Dosing calcium and alkalinity

[dhnguyen]

yeah setting up a 2 part doser system is fairly easy. The trick part (as with calcium reactor) is figuring out your Ca. and Alk consumption and fine tuning you setup.

I'm still tinkering with my 2 part doser 3 months later.

 

[IPisces]

In the mean time an easy kalk dripper can be done like this.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/

Hmmm, this is an idea for the meantime. But....I better build the reactor.
Thanks for all the info. It will make it easier than I thought it was going to be. Well, at least it sounds easier. We'll see when I finally get everything together and actually do it.

 

[dhnguyen]

Well if you need some pointers or help when the time comes let me know.

 

[IPisces]

Here is a picture of my new doser set up for part a and b. Profilux doser and the Warner Marine Calxmax product. My tank is only about 70 gallons so I don't have a huge demand for calcium/alk...yet.
I just set it up (after having it for a long time), so I will know more in a month or two.
Good luck with your quest for the perfect system.

What kind of doser are you using? Was it a kit from Warner Marine?

 

[IPisces]

Well if you need some pointers or help when the time comes let me know.

Well do you think the kalkwasser reactor is a better way to go than dosing a two part system?

 

[dhnguyen]

It all depends on your needs. A 2 part doser will cost a bit more to put together because it will require 2 peristaltic pumps. Cheapesr I could find were the ones from bulkreefsupply.com http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Jugs-...ser-Peristaltic-Dosing-Pump/product_info.html

Whereas you could probably build your own kalk reactor for about $40 or less.

Again it depends on your calcium and alk consumption requirements though. With a 125g SPS tank I have however, there was no way I could use a kalk reactor and keep up with ca. and alk demand.

 

[IPisces]

It all depends on your needs. A 2 part doser will cost a bit more to put together because it will require 2 peristaltic pumps. Cheapesr I could find were the ones from bulkreefsupply.com http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Jugs-...ser-Peristaltic-Dosing-Pump/product_info.html

Whereas you could probably build your own kalk reactor for about $40 or less.

Again it depends on your calcium and alk consumption requirements though. With a 125g SPS tank I have however, there was no way I could use a kalk reactor and keep up with ca. and alk demand.

I dont think I will ever have a real big demand for either in my tank so I will go with the kalk reactor. Give that a try first.

 

[dhnguyen]

Hey... Look what I found

http://www.reefshops.com/dosing-pump-1-channel-1l-per-hour-or-6ml-per-hour.html

A couple of these would work to dose 2 parts and they're cheap enough.

 

[IPisces]

Hey... Look what I found

http://www.reefshops.com/dosing-pump-1-channel-1l-per-hour-or-6ml-per-hour.html

A couple of these would work to dose 2 parts and they're cheap enough.

hmmm yeah, but you know what they say. You get what you pay for.

 

[dhnguyen]

That would be true for most things. In this hobby however I found that most of the equipment being sold are priced at a ridiculous level.

Cheaper doesn't always mean it's bad IME. Look at the Octopus skimmers for example.