What to do? Brainstorm time.

[ripped tide]

The ca, alk, and mg uptake has recently surpassed the out put of my Ca reactor. For the past few weeks, I've been manually(in addition to the reactor) adding magnesium, calcium, and alk. I don't want to do this anymore.

I'm looking for a few opinions and suggestions.

A. Get a bigger calcium reactor

B. Add a Nilsen reactor to my current set up and add magnesium as needed

C. Add dosing pumps to the current set up that will add calcium and alk. Mag will still be manually added.




I'm favoring A or B.

"A" would be fairly simple. Sell this one, go are Jeremy and get the appropriate larger model.

"B" would be rigged up through my ATO.

"C" is least favored, but if it is the most practical and controllable, I'll entertain the idea.

 

[skriz]

A and B are the 2 best options.
A is best long term. And easiest.
B is kind of a hassle due to the increased frequency if servicing the reactor.

 

[ripped tide]

Servicing the Nilsen would be a bit of a pain, but I've been told by an expericed reefer that the key to explosive growth and color is by using both the Nilsen and Ca reactor.

The larger reactor sure would be easier though...

 

[eagle9252]

do you have a 1 or 2 chamber reactor? if you have only a 1 chamber you could add the second. could you not lower the ph just a bit to allow media to resolve faster. i dont have one yet just have been reading allot. i could get by with the nano but will get the 2 chamber one when i purchase one.

 

[reeferman]

i run Kalk+2 by Brightwells in my ATO and run a large calcium reactor.i know RHF has said the mag precipitates out of Kalk+2 but he kinda flip flops on the issue.i know my mag always stays steady and in line using the stuff.

 

[superclown]

I would go with option A sounds like your getting burned out on having to add manually in addition, sides whats the point of having a fancy piece of reef equipment if its not doing its job

 

[acroholic]

Ripped Tide;817320 wrote: Servicing the Nilsen would be a bit of a pain, but I've been told by an expericed reefer that the key to explosive growth and color is by using both the Nilsen and Ca reactor.

The larger reactor sure would be easier though...

I'd go with the larger reactor.

The only thing to be aware of using a Nilsen and a Ca reactor is you can have some varying KH levels, depending on your evaporation rate. More evaporation=more kalk =higher KH. One of my goals with my 465 is to have as steady a KH level as possible, and I couldn't get that with a Nilsen, so I have finally been able to tune my Calcium reactor output for a near constant system KH of 9. After removing the Nilsen, I added a media reactor filled with ARM after the calcium reactor. A precise bubble count off my aquariumplants.com regulator, a peristaltic dosing pump to feed the reactor, and a small hysteresis on the reactor pH setpoint on the controller keep the KH very stable at this point.

Reactor is a GEO 818 with 24 lbs media, and a Sea Systems media reactor with an additional 8 lbs media.

This is also the first time in an all SPS I have not had to dose either magnesium or Calcium separately once in a while as well. Reactor pH setpoint is 6.45 with a .01 hysteresis, effluent rate is 120 ml/min, and CO2 bubble count is about one bubble every two seconds. I've got it to where the regulator is almost, but not quite, constantly on.

There may not be any issue with a variance in KH, but it is fun to play with the equipment, hehehe!

 

[ichthyoid]

Ripped Tide;817320 wrote: Servicing the Nilsen would be a bit of a pain, but I've been told by an expericed reefer that the key to explosive growth and color is by using both the Nilsen and Ca reactor.

The larger reactor sure would be easier though...

I think you've answered it yourself. You spend a lot of your energy maintaining other's systems. I think you should spend more time enjoying yours. Just my $0.02

 

[ripped tide]

eagle9252;817324 wrote: do you have a 1 or 2 chamber reactor? if you have only a 1 chamber you could add the second. could you not lower the ph just a bit to allow media to resolve faster. i dont have one yet just have been reading allot. i could get by with the nano but will get the 2 chamber one when i purchase one.

I have the MRC dual nano. I keep the ph between 6.2-6.4. I have a very heavy coraline algae and stony coral load.

Edit:

reeferman;817341 wrote: i run Kalk+2 by Brightwells in my ATO and run a large calcium reactor.i know RHF has said the mag precipitates out of Kalk+2 but he kinda flip flops on the issue.i know my mag always stays steady and in line using the stuff.

If I do the Nilsen, I'll probably use mrs wages

Edit:

ichthyoid;817371 wrote: I think you've answered it yourself. You spend a lot of your energy maintaining other's systems. I think you should spend more time enjoying yours. Just my $0.02

Acroholic;817370 wrote: I'd go with the larger reactor.

The only thing to be aware of using a Nilsen and a Ca reactor is you can have some varying KH levels, depending on your evaporation rate. More evaporation=more kalk =higher KH. One of my goals with my 465 is to have as steady a KH level as possible, and I couldn't get that with a Nilsen, so I have finally been able to tune my Calcium reactor output for a near constant system KH of 9. After removing the Nilsen, I added a media reactor filled with ARM after the calcium reactor. A precise bubble count off my aquariumplants.com regulator, a peristaltic dosing pump to feed the reactor, and a small hysteresis on the reactor pH setpoint on the controller keep the KH very stable at this point.

Reactor is a GEO 818 with 24 lbs media, and a Sea Systems media reactor with an additional 8 lbs media.

This is also the first time in an all SPS I have not had to dose either magnesium or Calcium separately once in a while as well. Reactor pH setpoint is 6.45 with a .01 hysteresis, effluent rate is 120 ml/min, and CO2 bubble count is about one bubble every two seconds. I've got it to where the regulator is almost, but not quite, constantly on.

There may not be any issue with a variance in KH, but it is fun to play with the equipment, hehehe!

SuperClown;817360 wrote: I would go with option A sounds like your getting burned out on having to add manually in addition, sides whats the point of having a fancy piece of reef equipment if its not doing its job

I like the way you guys think!

 

[glxtrix]

Sure can't beat the MRC CA reactors. I regret selling mine....but my tank is in a different direction now. I'd go with a larger reactor.

 

[ripped tide]

What do you guys think? Cr-2 dual chambered or cr4 dual?