Kalk $ calcium reactors?

[StirCrazy]

I fell Salifert is the best Ca test and I think most people will agree.

Steve

[MitchM]

Yes, Salifert.

Mitch

[stephane]

I try severale agen, sea test,seachem even 80$ lamotte and the best and easy I found is salifer

[Doug]

Salifert also.

[Troy F]

Steve, I don't understand the point you're arguing.

I have read the artical you posted Stephane.. and when I say something it isn't a opinion bassed from reading one article.. I read many articles and tests and opinions and then form my opinions.. I always have and I always will..

It's possible that Stephane may be also basing his opinion on his years of experience.

the bid difference is a Kalk reactor only maintains Ca, and it does a good job of that if used right, but it does a pour job of maintaining alkalinity.

They maintain alk just fine if used correctly. A Ca Reactor is just easier to adjust the alk if your levels get out of range.

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Kalk reactor can increase Calcium levels and alk levels, but it depends on the CO2 production of your tank.

Calcium and alk are consumed by corals and they release CO2 in the process. Kalk reactor takes that CO2 and Ca(OH)2 (Kalk), then it converts is back to calcium and alk. If you had no fish in your tank (i.e. no extra CO2 source), then it would not be possible for kalk to raise Ca and Alk levels. If you had plenty of fish or CO2 injection from the room, then it is possible but it is not guaranteed. This is one of the reasons why it is suggested that Kalk is dispersed/dripped during the night...CO2 concentration is higher at night and the chances of CO2 and CaOH bumping in to each other higher at night.

One of the common problems with Kalk is when Kalk is overdosed. There is complete overdose where the kalk precipitates the ca and alk in the water. But there is also a mild overdose where the pH is raised too high and it causes the alk to drop. When kalk is dripped, the pH of the water is increased. In this situation, you need to add buffer to counteract the situation. I think this is one of the reasons why some reefers say that kalk doesn't maintain alk. As a remedy, you can reduce the kalk you place in your mixing tank so that the pH is not as high.

Both are good, but you need to understand the pros and cons of each system. For begineers, I would start with either Kalk and Buffer or 2 Part. The expense of the Calcium reactor is very high and your money could be better spent on other equipment.

- Victor.

[GregJ]

so if I were to get a calcium reactor, would i need to add kalk?

[Delphinus]

"Need to", probably not, but "want to", maybe, that will depend on what you want. Like I said earlier, I am doing both... I feel that by doing both the pros of both outweigh the cons of either. You can go with one or the other, or both, or neither (you can VERY easily maintain nice values with two-part additives such as B-Ionic or Seachem Reef Builder for alk and Reef Calcium for alk).

[stephane]

need is a big word and you dont need any the only ting you need is to add calcium and alk now you can choose any mehtode to do it and IMO they are all good

2 part product very good and easy to dose but have to be dose each day
and cost a harm and a leg if you have even a medium bioload

kalk reactor , cheap to run but need a lilte investment , will keep you parameter well and need lilte maintenance

calcium reactor expensive to buy cheap to run need very litle maintenance
and will keep your parameter as well


Hard to choose

[Canadian]

How do you add alk? Is it like adding pH, or more like adding temperature? And do corals consume alk the same way they do pH and temperature?