Who has the nice calcium reactorless sps tanks?

[heartbreak7]

I'm just wondering how many people out there have nicely stocked sps tanks without calcium reactors. If so what are you dosing and how much? Pictures would be awesome!

Thanks

[fishdoc11]

I've been using Randy's two part for several months now. Used Kent 2 part for years before that.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/fishdoc11/Dsc01558.jpg
Several people using two parts with good success. A search should reveal several threads and tons of info:)

Chris

[jsweir]

Hate to go after fishdoc, but somebody has to....

http://www.knology.net/~jrweir/temp/side.jpg

Randy's two part + kalk reactor

[mr pink floyd]

im gogin to dose with b ionic in my 29, gogin to haev a derasa, green slimer colony, 2 monti caps, monti digi, thats the plan so far!

[undertai]

I use a 2 part formula. Will be switching to Randy's 2 part in a couple of weeks.

http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/100_0070.jpg

[gizmo7718]

46 gallon bowfront, dose 120ml each of Randy's 2-part.
sorry about the crappy pic, i suck at trying to adjust white balance on my digicam.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/60613db8escd.jpg

[heartbreak7]

Tanks are looking great guys! I'm using B-Ionic right now myself, been using it for years.

[jay24k]

I recently switched to a calcium reactor about a month ago. I used 2 part for awhile and went through alot. I don't have a full shot but here is a reflection.

http://home.comcast.net/~jay24k/april1st/reflectionshot.jpg

[concept3]

All these OLD pics were from 2004, Topped off ONLY with Kalkwasser. It was a 55 gallon tank, I now have a reactor for my 75 gallon, it makes adding Calcium easier especially when you have more than 50+ frags/colonies!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83078tank_left.jpg


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83078tank_right.jpg


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83078front_full_shot.jpg

[Salamander]

Cool Reflection pic Jay!

[143gadgets]

This pic is old, but the tank is currently all SPS. I have been using the Kent Marine Two part. I will get some updated pics soon.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/DSC_0036Web.jpg

[143gadgets]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/DSC_0014web.jpg

This is a more recent close-up.

[MiddletonMark]

On my 58, I've done pretty well without a reactor IMO.

Need to either set up dosing pumps or a reactor, though ... a few years of daily dosing is no problem, but I'd rather not have to think about it.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/2819658g1.jpg

[heartbreak7]

Wow guys, these tanks look awesome, keep 'em coming!

[SPSFiend]

I use Kents 2 part... this is aboout a 5 month old pick too ;)

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/108878CIMG0941-med.jpg

[acropora213]

~for the folks using Kent 2 part on larger tanks.

I would imagine the cost of upkeep with this product is quite expensive, compared to the home made recipe ! ?

Sorry to chime in on this, but I'd like to know

[MiddletonMark]

Yes it is. IME, Kent seemed among the weaker varieties of the 2-part solutions. [though it was an unscientific study ;)] I think I tried 4 different types a few years back.

Best bet is to get the large containers of B-ionic [4 gallon pails] ... think our club's last group buy had them around $75 [and the LFS took frags :D]. I do about 50/50 with the DIY 2-part, figure it'll take another 4 months to run out and go all DIY.

But ... I grew this in a couple years and nothing but 2-part:
[looks so much larger out of the tank ... weird]
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/28196slimer-out-med.jpg

[143gadgets]

I get it for wholesale. I pay about $20-22 for a gallon of both part A and B. So it's pretty cheap for me.

[143gadgets]

I am due for another order I might switch to b-ionic. What do u guys think?

[heartbreak7]

I have loved the B-Ionic for years, I usually buy the gallon sized, but the 4-5 gallon pails are a really good deal. Dosing it on my 90 gallon has left me with no complaints!

[acropora213]

How many ml are you folks adding on average when all is stable on your setups, I see one in here is a 75 ,like mine and another 90 gal. and so on .....

assuming we're all keeping it in the average range.

[heartbreak7]

I'm adding about 60ML of each part every night, keeps the alk and calcium nice and steady.

[david8956]

End view of my 72 gal tank. Use right at 75 ml each part of Randy's 2 part daily (Reciepe 1). Been using it for over a year now, couldn't be happier. Cost works out to about $1.50 per month.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/david8956/Rt.jpg

[acropora213]

Please , please, please send me the recipe link....

Hell ... $ 1.50 per month !!!

What have I been waiting for

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7139259#post7139259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acropora213
Please , please, please send me the recipe link....

It's one of
Randy Holmes-Farley's Reefkeeping Magainze Articles (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/author/rhf.php)

The top one (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php)

Also check out the whole magazine at www.reefkeeping.com. Lots of great stuff to find in the archives, really useful articles. Nice TOTM archive, see what you like best.

Tracking down Dowflake or others will require a bunch of searching here, perhaps asking on your local reef club forum here ... but even if it gets you thinking about how to 2-part cheaper - good :)

[jackson6745]

I actually took my reactor offline 5 days ago and began manually doing Randys 2-part. I am seeing an improvement in growth already! If the growth continues this way I will dose the 2 part with a litermeter and remote pump (2 dose cal + alk)
My PH is running higher since switch back to the 2 part.....

[jay24k]

The DIY is SO cheap. I really can't figure out why people pay so much for the calcium. You can buy a 50 pound bag online for about 40 bucks shipped. You can make about If I recall about 20-30 gallons+ of 2 part. That's a ton of money saved. If you paid 10 dollars for calcium part, you are looking at about 200 to 300 dollars compared to 40. Baking soda is just as cheap too. I also do the magnesium as it is much cheaper. However, I recently added a reactor so not only is it cheap as dirt, but a huge huge time saver.

[jackson6745]

jay can you explain what reactor you added if you're using a 2 part? Or are you not using a 2 part? I'm confused :)

[david8956]

acropora213 - I don't know where you are in Florida, but around the Tampa area Pinch A Penny pool supply stores sells 50 lb bags of Dow Flake for around $26 - $27.

50 lbs is more than you will probably ever use.

[steve68]

i use 2 part B-ionic on my 50
soon i will be adding a diy CR.

http://www.steve68.com/50%20gallon%203--6-06.jpg

[jay24k]

I just replaced my 2 part with a aquaticsystemsdesign.com reactor. I still have alot of 2 part left and as I test every 3 weeks, I will add the 2 part to get back to the correct level if I'm low.

[david8956]

jay24k - just curious.....why did you decide to go with a CA reactor ? (trace elements maybe ?)

I just can't justify the expense, low PH issues, P04 issues, issues with getting them dialed in, etc. Seems like a 2 channel doser and 2 part is a much easier, cheaper way to accomplish the same thing, but maybe I'm missing something.

[jay24k]

I didn't use a doser so I was dumping in near a cup a day of calcium and approximately 2 tbsp of baking soda a day. It got real tedius for me. I think overall it is cheaper to run a reactor then DIY and a big timesaver. The one I bought was cheaper then most and built better imo. Dailing it in was very easy and took about 2 weeks of testing to get the right amount.

Reactor was 219. I bought a ph/orp controller combo that was about 160 since I'm running ozone. Otherwise it is less then half that I believe. Pump I think was 30 and I use a maxijet to feed it. Co2 tank I bought new at 90 bucks for 10 lb. It is a huge container which if you compare to others, it is much cheaper (up to 200 dollars).

I have alot of SPS so stability is the way for me.

[acropora213]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7141649#post7141649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by david8956
acropora213 - I don't know where you are in Florida, but around the Tampa area Pinch A Penny pool supply stores sells 50 lb bags of Dow Flake for around $26 - $27.

50 lbs is more than you will probably ever use.


Thanks Dave,

I think your just North of me, as I am in West Pasco ~ in Port Richey.

Will I have to store that in an airtight container of some sort, to prevent the dow from turning into a rock ??

[jay24k]

I store it in a 5 gallon bucket from home depot. I've never heard of it turning into a rock.

[david8956]

I think your just North of me, as I am in West Pasco ~ in Port Richey
Actually, I'm just a little south east of you, just south of Odessa. I keep my Dow flake sealed as tightly as I can because it seems to attract and hold moisture. I'm sure the higher the moisture content the more of an effect it has on Randy's formula (recipe would probably be weaker the higher the moisture content)

[acropora213]

It'll be my first attempt at using this recipe'. That's where these questions are coming from.

I've been using Baking soda and Kent turbo Calcium in the same way.

For basics, how will it be different ??? I've read the link and it seems to call for ANY form of Calcium Chloride if others are not in the area.

[acropora213]

I'd send a pic of the tank to keep the thread on track, but I cannot get my camera to take pics that are not sooo blue.
How bout that issue, while we're at it ...lol

[reelfreak]

White balance maybe?? (I'm no photographer :)) but it should help some.....Lets see pics....you know we are all suckers for pictures here!!

[acropora213]

I gotta wait till the rest of the lights come on in a little while, I appreciate the help.

And as far as the white balance is concerned, I will putz around with it little before I post them. What some better settings ??
Its on auto right now, there's also Daylight , Fluorscent, etc...

[MiddletonMark]

I'd see if you can do a manual white balance. Perhaps need to read your manual for how your camera specifically does it.

Check the stickies in the Photo forum, I seem to recall Gho has a great site about photo-ing a reef tank.

[Justin/TiV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7141736#post7141736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jay24k
I just replaced my 2 part with a aquaticsystemsdesign.com reactor. I still have alot of 2 part left and as I test every 3 weeks, I will add the 2 part to get back to the correct level if I'm low.

sweet this is the same reactor I'm getting ready to get...they are really busy right now so been waiting for them to have time...

of coarse I'm from K.C. and alot of friends have this particuar one, it's cool to see someone from out of state using them.

[BRISK495]

Hey MiddleTonMark - Very impressive!! How much do you dose in ML's a day?? I looked through the thread and didn't see the amount.....Thanks!!

[heartbreak7]

Great tanks and great info. in this thread!

[cfishrun]

Here are a few pics of my 75g set up peninsula-style. The pictures are about 2 months old, so things have grown a bit since. Aside from 5-7% weekly water changes where I've been adding Seachem's Reef Advantage Magnesium to keep my levels around 1240, the only thing I dose to the tank is ESV Kalk. I have a 10 gal auto-topoff chamber that I have to refill every 3-4 days; to this I've been adding 15 tsp. of Kalk and 15 oz. of distilled white vinegar. I recently found it to be a bit strong as my Calcium got up to 475 and my Alk was over 12, so I've been keeping it at a 1 gal RODI : 1 tsp. Kalk : 1 oz. Vinegar ratio. If I remember correctly, water test results from yesterday read: Mg= 1235, Ca= 425, Alk= 9.75, NO3= .1ppm, PO4= No trace


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/cfishrun/Left.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/cfishrun/End.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/cfishrun/Right.jpg