Calcium reactor ques.

[Gancoob]

Is a calcium reactor a must for a 120 gal new reef setup w some sps frags, 2 clams, some acans, and other corals. Would weekly waterchanges account for a necessary amount of calcium? How often would i need to put in additives? Planning on having a controller along w the other common gadgets.

If there is other gadgetry u feel is a must please let me hear ur opinion.

I'm also researching LEDs. Share ur opinions!

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Here are a couple of links i found helpful in understanding Calcium Reactors and Ca/Alk.

Calcium Reactor Primer:
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56499

Ca/Alk:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

 

[Jaftica]

Only way to know for sure is by testing the water. As far as "is a cal reactor a must" the answer is no, there are plenty of people just daily dosing with 2 part and are very successful by doing that. As far as LED's go...well they have there place, just not in a reef tank imo.

 

[dbriceno]

I have a 120 and do weekly water changes. I grew tired of dosing daily with the 2 part stuff which was necessary to keep the calcium level up. I guess it will also depend on the amount of corals you have. I've been using a reactor for over 1 year now and it works great. I am also using the Koralin unit which seemed to be one of the best small units. I refill my CO2 tank tank about every 6 months. I've spoke with others that prefer dosing. Your choice.

 

[watchguy123]

Clams suck up calcium and all inhabitants require parameters to be in sea water range. So your choices are dosing either by doser, manually or calcium reactor. At 120 gallons all methods work well. The rules are simple: gotta test, gotta supplement and ultimately successful tanks require stability.

Dosers require testing to determine uptake of calcium,mag and alk so that you can set a dosing rate to match that uptake

Calcium reactors require the same thing so you can adjust bubble rate and effluent rate to match uptake

Manual dosing is exactly as above.

Dosers and calcium reactors, once dialed in require the least daily maintenance but regardless, testing needs to be completed routinely to confirm stability.

I am a fan of calcium reactors but I am old and lazy, but once again all of the above methods work. The only one that does not is "not testing" And for a 120 gallon , "a controller with the common gadgets" includes either a doser or calcium reactor

Fish only system may possibly be maintained by water changes but even coralline algae can throw your parameters off so you still gotta test and probably supplement. I have never run a fowler