Dosing, What Should I do?

[reefhunter]

My new set up (120 tech tank, Giesemann lighting, etc) came with a nice deltec calcium reactor. I have a kalk stirrer from the last tank as well as a nice dosing pump and alot of 2/3 part supplies. I haven't set up any dosing system yet on the new tank...

 

I was thinking about doing just 2 part and kalk... but figured I might as well try out the calcium reactor...

 

What would you do?

 

kalk and 2 part?

 

kalk and calcium reactor?

 

calcium reactor only?

 

kalk reactor, calcium reactor and 2 part to adjust?

[Stephen]

kalk and 2 part.

[ChrisTran]

i am doing kalk and calcium reactor. You can check out my set up the next time you come by

[bbyatv]

Kalk only = pH high, and may not keep up depending on consumtion and evap rate

Calcium reactor only = pH low

2 part only = salinity creep

 

My solution: Kalk + Calcium reactor in balance to get pH, alk, and calc at desired levels.

 

Bruce

[Almon]

You should consider comlexity, maintenance, and cost.

 

Two-part is fairly simple. I've never used two-part, but if you have to do something everyday, I would consider that high maintenance. Aren't the monthly costs higher with two-part?

 

A kalk stirrer gets loaded once a week and the Ca reactor twice a year. That's low maintenance. You already have them both, so there is no significant cost increase. However, the Ca reactor adds some complexity to the system and another point of failure.

[Boret]

Having the Ca reactor already I would go with Kalk + Ca Reactor.

I only dose Mg to increase the amount of Ca I can add to the system.

I run the Ca Reactor 24/7 and the Kalk through the ATO and I have been very happy with the results. Tons of growth even though I use 20k lights. My Ca is at 480 and my Alk at 10-11 (A bit high for my taste).

I can tell when I need to add Kalk into the stirrer just by looking at the pH in the controller. When I replenish the kalk stirrer I get a high pH of 8.35, when the high goes down to 8.10 is time to add a few tablespoons of kalk.

The Ca Reactor can be a bit tricky to setup, but once you are done you can forget about it until either you need to add more media or the CO2 canister gets depleted.

[Origami]

I use a calcium reactor and kalk stirrer to deliver in balance, and use two-part solutions to address imbalances from time to time.

[Ryan S]

My new set up (120 tech tank, Giesemann lighting, etc) came with a nice deltec calcium reactor. I have a kalk stirrer from the last tank as well as a nice dosing pump and alot of 2/3 part supplies. I haven't set up any dosing system yet on the new tank...

 

I was thinking about doing just 2 part and kalk... but figured I might as well try out the calcium reactor...

 

What would you do?

 

kalk and 2 part?

 

kalk and calcium reactor?

 

calcium reactor only?

 

kalk reactor, calcium reactor and 2 part to adjust?

 

Since you have the Cal Reactor and Kalk Stirrer, I would use those. If you didn't have them, I would go with BRS 2 part system. The BRS 2 part system is far cheaper, both in the short term and the long term, when compared to setting up a Cal Reactor + Kalk Stirrer. However, like I said, if you already have them, then that's the easiest, and the cheapest route to take. If you decide to go 2 part though, I'll gladly trade you years of BRS 2 part system for your Cal reactor and Kalk Stirrer!