Calcium Rxtor or Kalkreactor or B-Ionic or Kalkwasser or....

[Unarce]

I'm still on the fence regarding what method to use for maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels for an SPS tank.

As of now, I'm leaning towards Greg's (GSchiemer) method of using a doser for top-off water and B-Ionic. Primarily because I know exactly what I'm getting with the B-Ionic.

I've strongly considered getting a calcium reactor, but I've noticed that people eventually find the need to add Kalkwasser or a Kalkreactor, and a Phosban reactor. Some even have all three, plus a reactor for Zeovit. I just don't have that kind of space in my stand :?

What's your take?

TIA

 

[Len]

In the beginning stages of my tank, I could maintain Ca with just Bionic (I'm trying Salifert's all-in-one right now) or kalkwasser. After corals grow to a good size, I find I need to use a combination of additives to keep up. I always eventually end up using B-ionic, Ca reactor, and kalkreactor in the end. These are for SPS dominanted tanks.

 

[jdeets]

I started with supplements, then started using kalkwasser, and finally ended up with a calcium reactor. I'm currently using a Precision Marine CR622 on a 180G tank. It works like a charm--no additional supplementation necessary.

I have lots of LPS, some SPS, a clam; my LPS grows like crazy and I'm always scraping coralline off the glass. Last time I checked my Ca was around 440, alk around 4 meq I think--I don't check it that often because this thing runs itself. Those measurements were done shortly after I installed this reactor--prior to that I had gone 1 week with nothing because my old reactor came apart at the seams--so I would guess the numbers are higher now. (Note to self--do some water tests...)

If you decide on a Ca rxr, you might get something rated somewhat larger than your tank--it never hurts to have excess capacity and the incremental cost increase isn't that much. Plus with lots of SPS you could use the extra capacity.

I have been using a Ca rxr for 5 years, and as long as it is going, I have never had to add other supplements. I also do small water changes (about 10%) every 2 weeks.

After doing it all three ways--I would never go back to the old way.

 

[Unarce]

Thanks for the input guys!

Len - Do you find it necessary to have both Kalk and Calcium reactos? Could I possibly just use an oversized Calcium Reactor by itself.

jdeets - Is there still an issue with reactor media leeching phosphates into the system, or is there more refined media out in the market nowadays?

 

[Len]

My 120 gallon needed both, but my Ca reactor was pretty small. A bigger one, or simply increasing your drip rate and CO2 rate, might be sufficient.

 

[Anonymous]

I use a CA reactor and a kalk stirrer for my make-up water. It is basically a 32G brute that I add 10 heaping teaspoons of kalk to it every weekend. I have a maxi jet 1200 that is on a timer and it mixes the kalk twice a day for 30 minutes. I have another MJ 1200 that is controlled by a float switch to replace the evaporate water. That pump is also on a timer so that it doesn't pump water until an hour after the kalk has been mixed.

I thought kalkwasser had some benefit of driving phosphate out of your water?

Louey

 

[jdeets]

I have always used CaribSEA A.R.M. (aragonite reactor media), and it is supposed to very low in phosphates (like 1/10 ppm).

I also have a refugium and harvest macro regularly, as well as pulsing xenia that I harvest regularly, so I've never had PO4 buildup in the system. I have no idea what it would be like if I didn't harvest the xenia and macro regularly.

I need to take some readings this weekend and see how my numbers are--I haven't tested the water in probably 6 weeks, but once you get these things dialed in, frequent water tests aren't that critical.

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't tested my water since November.

Coraline algae says that everything is fine. :wink:

Louey

 

[Ben1]

On my 58 I use a jetstream1 and a geo kalkreactor. The work well hand in hand preventing any pH swings. The jetstream1 uses coral sand that is like 1"+ pieces of coral. I was told if you soak in it fresh RO/DI the water will be so pure it will suck the P04 out of the media and make it leach less.

 

[GSchiemer]

I use a kalk reactor, CA reactor, and two-part solutions, and by far the simplest and safest method is to use a balanced two-part solution and a good dual dosing pump, such as the Spectrapure LiterMeter III. You're going to have to replace evaporated water anyway, and the best way to do this is continuously with a dosing pump, so you might as well dose your two-part supplements along with the make-up water. I mix a week's worth of parts A & B in separate containers with RO/DI water. I use the Spectrapure LiterMeter III to dose a fixed amount from each container every day. I maintain my calcium, alkalinity and replace evaporated water in one step, and I only need to deal with it for a few minutes each week. I've used this process for years on two reef aquariums and it's proved to be simple, reliable and fool-proof. Also, this method can be used indefinitely. If you find your CA or alkalinity levels drifting in either direction, simply adjust the amount of the two-part supplement that you add to each container weekly.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, CA reactors and kalk reactors are a major PITA. I use them on my biggest reef and have toyed with many of the reactors on the market. I have to fiddle with them constantly; dread replacing the media, and hate trips to the welding supply place to pick up canisters of CO2. In addition, they take up a lot of space around my aquarium.

Just my $0.02

Greg

 

[npaden]

I'll have to disagree with Greg.

The best thing that I have ever done for myself and my reef was setting up an auto top-off system.

The 2nd best thing was buying a calcium reactor. I've run my tanks for about 5 years without messing with any 2 part additives. When I did use them they were a huge hassle IMO.

I do run a kalk setup very similar to Loueys. My calcium reactor is large enough to meet the calcium demands of the tank without it but I feel that adding kalkwasser is cheap and easy and allows me to run my reactor at less than 100%.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[jdeets]

I'd have to disagree wiht Greg as well. Adding media and picking up a CO2 canister about once every 6 months is pretty simple. When you're supplementing in a naturally balanced manner (i.e., not adding ca and alk separately), you don't have to worry about rebalancing, misbalancing or changing additive ratios. No mixing, no muss, no fuss.

OTOH, it also sounds like Greg has found a good system that works for him. Both have their headaches, but I don't think one is necessarily more trouble than the other.

Note that any time you add a system to your tank, such as a Ca rxr, your equipment failure risk increases. My old Ca rxr was cheaply made and caused a flood in my stand several times. It eventually came apart at the seams. I'm now using a PM--it was expensive but the construction is really solid. Of course, with Greg's system you don't take this risk. The best advice I can give you there, if you decide to use a Ca rxr, is to spend the extra $$$ and get a really high quality unit that isn't going to come apart on you. My thought is that most reputable brands would be OK. I bought one from a hobbyist who was dabbling in the aquarium equipment business, and that was a mistake.

What works best for you will depend on your system, what your Ca demand is, how you like to run your tank, and how much you want to spend up front. I have a 180 pretty heavily stocked with LPS. The Ca rxr has worked wonders for me. You may rather do 2-part supplements--depends on system size, Ca demand, and the other issues.

 

[Anonymous]

On another simialr note:

I am still trying to get my reactor installed somehow. My current levels are Alk 8 DKH and a CA of 320.

In the Reactor instructions it says to have the levels where I want them first before runnign the reactor.

Will the reactor not raise the levels? Do I have to raise them first? I want to aim for a Alk of 10 DHK and a CA of 420.

I currently run a Kalk reactor 24/7 for all topoff and the levels do not move at all.
_________________
Polish Forum

 

[jdeets]

Rob--it's not really necessary. Just fire up the reactor. Then you can tweak the CO2 bubble rate and effluent flow rate until you get it dialed in where you want it.

Certainly you wouldn't want to hook up a reactor if Ca and alk were nonexistent, but in your case I'd just go ahead and get it going. You can use Ca or alk additives as necessary to get the balance you need, and after that, the Ca rxr should maintain that.

Craig Bingman wrote a great explanation of the Ca/alk ratio and how it moves in tandem when you are using a Ca rxr. It is located HERE. (Click on the link titled "More About Calcium and Alkalinity".)

As you can see, the ratio is 1 meq alk = 20 ppm Ca. Thus, you may have to raise your Ca with a supplement (like CaCl3) in conjunction with using the Ca rxr to get your ratio where you want it. After that the Ca rxr should take care of it.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

Assume you have 2.5 meq and 300 ppm Ca, and you want to raise it to 4 meq and 450 ppm Ca. By running the Ca rxr, you could raise the alk to 4 meq, but your Ca would only increase by 30 ppm--so you'd be at 4 meq and 330 ppm Ca. To get to Ca of 450, you'd run the Ca rxr to keep alk at 4 meq and use CaCl3 to get your Ca up to 450. After that the rxr should maintain everything in balance.

When dialing in your Ca rxr, in other words--target your desired alk level, and use another supplement to initially adjust Ca. After that you should be home free.

 

[stubbsz]

I haven't tested my water since November.

Coraline algae says that everything is fine. :wink:

Louey

I test for ALK now and then and find my levels are OK. My Coraline is a pain to scrap off and grows like crazy... But is the Coraline a good enough indication that things are cool and is there no need for me to test?

On another note my K2R reactor is a pita. It often stops dripping... maybe my littel aqualifter isn't strong enough to supply it with water but I'm close to giving up on the K2R and getting another reactor.

 

[Len]

I find my kalkreactor (from Ecotech) to be very hassle-free. Replacing the kalkwasser involves me removing 10 wingnuts (two to disconnect from the base, eight for the top cover). I then pour in 1+ pound of kalkwasser powder, put the cap back on, and screw the wingnuts back down. With 1+ pound of kalkwasser, I usually replace the kalk once a month. Every half year or so (sometimes I get lazy and prolong it), I will clean the entire reactor chamber out. This takes 10-20 minutes so it's no big deal for me. As for fiddling, there's nothing I adjust with my kalkreactor.

The Ca reactor is definitely more fidgety mostly due to getting the effluent pH just right. However, my new setup will use a pH controller to maintain the reactor's pH, so the major hassle is eliminated. Replacing media never has been a major issue for me. The CO2 trips arent any fun for me either. I can pay 50% more and do a tank swap at my LFS though.

I'd really like to be auxillery pumps for my LM3 to dose two part additives (doing that by hand right now) but I literally have no room left in my cabinet. I've been thinking about plumbing from a greater distance away, but I don't think I can do it in an aesthetically pleasing manner. It's times like these I wish I had a dedicated fish room or basement.

 

[jdeets]

Well, I did some water tests this weekend.

Alk = 3.8 meq
Ca = 430
PO4=0.1
NO3=0.5
SG=1.026
pH=8.17

 

[Len]

Lately, I've been thinking about ditching my kalk stirrer and going with automatic Bionic dosing (via my LM3). I'm getting tired of manual addition, but I don't have room for both my Ca reactor, Kalk stirrer, and Bionic bottles. I think I might have to buy two LM3 auxillery pumps and give it a shot.

 

[Unarce]

I'm not sure if I asked this yet, but what would be the advantage/disadvantage of just running a Kalkreactor? Would I be able to get away with using a slightly oversized kalkreactor instead of an oversized calcium reactor?

Thanks again!

Karl

 

[ChrisRD]

Karl, every tank is different, but with a hardcore SPS tank, chances are a kalkreactor alone won't keep up with the excessive Ca/Alk demand.

An oversized kalkreactor won't help you because you're still limited by evaporation and the pH raising effect as to how much kalkwasser you can add. With a Ca reactor you don't have the evaporation levels limiting you - just the pH lowering effect.

If you run them together they tend to offset the pH problems and you can deliver more Ca/Alk than either one could alone.

HTH