get Ca=390 and Alk=3.0, then let the reactors try to maintain after that point.) It's just that over time, Ca will will fall, and Alk will rise. Which wasn't quite was I was expecting, I was expecting both values to rise (or drop) together. If I run the kalk by itself both values will drop. If I run the Ca by itself I should theoretically be able to retune to the system's draw rates but I was hoping to add kalk to the mix because it helps to precipitate out phosphate (or so I thought).

I dunno maybe I'll just give up on the kalk for now. It's not like I have any SPS left, so the draw should be fairly low anyhow, but I was hoping to maintain the levels for the benefit of the other things I have left (clams and LPS).

[untamed]

Of course, it could be something related to the Ca/Alk that your specific tank uses. It think it is fairly accurate to say that both Kalk and Ca reactors deliver both Ca/Alk in a mostly balanced way.

Holmes-Farley also says that often having one of these parameters a bit low is an indication of not enough of the balanced Kalk or Reactor...as opposed to concluding that you need to chase Ca or Alk separately.

[Delphinus]

That's just the thing, you can't chase Ca and Alk independently when you have a reactor. I am starting to appreciate the Balling method instead Or just adding the stuff manually, it's just that I can't stand wondering at 10pm at night "Did I remember to add my Ca additive before I left for work this morning? How come I can't remember?" ... That's the beauty of the reactors - once dialed in they are set-and-forget but ... OTOH dialing them in can be such a pain. I can dial in a single reactor perfectly but now adding a kalk reactor to the mix, it just seems I can't wrap my head around what's going on in there.