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jnjleavitt 
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 Topic: do you have to have a calcium reactor
Posted: November 10 2006 at 12:05pm |
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do you have to have a calcium reactor to have nice coral and if not is there a way to keep coral just as nice without or does anyone know a easy diy for one
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 12:31pm |
Very few people use calcium reactors. On this site you'll actually find a surprising number who do. I'll bet 10.
But it is totally not needed. My tank has been up 5 months and just this week I tested the water for the first time. Alk at 12 and Calcium at 375. See Jon, told you testing and measuring was a waste of time.
Adam
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smatney
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 12:35pm |
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I have a calcium reactor, check readings and do it all and don't have nice coral. Don't ask me why. I don't think it's key as long as you check your readings. You can dose with Calcium and Alkalinity and be fine. You just have to be faithful in doing so.
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Susan Matney
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Kevin
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 12:44pm |
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Home made two part addative (calcium and alk) added daily is the way I do it. Works Great! It gets annoying to do it after a while so I set up a dosing pump to add it without my help.
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Corey Price
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 1:47pm |
Well, Adam, come to my place- I struggle with keeping calcium above 340 and alkalinity at about 8.0 dKH. I dose both kalkwasser and home-made two-part every day (sometimes twice a day if the levels are low). Is a calcium reactor necessary in my opinion? Not for most people. Does it make life easier w/ large demands for calc/alk? YES. The constant ritual of dosing eases. Notice that I qualified my statement that demand and your attention to dosing regularly will tell you if you should think about a calcium reactor.
If you want to save money in the long run and you have a high demand, a calcium reactor is a good way to go.
Simple as that, IMHO.
Edited by Corwando - November 10 2006 at 1:48pm
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jfinch
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 1:57pm |
The beauty of a reactor imo is that I can get it dialed in and completely forget about it for 4 months (until the CO2 bottle runs out or the sand is all dissolved). Before adding my reactor I was adding buffer and calcium every few days. It became a hassle for me. The reactor was truly a set and forget gadget for me.
Adam, even a blind pig will find an acorn every once in a while...
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Shane H
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 2:26pm |
even a blind pig will find an acorn every once in a while... \
Now that belongs on someone's signature line!
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Kevin
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 2:26pm |
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I do the same thing with a dosing pump. Get it working and dosing the right amount and don't worry about it for 2-3 months when the fluids run out. The problem with a dosing pump though is they are costly (Not as costly as a calcium reactor though). I am working on a solution to that though.
Edited by Kevin - November 10 2006 at 2:27pm
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 5:13pm |
A CA reactor is definitely not needed... I use SeaChem Reef Builder and Reef Calcium Advantage every few days. It doesn't take much longer than feeding the tank once you have your recipe figured out I only spend a few minutes a week to initially calculate the recipe then a few minutes a month to verify it...
I do have a DIY CA reactor but it just sits out in the shed... Someday I will pull the media out of it and make frag plugs.
Thanks,
Scott
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jnjleavitt
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 6:19pm |
so can anyone share there home made recipe?
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: November 10 2006 at 6:47pm |
 jnjleavitt wrote:
so can anyone share there home made recipe?
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There are many ways to supplement for calcium and alkalinity. When I have store credit or enough cash, I will buy the 4 kg tubs of SeaChem Reef Builder(alk) and Reef Calcium Advantage(Ca).
I monitor my calcium and alkalinity over a period of time adjusting the supplements as needed. After a few weeks I usually get my "Recipe" dialed in. Then I will check it every month or so to see if any adjustments are needed.
When I am broke and out of supplements, I will use pickling lime for kalkwasser and baking soda to maintain Ca and Alk. In my tanks, kalkwasser will usually not maintain the alkalinity so I have to add a few table spoons every few days.
I now have a chiller on my tank and don't have near the evaporation that I use to have so I doubt that kalkwasser will keep up. If it does not, when the time comes, I will go ice melter shopping and get some Dow flakes to supplement Ca...
Thanks,
Scott
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
A fair and biased reef hobbyist
"How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: November 11 2006 at 12:27am |
This entire thread may be useful to you, including the standard, widely used recipe for Alkalinity and Calcium additives:
Edited by Mark Peterson - November 11 2006 at 12:34am
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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jnjleavitt
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Posted: November 11 2006 at 10:11am |
Thank you all so much for the help. I can't seem to find much help at local pet stores  .
BTW does any one know where to find a good place to get coral at a fair price I am in Kearns and the stores around here all what ALOT for coral. Like pets n such, pet planet and marine world. Thanks again
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tileman
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Posted: November 11 2006 at 10:32am |
Marine Aquatics always have good deals on coral. They are in Midvale. Plus if you decide to join our club, you get an additional 10% off. This discount is good at a lot of our LFS stores.
Check out the local fish stores button on the left.
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335G Reef
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http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium
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http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: November 11 2006 at 8:24pm |
LFS don't have the time to give you the help you need, and many don't understand reef aquariums half as well as we do.
See my signature below and call me to arrange a visit. You'll go away happy. 
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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