what do more people make critical mistakes with?

[snowmansnow]

kalk reactors?
or..
Calcium reactor systems?

B

 

[dakota9]

Hm.... I think it's both actually........

Seriously, after years on the boards, I'd say Kalk reactors

 

[snowmansnow]

dawgdude;501491 wrote: I have to agree with Dakota on that its pretty even, however I think that we see more people with kalk mistakes sometimes because its so easy and cheap to dose. With calc reactors though there are a lot of points of failure and if a CO2 is left open then you are going to see a signs up it pretty quickly.

Main thing with these systems are redundancies and setting it up correctly with quality equipment.

so because kalk is easier .. you are saying that folks neglect proper setup and self education and therefore end up with issues?

 

[dakota9]

Personally, I think adding either piece of equipment to too small a tank causes the biggest issues.

Not as often as now days, used to you'd see someone's system crash because of some reactor incident and when members would inquire of the set-up, you find out they have a 20L, 40B, or a 45g bowfront...... Theres not much room for error in small tanks and I don't care if you are growing sps specific, if ya don't have time to dose two-part everyday, maybe you you need to try softies or get a bigger tank.....

 

[snowmansnow]

you mean techy equipment junkies like myself haha?

 

[dakota9]

SnowManSnow;501517 wrote: you mean techy equipment junkies like myself haha?

That's another issue actually, people running equipment their system doesn't require. It seems after the thrill of buying it and setting it up, they forget it has to be maintenanced.

 

[dough]

I actually dump my CR for an easier system to manage. Also I did this because I'm drifting towards LPS, away from SPS. But I still have some very large SPS.

On my tank reset last May I went to a ATO and now add kalk to the TO bucket. I add 2 tablespoons of Kalk (pickling lime) with each gallon. I try to stir the mixture up once a day. So far, I've not had any issues. In a perfect world I should put a small pump in my top off water that turns on and off several time a day for a few minutes. But....

 

[snowmansnow]

Dakota9;501521 wrote: That's another issue actually, people running equipment their system doesn't require. It seems after the thrill of buying it and setting it up, they forget it has to be maintenanced.

good thing i border on obsessive with my toys haha

 

[jeffh]

If you are using a bucket for kalk, you only want to stir it when you first add it. The kalk forms a protective layer on the top to prevent it from reacting with the CO2 in the air. Any stirring or mixing after this introduces CO2 which will "use up" the kalk.

A kalk reactor is a closed system which CO2 can't enter. This type of system should be mixed.

Jeff

dough;501529 wrote: I actually dump my CR for an easier system to manage. Also I did this because I'm drifting towards LPS, away from SPS. But I still have some very large SPS.

On my tank reset last May I went to a ATO and now add kalk to the TO bucket. I add 2 tablespoons of Kalk (pickling lime) with each gallon. I try to stir the mixture up once a day. So far, I've not had any issues. In a perfect world I should put a small pump in my top off water that turns on and off several time a day for a few minutes. But....