Calcium Reactor

ptreef

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How beneficial are these and what are the average costs for running them? Basically looking for any details/advice on these. I'm looking to add one for my tank
 
I also have been questioning if I should go to a calcium reactor. I have a 120 bare bottom tank that I have been struggling to keep my water parameters in the correct ratios. I dose 2part every day and that seems to keep up ok. I don't know if it is as easy as 2 part BUT I do think the calcium, alkalinity and magnesium being dosed through a reactor can provide more stable ratios in the tank.
For me the cost could be the limiting factor I see some big $$ and would love to hear some input about sizing, and newbie mistakes to avoid. I may travel from time to time and have a system monitor in the hopes I can make small adjustments when I am away. The hobby is not some thing new to me but after I moved the tank and removed all the sand I noticed some of my corals fading and even a couple of losses. That's when the testing started and a controller came next...
150 ml of 2 part is really odd but all of the corals are doing a lot better with the growth in the tank is the best I've had.
 
The cost is high up front if you buy new. But for three years I've manually dosed which in its self can not be stable. Sometimes life happens and you dont have time. Also the cost to dose gets expensive the more your corals grow or the more you add. The media for the reactors are cheaper as they last longer.

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I have used 2 of them in the past and loved them. It does take some adjusting and "learning" how to adjust them, bubbles per minute, getting the PH correct inside the chamber, and adding magnesium inside the chamber and it keeps up your magnesium levels also. A great thing but be prepared to spend some time with it, but once you figure it out, your good to go
 
If you use a controller, a calcium reactor is the easiest thing to use and setup. Upfront costs are higher than with dosing, but long term costs are lower.

A reactor will be much more stable and far less hassle. I've done both and would never ever go back to dosing. My time and sanity is worth more than the cost of the reactor. I'd much rather enjoy my tank than work on it.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I found acroholics post on calcium reactors it was very informative.
 
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