Dosing vs Calcium Reactor

[dubkie]

What are your thoughts? Which way should I go... dosing or calcium reactor?

 

[ripped tide]

I sure do like my ca reactor. I have the mrc nano. It is a dual chambered reactor (one for reactions and one for buffering). I picked mine up from SEA. The very first day I got it, I managed to over tighten the micro ball valve and broke it. I was pissed! I live about an hour from the shop, so it was not convenient to turn around and come right back. I called Jeremy, and with help the from my loving wife(she was in that area) , he hooked me up with a new piece, and I had it running that day! Excellent equipment from a great shop.

 

[nholderried65]

what corals are you going to keep how big is the tank?

 

[dubkie]

Mostly SPS... 180

 

[nholderried65]

oh ca reactor.... unless you get some nice dosing pumps

 

[ripped tide]

nholderried65;790253 wrote: oh ca reactor.... unless you get some nice dosing pumps

Yep

 

[jeffmuse]

I have done it both ways and I would vote to go with the Calcium Reactor. The reactor takes a little bit of work in the beginning to get it "dialed in" correctly; however, once you get the proper flow and Ph settings, the reactor is pretty much automatic. I set mine up in January and the only maintenance that I have had to perform was to refill the Co2 tank after about 5 months.

I am a huge fan of equipment that allows me to "set it and forget it"

 

[ichthyoid]

nholderried65;790253 wrote: oh ca reactor.... unless you get some nice dosing pumps

Pumps plus an Apex!

 

[jhutto]

Ca reactor all the way for a tank that size and for SPS.

 

[snowmansnow]

if youre just starting sps you'll b fine with a kalk stirrer for a long while.

b

 

[nholderried65]

i liked two parts over my ca reactor...and if you look on reefcentral most ppl are giving up ca reactor and going back to two parts...you may want to keep looking into it

 

[islandreef]

Here is a link to one such conversation. I apologize if links are not to be posted but it help me decide. Delete if not allowed please.'

 

[acroholic]

Dosing is a daily chore if you don't have automatic pumps set up. Calcium reactors require less monitoring and less work, IME, although the upfront cost of a reactor setup is certainly much higher than manual dosing. Both effective paths to a nice reef tank.

 

[thanh386]

Calcium reactor... because i am lazy. I wanna spend more time viewing my tank and less time monitoring its params

 

[eagle9252]

which CR is the best bang for the buck? if i were to start a wish list. i dont want a million dollar one but i dont want a kmart blue light special one as well. i would prefer not to have to tweet it for ever.

 

[ripped tide]

eagle9252;790677 wrote: which CR is the best bang for the buck? if i were to start a wish list. i dont want a million dollar one but i dont want a kmart blue light special one as well. i would prefer not to have to tweet it for ever.

Probably a matter of opinion, but I really like the mrc reactor that I have. I haven't adjusted the co2 in months. The only maintenance I do is make sure the effluent is dripping at the right rate.... I think that is common with all reactors

 

[thanh386]

GEO and MRC is consider the higher end ones. The only think I notice with people that own MRC is they have to bleed the lines more often.

 

[dubkie]

thanks for all the replies... since I would be dosing calcium, alkalinity and magnesium, if i went the reactor way, how would I add alk and mag?

 

[thanh386]

Alk would be a balance. And u have mag and calc media

 

[ralph atl]

I fill a 2.5 liter every week each with 2 part on a 90 with weekly water changes of 35% with Salinity on a 90 gallon...

Any more, I would definitely do a calcium reactor.....

Auto doser, obviously, but at the borderline of being a pia....I am staying with this, however. Any larger tank with corals would be too much work, IMHO.