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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/7/2008 9:45:14 PM
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| im in the process of converting my 55g into a reef, do i need a calcium reactor? what does it do? benefits vs. faults?
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Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/1/2008 6:38:16 PM
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Are you going to have SPS corals? if not I wouldn't bother with one personally. As I understand it, they just raise the calcium level in the tank and maintain it at a higher level. I have never used one because I have all soft corals.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/7/2008 9:45:14 PM
Posts: 57,
Visits: 81
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| awsome, you just saved me a few bucks, i dont plan on having hard corals due to the light requirements, im running a T-5 4x58 light along with the full spectrum light that the tank came with (T-5 = 2-10,000k white and 2-actonic 03). the soft corals seem to be less labor intensive as well so if i could keep them happy without it, than im a happy camper too.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 5:38:35 PM
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Calcium reactors are actually poorly named. They should be called Kh reactors. CO2 is injected into a cylinder containing calcium based media. The CO2 lowers the pH which causes the media to melt down and is the dripped into the tank. The end result is a high Kh, and increased calcium level and a better buffered more stable pH. To me the benefit of the calcium reactor is the stability it lends to a system. Better stability = healthier animals. Do you have to have one if you're keeping softies? You don't have to have one if you're keeping SPS, but it does help. If you wanted to push up calcium soley, a Kalk reactor would serve that purpose better.
So many species, so little money!
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Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/1/2008 6:38:16 PM
Posts: 11,957,
Visits: 5,449
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Thanks for the better explanation. :)
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/7/2008 9:45:14 PM
Posts: 57,
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| Your explanation was more clear than all the articles I've read and people I've spoken to, i even took the liberty to write it down as reference material if i forget in the future. LOL!!! thank you.:D
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 5:38:35 PM
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| Hey guys, always happy to be of assistance. To me, buying equipment for reef keeping is the most intimidating part of the hobby. With livestock, you can go down to the LFS and see what you're buying. Most of the time (we hope anyway) the sales person can give you pretty good information as to how to care for the animals. The internet provides loads of info on livestock of any and every kind. But when it comes to equipment, it's another story. Most stores don't stock the more advanced equipment due to their cost and very low turnover rates. The internet mostly provides specifications on equipment, very little about why/how you would use it. When you're talking about buying something that costs hundreds of dollars, you want to be sure you have the knowledge and resources to install and use it. You also want to know what other costs are associated with it. The calcium reactor for instance. In order to have a fully functioning system you need far more than just the reactor. The second thing you have to buy is a CO2 tank. I use a 10 lb cylinder that costs about $110 to buy and $18 to refill (a full tank lasts me about 10 months). Now to make the CO system complete you also need a regulator, a solenoid valve, a needle valve and a bubble counter. This stuff can be purchased in different combinations and qualities but will cost between $120-$200. So now you have the equipment but you still need the reactor media (I prefer Schuan type media). Again cost varies but figure you'll spend another $30 and up to get started. There just aren't too many sources for that type of info, except in forums like this one. There's a bunch of equipment out there that I know nothing about, but I'm more than willing to share what I do know.
So many species, so little money!
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