stick with 2 part or get a reactor??

[wt*jayjay]

ive recently added 20+ sps frags to my tank and ive been having to dose like crazy! im starting to get the hang of keeping up with it now but im starting to notice how fast the jugs of two part are dropping. so im starting to think going with a calc or kalks reactor would be a really good investment.

ive done some basic reading and understand them both, but what would be the best for me? oh and ive got a 75g tank 20g sump and 15 gallon frag tank plumbed in (after all the rock and sand prolly only 75-80 gallons of water). and i really dont have that much room in my sump either so that could be an issue.

what would you guys do??

 

[corigan]

I'm not going to make any recommendations as everyone is different and has a preference. However this is how I run my setup. I dose kalk through my ATO and then just buffer up with 2 part as needed (which really is only once every few days if that). The Kalk keeps things pretty stable for me. To each their own as there are many ways to achieve what you are looking for. Some will run Calcium Reactors. Some will run Calcium Reactors with Kalk reactors to offset the PH. Some people will just use dosing pumps and dose 2 part. Lots of ways to skin a cat.

 

[roundman]

I had the exact set up you have and I did 2 part for a long time. I rand Ca, Mg, and alk tests daily and tracked the results to figure exact usage and dosage of the 2 part. I watched the forums and stumbled on a Ca reactor so I picke it up at a good price. I also run Kalk in my ATO.

There is no right answer to this it is what you feel comfortable doing. I like the not having to dose every other day thing.

 

[william1]

I stopped using a calcium reactor becuase theres no way to controll problems like a stuck Co2 regulater while at work for example. Then you have a ph drop which could be your demise. I sold mine and went back to dosing. You could always set up a DIY dosing system for your two part and just fill them weekly. I have a large gigas and sps which usually dont mind the dosing. Of course you will get faster growth with the calcium reactor, but theres just no garantee there wont be a problem. IMO

 

[jonboyb]

WILLIAM1;454477 wrote: Of course you will get faster growth with the calcium reactor

That's open to opinion there Will I've always dosed and had tremendous growth....and will continue to dose on the big system (although automated). I had to go to the bigger system becuase I had SPS trying to grow out of the water surface. For reference, I traded for a frag of ORA Oregon Tort (NOTORIOUS slow grower) in January last year less than 1" long. It's now a pretty decent colony and better than 6" tall.

Since I had small tanks until recently, my Ca reactor experience was aggrivating and I gave up. While the one I tried was not extremely good quality, I could never reach a happy point with it and gave it back. Had constant swings in parameters. Now if I tried one on the 93 I'm sure it would be easier to adjust and I'd like it fine....but I'm good with dosing.

 

[william1]

I will refine my last post by saying a stuck soleniod not controller sometimes is a problem sorry. I have ran both as well but theres alot of opinions about this subject. This was my expirience with T5 lighting and not MH.

 

[jonboyb]

Just yanking your chain buddy:thumbs:

 

[william1]

Its ok man.

 

[jdabs]

Tagging along....