equipment to help maintain water chemistry

hey everyone, ive been keeing a successful reef tank now for a few months(successful meaning nothing has died and stuff is growing off their plugs). anyways, i have been trying to maintain the necessary calcium, alkalinity, ph, dkh with supplements. im using seachem reef fusion 2 part calcum and alkalinity and seachem reef builder that raises carbonate alkalinity. im looking to upgrade to a more advanced system. my question is what different types of equipment could i get to automatically maintaine the appropriate levels. basically im asking what types of equipment does any really experienced reefer have underneath their tank.

 

Most people on here who don't manually dose use either dosing pumps or Calcium reactors.

 

+111

 

I use a calcium reactor controlled by the pH probe on my Reefkeeper Lite.

 

Would the calcium reactor be necessary if you were just starting out with softies and polyps? Is that more for LPS and/or SPS corals?

 

I added the reactor after about 6 months. I also started with softies and a few LPS but it soon grew into a full blown mixed reef. I dosed manually with two part or three part but it soon became a chore. I bought a Kangaroo dosing pump but got the calcium reactor about the same time so never hooked the dosing pump up and eventually sold it for a loss.

If you have a mixed reef or any leathers and such you will also want to run a reactor like the Phosban reactor with some carbon in it to lessen the effects of the warfare that goes on between leathers and SPS/LPS.

 

So do you suggest going ahead and running with the reactor even with only softies to start? I understand that you always start out with zoa's and such and the need to move up the coral ladder takes over! Should I start without one for 'shrooms and zoa's and then incorporate a reactor later or just add one now?

 

Regular testing of the calcium, alkalinity and magnesium will tell you if a reactor or dosing are required. If you don't have much of a demand such as with prediminantly soft corals them normal water changes will suffice. If and when testing shows you have a demand then you need to decide how you want to keep those levels in range.

I started saving and purchasing the dosing system which I didn't end up using, and the reactor and CO2 system early in the tanks life so I had it when needed. God test kits like Salifert or Elos will tell the story.

 

Sweet! Thanks AZ!

 

so for a mix reef tank. a calcium reactor is something that everyone eventually will later on in the tank life right? and that can be controlled by a ph monitor or aquarium controller. what could i get to help stabalize dkh?