Two part dosing vs reactors

[aquariumclown]

I've used both as well as kalk rx. I think that 2 part balling is easier for a beginner to understand than a calcium reactor where you need to understand the effects of ph and effluent output. But if you understand the how it works and the effects it has on your tank, then it's a fine method. I have to say though that there are more things that can go wrong with Cal Reactor than balling.

 

[Acronuts]

Interesting point>

Do you "feel" like it does, or does your levels testing confirm that it does?

Confirming with testing is the key.

As far as anyone else who might come across this thread, I'd imagine that if you bought DIY two part from a vendor like bulk reef supply where you can make literally 5-7 gallons of both two part solutions for $30, I think it then becomes a lot more viable and economic to use two part than buying a product like B-Ionic is.

The biggest thing of importance (and I don't think I've read it anywhere on this thread which is why I'm making the point now) is that no matter what method you use, you should frequently test your system to make sure that you are achieving your desired results, and not drastically altering tank parameters.

I've used both as well as kalk rx. I think that 2 part balling is easier for a beginner to understand than a calcium reactor where you need to understand the effects of ph and effluent output. But if you understand the how it works and the effects it has on your tank, then it's a fine method. I have to say though that there are more things that can go wrong with Cal Reactor than balling.

I have used now both 2part and kalk and have gotten better parimeters using the kalk. Especially with maintianing alk.

Things vary in tank as we add animals. Things change as those animals grow and flourish. Keeping an eye on things and testing helps you stay on top of anything that maybe going wrong.

 

[Ericm1205]

i dosed with part A & B for many months anddoing this 2x weekly on 2 tanks is a pain for me. i have had some alk swings kill some zoas and SPS that i had and i grew tired of always checking the parameters and adjusting to bring up one thing and drop another, or a big water change cause i over dosed. Alk and I dont like each other and we are always fighting. i dont have a great attention span and also have some health issues so that is why i got a Ca reactor. i know its not a "set it and forget it" kind of product, but it has helped me do less work maintaining my levels and i have no more swings. plus my corals are vibrant and open now moreover then they were. i added the Ca Rx to my 40b frag tank with 80% zoas and 20% sps mostly cause i wanted to maintain my levels, i also followed some recommendations of adding Dolomite to the top of the Rx or if it has a second chamber to help with the Mg levels. i test frequently with my salifert kits and i cant be more happier.
I still dose my nano with brightwell A & B, but its less of a hassle to do 2 - 5ml for it every week or so. i have plans to move the 40b frag tank to under the nano in the basement to tie them both together, but that is a future project.

as for the difficulty in owing and operating a Ca RX, i dont buy it. i didnt know anything how to set it up and maintain one. so i did my homework. i read many many websites and wrote notes and when i got it setup it it was easy. i wish i could afford a geo reactor, but i settled for a Octopus from bulk reef. got a milwakee guage and a small lift pump and i was all set.
reason for getting the octopus over the GEO, is cause i got a reefkeeper with it to control it plus other aspects of my tanks.

its all about how much you want to do for your tank. If you are happy dosing 2 part and you are successful with it, then thats great.
If you are happy with what a Ca Rx and what it does, then thats great also.
its all about results, and how awesome these techniques makes our tanks look.

 

[Acronuts]

I agree here as well.
Anyone who wants to try one or the other has to try one or the other. Most of the new hobbists for economical reasons most likely try the a/b dosing. Some branch out to ca reactors like I did.
When my reactor gave me problems laziness and the fact that I still had 4 gallons of a/b allowed me to just set the ca reactor aside and dose.
I personally found that my alk shot up and the corals that seemed to like this were the monti's.
My sps's were ok but PE was not great.
When I got my ca reactor back up and running almost a month later I could see a difference in PE, alk came down slowly and just the overall look of the sps's were great.
So for me ca reactor is best for me.
But again you need to try a method and if it works for you stick with it.

i dosed with part A & B for many months anddoing this 2x weekly on 2 tanks is a pain for me. i have had some alk swings kill some zoas and SPS that i had and i grew tired of always checking the parameters and adjusting to bring up one thing and drop another, or a big water change cause i over dosed. Alk and I dont like each other and we are always fighting. i dont have a great attention span and also have some health issues so that is why i got a Ca reactor. i know its not a "set it and forget it" kind of product, but it has helped me do less work maintaining my levels and i have no more swings. plus my corals are vibrant and open now moreover then they were. i added the Ca Rx to my 40b frag tank with 80% zoas and 20% sps mostly cause i wanted to maintain my levels, i also followed some recommendations of adding Dolomite to the top of the Rx or if it has a second chamber to help with the Mg levels. i test frequently with my salifert kits and i cant be more happier.
I still dose my nano with brightwell A & B, but its less of a hassle to do 2 - 5ml for it every week or so. i have plans to move the 40b frag tank to under the nano in the basement to tie them both together, but that is a future project.

as for the difficulty in owing and operating a Ca RX, i dont buy it. i didnt know anything how to set it up and maintain one. so i did my homework. i read many many websites and wrote notes and when i got it setup it it was easy. i wish i could afford a geo reactor, but i settled for a Octopus from bulk reef. got a milwakee guage and a small lift pump and i was all set.
reason for getting the octopus over the GEO, is cause i got a reefkeeper with it to control it plus other aspects of my tanks.

its all about how much you want to do for your tank. If you are happy dosing 2 part and you are successful with it, then thats great.
If you are happy with what a Ca Rx and what it does, then thats great also.
its all about results, and how awesome these techniques makes our tanks look.

 

[reefdan]

Reef Fanatic makes the best Co2 regulator

i respectfully beg to differ. i have both and the aquariumplants.com one cannot be beat. takes out all of the guesswork and additional adjustments necessary for low co2 tanks, etc.

 

[Xler8n]

Very well said firemouth

 

[jcom]

I use Aqua Medic Reef doser and I see a great coral growth and my peramiters stay rock solid and solid PH

Ditto...I would never be able to keep a consistent schedule with manual 2 part dosing, but with the Reef Doser, it took me about a month of adjusting dosing times/amounts to get everything right, but my parameters have been very stable ever since. I broke my Alk doses down to every 6 hours to reduce the potential for any kind of Alk swings. Since adjusting to every 6 hours, my Alk stays right at 8.6 dKh. It doses Calcium every 12 hours and Mag every 24 hours.

With the Holmes-Farley 2 part method, it is a very cheap and easy system to use. I just did an initially large purchase which included the reef doser, BRS Cal Chloride and Mag Chloride, Baking Soda, and Epsom Salts. Now I have enough to last me years.

Other than the above, I dose Aqua Vitro Fuel every 4 days to provide trace elements, amino acids, vitamins, etc. / Aqua Vitro Vibrance daily for Iodide / Strontium & Molybdenum every 10 days.

 

[gmatt]

i respectfully beg to differ. i have both and the aquariumplants.com one cannot be beat. takes out all of the guesswork and additional adjustments necessary for low co2 tanks, etc.

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO. I have both as well. I was always trying to get the reef fanatic to work at low levels. It was just too hard to set the bubble count. and just when you get it working, it would change in two days.

Switched to aquariumplants.com (electronic regulator). WOW!!!!!!! What a difference! Set it, forget it. Unless your demand changes. I cannot say enough about this regulator. It works.

I work in computers. I like things that are designed well and work. Kiss and Kit Keep is simple stupid, keep it tight. Things have a way of getting complicated on their own.

I like gadgets, there I've said it. Yes there all nice toys, and i enjoy fiddleing with them. But what i really want to do is focus on the livestock. Are they happy? Are my water quality levels meeting their needs? When they arent (and i want to make a change), do i have to fiddle with the equipment for days to get it to do what i want? Not if I can help it. Aquariumplants regulator is just one of those devices.