Calcium reactors

I would appreciate comments regarding the need & use of a calcium reactor in a 125 gallon reef tank.

 

Welcome to 3reef!
My main question before making a suggestion is what type of corals do you have/want to have?
I have found that it is cheaper (though more time consuming) to just supplement my tank vs reactor. Calcium reactors are one of many things you should not go cheap with AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE!

 

I would also appreciate it! I have a 125 and i don't have a calcium reactor but not sure if i really need one cuz i havn't had a problem at all keeping my calcium where it needs to be. All i do is use reef crystals to keep magnesium up as well as calcium and add liquid calcium seldomly.

 

If you plan on keeping SPS and/or clams, then a reactor will save you time and money in the long run... I posted a thread a while back about how it can save you money over the course of several years... I am starting to think it may be sooner than that...

I have been dosing using a very cheap 2 part from BRS and I'm already going through a LOT of it with just a few SPS in my tank... faster than I expected.

I have already bought a calcium reactor and have't set it up yet... it's a GEO 618... possibly overkill for a 125, but that's not a bad thing. I got a good deal on it, with a RF regulator, milwaukee pH controller, and 20lb tank costing me $450 used.

If your calcification demands aren't that high (keeping only soft corals or few LPS and no clams, etc) then it would be very difficult to justify a Calcium reactor. In this case, I'd stick with 2 part or Kalk drip (cheapest).

 

Gabba is pretty much spot on about reactors.

Many folks can get away with dosing, or just doing water changes, but if you get a sps dominant or clam present tank, then the calcium reactor is a wise investment.

 

you got a great deal!

 

I got an even better deal on a barely used geo618, but with a 5 lb tank. 250 for the entire setup. ;D The reactor came with a new FR reg, and the tank. I traded a dog ramp for the mke ph controller, an I had to buy a new ph probe for 25 bucks form BRS.