Dosing 2 parts vs. ca reactor

Troylee · Jul 26, 2010

Nothing is more precise than a doser and more stable.....

I never have and never will play with calcium reactors....
I have a 220 sps only!!!!

Redstag · Jul 26, 2010

7.8-7.9 ph. Now I'm happy with the PH....very stable.

coralshunter said:
How low was your ph?

cwegescheide · Sep 26, 2010

I had two calcium reactors. A geo and a Precision Marine.. I work out of town m-thurs and I always had problems with my Ca reactors even using a PH controller etc. If it wasnt my drip rate it was my cylinoid.. I think it would be fine to use a ca reactor if i was home every day. A friend of mine then suggested I get a Litermeter dosing pump. I started making my own 2 part (Randy's recipie) and LOVE it. I have NEVeR had such stability with alk/ca. Its awesome.

I have a 6' shallow tank with about a 100 sps in it of various sizes. Be sure to get a GOOD dosing pump. Don't skimp.. I mix up enough 2 part to last a few months and set it and forget it. Of course every once in a while I gotta bump it up for growth etc... Its great.

HighlandReef · Oct 21, 2010

The best way I have found to combat the low ph issues with running co2 is to put a 2nd chamber to blow off excess co2
My system is about 250 gallons and my ph is ~8 at night and ~8.2 during the day, even a ph of 7.8 is ok as long as your alk stays toward the high end, my alk is usually ~9 all the time, so high alk will offset lower ph as long as the ph doesn't go below 7.8 IMO
Before I added a second chamber on my reactor my ph was always about 7.8-7.9 ran that way for years with no issues but my alk was always about 10 dkh during that time
It's normal to run on the high end with your alk when using a ca x
Now with that said no two tanks are the same but I don't see me going back to dosing manually any time soon, as long as you do your homework on the equipment you purchase it's fine, I have never had an issue and my ph controller is my backup incase of something along the lines of my little guy coming along and pulling a, hey I wonder what happens if I turn this knob like this? Lol!