Kalkwasser or Calcium Reactor????

[tike]

I am purchasing equipment for a 60 mainly sps i am setting up. I thought I go with the calcium reactor but I hear Kalkwasser has helped many nail down their cal and alk problems. so...which way do or would you go and why??

Thanks!
willie

 

[tike]

anyone?????

Please

 

[DonW]

I am purchasing equipment for a 60 mainly sps i am setting up. I thought I go with the calcium reactor but I hear Kalkwasser has helped many nail down their cal and alk problems. so...which way do or would you go and why??

Thanks!
willie

Kalkwasser is a balanced additive. A calcium reactor will create a balanced additive. If the carx is a option for you then it would be my first choice.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

You could start with a kalk reactor and add a calcium reactor as your demand increases. Just run both!

 

[bc_slc]

I run both, but my calcium reactor is much less work.

Mat

 

[Slickdonkey]

Yeah you should see the kalk splashes all over my sump, my clothes, my table... messy messy stuff. Don't breathe it in either.

 

[reeftank1]

It would be worth determining what type of demand that your tank is consuming before deciding to plunk down another bit of cash for a reactor. From what I understand - each tank has so many individual variables and you may end up with both. My tank is now using both to shore up the consumption. Also, the kalk drives your Ph up which is different than the reactor which may hold the Ph much lower.

 

[DonW]

I disagree with the need for both. Alot of people use a kalk reactor as a crutch or patch for a ph problem instead of fixing the problem. A properly sized, efficient and properly adjusted ca reactor will not drop ph on a well thought out system. If the reactor can not keep up with demand then the reactor is either inefficient or is improperly adjusted.

Don

 

[tike]

Very good replies ! I think i am leaning the calcium reactor way. O.K., now to decide which one!:lol:


willie

 

[roblou]

willie: hey, just wanted to throw one more option out there, since I recently was debating on getting a carx, but for at least right now I have decided not to. Instead, I plan on using Randy's DIY 2 part Ca and Alk recipes and a litermeter 3 to dose those. And to use kalk for the remaining daily topoff. I've already started doing this, except all manually as I haven't purchased the litermeter yet. Logging my test results and what I've been dosing over the last couple of weeks and I'm definitely seeing my average daily consumption. Going to continue doing this manually for a bit longer, then get the dosing pump. Hopefully I'll be able to 'dial in' the Ca and Alk rates & it will hold steady....

Cost-wise, not sure there's really a savings going this route (at least with the litermeter). But I think this is a viable alternative, so I wanted to mention it to you since you're currently at the same decision point I was recently.

hth,
rob

 

[bc_slc]

I don't really use the Kalk as a crutch for pH issues, I like having a bit of extra calcium added to my top off water.

 

[SueT]

In my 120g sps/clam tank I drip kalk. as my only way of adding calcium and maintaining my alk. for now. I have had not 1 problem in doing so thus far. My parameters are as rock stable as they have ever been on any sps tank I've had before. And I have had a reactor on my old 180g. I would say see what your tank is going to be able to handle when frags are added to see if the reactor is absolutely needed. Yeah, their a nice piece of equipment but if you can maintain levels without thats more $$$$$ for frags!!!!!

 

[tike]

thanks sueT....word of the wise. I think I will do what my wife told me........hold off until you KNOW if you need it or not! LOL