Ca Reactor & Kalk Reactor - What else?

[NVMark]

Hi All,

I am interested to know if any of you have any recommendations – I run a Calcium Reactor and a Kalk Reactor (all fresh water added runs through it). Other then that I do not add or dose anything else, with the exception of stuff added as the result of water changes (which admittedly are not as frequent as they should be). I use Reef Crystals. What I am wondering is if the group would recommend that I dose anything. I have heard people (can’t remember if they were notable people) state that a Calcium reactor will replenish everything that a coral needs, because it is basically breaking down coral. I actually find this a bit hard to believe. And another confession – I am horrible about testing. In my defense I am slightly color blind and most test kits are color based… well I hope you guess the problem. Furthermore, I am not too sure what to test for… Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mark

[wwest]

I have no experience with with reactors but i would like to give a BUMP!

Also i would test for
Nitrates
Nitrites
Anmonia
Ca
Phosphates
Ph

and if you want to add more testing you can always test for Magnesium. I test for all that plus iodine but i have been known to over do it lol

[lcstorc]

I would add alk to that list as well.
Guess I over do it even worse.

[wwest]

No you are right. I look at alk as a always test and i completly over looked it. thanks

[NVMark]

I guess I should clarify a bit. The tank is very mature. Usually things like problems with the 2 Ns are obvious very rapidly by a change in algae growth or coral extension. If I have an Ammonia problem I think it is time to just rip the tank down and go back to gold fish. I do have a PH meter on the tank – in the 8.3 range. And I do an occasional test on Dkh – in the 10.5 range. I find the Ca test kits a bit finicky especial with my color blindness. But when I persevere it is usually a bit over 400. I am eyeing the Pinpoint Ca monitor. I have seen some questionable reviews, but there seemed to be a positive article on it in RC (I think). One item I over looked and probably never tested for is Phosphates and I suppose that a problem with that could have visual clues like the 2 Ns but be a different problem.

I guess what I was more looking for is – Are people dosing anything in addition to the 2 reactors. Such as Iodine, Strontium, Iron, Sulfuric Acid???? Well at lest the first three – with any positive results. It seems that the aquarium trade has come out with all kinds of miracle chemicals that they claim your critters can not live with out. Instead if just writing them off, I thought I would ask. I know that Strontium is part of the benefits of the Ca Reactor, but does it supply enough? I know Rob has mentioned in the TR Podcasts that he adds Iodine it in small amounts. Is Iodine something I can expect that would come from a Ca Reactor? Kind of think not, but I know it is one thing you do not want to add too much of. I know that at one time Iron was a recommend element because of its effect on algae – that would be positive for macro algae. Alk (Dkh) should be held steady by the Kalk… I think. And with two sources of Ca I would think I am good there. Although, I had a coral farmer tell me that almost all Ca Reactors are under rated for a decent tank. If this is true and from what I hear Rob saying in Podcasts the only option might be a 2 part Ca. Back to my visually method of testing my coralline algae growth is pretty impressive. So my finger in the air method says Ca is good.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the thought comments,

Mark

[lcstorc]

The only other thing I dose my tank with is magnesium as needed. I have finally found a salt mix that seems to have made this necessity disappear though (TM Pro Reef).
I firmly believe in not dosing anything I cannot test for.

[puckerfactor]

NVMARK,
I'm new to these boards, but also am color blind...bad. I found that the salifert test kits are better for me because they use a "change in color" to indicate the various levels rather than fine color gradients where you have to tell which "shade" the color is. I also use my wife and kids a lot to double check myself. I found when making and using my own DIY CA reactor, I had to test a lot to get it dialed in, then it took care of everything very well, except that once every 3-6 months I had to dose alkalinity because it would start getting a little low. I didn't use a kalk reactor because my CA reactor would easily overshoot my CA needs as it was, so I'm wondering where your CA level is now?

D