Kalk + Ca reactor?

[magikfly]

What's teh general consensus on the usage of kalk for maintenance of ALK, pH and Ca?

I'm planning on using just a good Ca reactor controlled by a pH controller in an SPS dominated tank.
Tell me I'm not crazy

[sps1-2-b]

I use both. The kalk reactor tends to balance the low pH that the calcium rx causes due to the CO2. Plus the extra calcium doesn't hurt either for an sps tank.

[macreefster]

i use both. a Ca reactor controlled by a pH controller to maintain Ca, alk and mg levels and a kalk reactor to maintain the pH. i thought that was the way it was supposed be done, but then i might be crazy..lol

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

I agree. The reason to use both is purely that many folks have low pH without a CaCO3/CO2 reactor, and such reactors can make the problem worse.

So the limewater is is mostly for its pH benefit,a and the reactor takes up any calcium and alkalinity demand that the limewater cannot handle. :)

I use only limewater, but my demand is less than an SPS dominated tank. I compare various methods here:


How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

[Capt_Cully]

I've run an SPS dominated tank for 4 years with a Ca reactor. I've found that over time the Alk can become depleted and needs to be increased by dosing carbonate. I'm going to start dripping Kalk at night when the pH normally dips. This will add both Ca and carbonate to the water keeping pH, Ca, and Alk up.

Many people use kalk as their FW top off.

You are NOT crazy.

[magikfly]

I get the fact that the pH lowers because of the Ca reactor, but even with a dual stage reactor?
I'm trying to build a simple (low-risk) tank, and adding another potential factor for failure really worries me.
So, do the benefits really outweigh the risks?

[Mr..Tang]

Once you get it setup and running,,, it takes care of itself.. You still need to do water tests but it really is low risk as long as you buy good quality equipment.. It's good to check the ph of the effluent every once on a while too

[gasman059]

So, do the benefits really outweigh the risks?
As long as u are awre that the FW top off is hooked up to the kalk reactor. Lets say u take out some amount of water and do not replace it then this would be replaced by kalk alone and can cause a problem. The way around this is with an osmolator that cabn regulate a speciifc amount for that eventuality.


I run on;y a reactor but soon will get my kalk reactor online to deal with ph and extra sps demand.

[ctran]

Good topic. I just bought a Cal reactor without a pH controller. I don’t have a kalk reactor, but I do have a doser, which I was thinking of using to dose Alk (Sodium Carbonate). Would it be beneficial running Cal reactor and dosing Alk at the same time? Will I be able to stabilize both my pH and Alk?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I get the fact that the pH lowers because of the Ca reactor, but even with a dual stage reactor?

Even without any reactor the pH can be low, and yes, even a two stage necessarily delivers CO2 to the tank.

Good topic. I just bought a Cal reactor without a pH controller. I don’t have a kalk reactor, but I do have a doser, which I was thinking of using to dose Alk (Sodium Carbonate).

Limewater is a better option than is alkalinity alone, unless you use a salt mix that is driving your calcium too high anyway.

FWIW, I do not prefer to dose limewater from a reactor. IMO, a settled reservoir and a dosing pump is a better option, if you can fit the reservoir.