General Help - Calcium Reactor or Dosing

Print Page | Close Window

Calcium Reactor or Dosing

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: General Help
Forum Description: The place to ask about pest, problems, hitchhikers, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=85278
Printed Date: April 16 2024 at 5:15pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Calcium Reactor or Dosing

Posted By: druss
Subject: Calcium Reactor or Dosing
Date Posted: May 03 2019 at 9:08am

What's better? Pros and cons of each? If calcium reactor, DIY or retail? Thanks for any advice/feedback.

Replies:

Posted By: knowen87
Date Posted: May 03 2019 at 9:45am

I would go with dosing until your tank has high enough consumption to justify a calcium reactor. Unless you are a gear junkie and love the challenge of setting up a new piece of equipment. I would not diy it unless you enjoy that because it might not save you that much money when you get to version 3 of your own design.

Many people really like their calcium reactors but I have never made the leap. Reactors can be expensive and hard to tune especially if you are trying to do it cheap and avoid controllers or other parts that make the reactors easier to work with.

To me, I am still dosing but it is all automatic. Mixing is not that hard to do because. I tend to mix 4 gallons at a time (2 of each Calc and Alk) and that lasts me about 2 months I have a 180 gal mixed reef. It cost me around $150 to get started and it has worked great for me for 5+years. I am not saying that I wont go to a reactor but I'm having a hard time seeing why.

Maybe someone with a calcium reactor can chime in on what they like and how much their setup cost.

Posted By: kevin.st
Date Posted: May 03 2019 at 9:41pm

Reactors are awesome, but I wouldn’t bother until dosing gets difficult.

Posted By: Kleine
Date Posted: May 31 2019 at 5:15am

Would a reactor hurt the tank in any way if the dosing isn't difficult?

Posted By: knowen87
Date Posted: May 31 2019 at 9:00am

No, it wont hurt the tank if you want to start a calcium reactor. It is just a different method used to raise calcium and alkalinity but it is not as simple as measuring a fluid and adding it to your tank. You have to make sure the Ph in the reactor is stable and control the amount of water that goes through the reactor. This can be complicated. It is what has kept me away from them so far. But to be clear any dosing, if implemented improperly, will hurt your tank and that is why you should learn about it before you start using it on your tank