I'm confused about Ca/Phos reactors. Help me out.

I don't know if this belongs in Filters?

So, I do weekly 10% WCs. I bearly have detectable nitrates. My Phosphate are always zero w/ API kit. I realize that I do have nitrates and phosphate in my system, just not much detectable.

I use suplements for Calcium and Alk, SeaChem stuff. Reef builder, complete, Calcium advatage, ect.... I don't have any trouble keeping calcium up. Try to keep my Alk at the top, 4.5 on SeaChems test kit. Calium is always 400-450.

So when do you need a Calcium reactor??? What would the benifits be for my 90g???

Also, what is the point of Phos reactors or removers. If I read zero, is it really zero. Would a fuge of turf scrubber be just as effective at removing Phosphates??? At least a fuge or turf scrubber would export nitrates as well.

Any input is most appriciated.

 

A Ca reactor just takes the place of dosing all the time. Once you get a bunch of corals in the tank it will be hard to keep up with the Ca demand. Once a reactor is set then you don't have to mess with it for a couple months. I wouldn't run a reef tank without one. I run a PO4 reactor 24/7, I don't have problems with PO4's but I don't want one either. Just a bit of insureance since all the frozen food you feed is full of it.

 

Any other input???

Has anyone tried to dose regular Ca/Alk products with a dosing pump. Instead of a Cal Reactor, just making a solution of Calcium and Alkalinity solution and dosing that with a regular drip???

Any good articles out there. I read manufacturer lit, but they are a little biased. I use Seachem, but according to them Ca reactors are no good. Yet it seems to be the prefered method.

 

The guy who just won tank of the month in my local club still does a 2 part- no Ca reactor and his is one of the NICEST TANKS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!! Does he go through a lot of 2 part? yes but it works for him. He has a 180 and it is LOADED w/ SPS and he has a 40breeder frag tank loaded w/ SPS and he keeps up w/ the 2 part. I use one, and not like I'm interjecting that to say I'm right but just letting you know a two part can be easy and effective. Is otty right about the Ca dosing consistently cutting out your time to do it, heck yeah, but to me thats just one more gadget I need to buy. I simply use old gal jugs and mix up my 2 part. The Ca reactor is your call, some like convience and gadgets some don't. Both way can and will work.
Now on to the PO4 reactor. Does frozen food or for that matter all food contain PO4? You betcha. Flake and pellet contain it in the form of phosphorus for bone growth, frozen uses it as a preservitive, as most food grade preservitives contain PO4. I simply rinse my frozen out w/ water for a while until its thawed and then put the thawed food into a little tupperware w/ tank water then feed. I PO4 reactor is a great idea anyway regardless of food as even minute amounts of PO4(.025ppm) can cause algal issues(Sprung 2006)When I was at a trade show 2 years back I spoke w/ Julian Sprung about coral care and he mentioned that as low as .025 ppm of PO4 can cause algal issues. Will it that low, probably not, but just think about it this way, if your kit goes to 0(API's PO4 is pretty bad BTW) then you can have some serious HA and still read 0. Just something to think about. Anyway back to the reactor, get a simply Viaaqua reactor or 2little fishes reactor for like $30 fill it w/ granular ferric oxide hydroxide and call it a day.

Good luck

 

Heres a link to the tank...
Wisconsin Reef Society

 

Bummer. I need a password to view. Even tried going to home and TOTM.


So phosphate seem rather easy to control by various means.

How well do refugiums control Phos???

Also... what is a two part solution. I see it refrenced plenty. Is that just Ca/Alk??? Why I ask is that the Seachem I have is Alk and Calcium but their calcium products are two different ones. Is that the two part. Don't really understand why I need two calcium products. Their web site isn't much help.

BTW, I am just using what the previous owner had. He gave me a good supply. I will be running out some time and was looking into alternatives.

 

Powerman, I recommend just signing up on the WRS JUST to see the tank, use me as a reference It takes a sec and is worth it to see the tank.
A two part is a Ca and Alk supplement but also has a Mg part so TECHNICALLY its a three part. The Ca can either be anhydrous CaCl2, DowFlake or whathave you and the alk portion is typically BAKED baking soda. The Mg portion is 5c MgCl2 and 3c MgSO4, I actually mixed up another batch last night.
Seachem is a reputable brand but they do make some interesting supplement choices.
I would dose Ca and alk as needed, I say as needed because if you have zoo's and a sarcophyton you will not dose either frequently. BUT if you have montis and acros galore then you will dose both frequently. Mg will, according to the two part RULE, be dosed at the end when both the Ca and alk portions are used up. Corals use Ca and Mg in a 100 to 5 ratio I believe, so Mg doesn't need to be dose nearly as much.
I would check out Bulk Reef Supply and get the beginner 2 part combo. where I live it costs like $72 shipped and that will last your 90 gal like a year or so depending on your bioload of course.
Other wise I would get Kent's Turbo Ca and go and buy a big bag of Arm and Hammer at the store. Bake it at 300 for a hour or so and mix that into a gal of RO water. CAUTION it will take A LOT of shaking to get it to disolve. But its cheaper than buying a "COMMERCIAL" supplement.

Good luck

 

Just like everyone else said you do need a Ca Reactor it is just added convince. It still needs to be maintained, but not on an everyday like dosing 2 part. It really depends on how many corals and the type you have. Doing weekly waters changes should keep your calcium at the right levels (depending on your salt). If you wish to continue dosing 2part I would buy your stuff form a place like Bulk Reef Supply.

Bulk Reef Supply - Bulk Reef Supply

Phosphate Reactor will always help keep things under control before that get out of control. This is something I do not think would hurt to run, but again is not a must have. Having Nitrates at ZERO is not a must I has a SPS tank running with 10 to 25 in Nitrates with no issues. If your tank is not having any issues I would keep doing what you are doing.

 

CA reactors just help with the ability to not do daily dosing like said previously, PO4 reactor is more important imo but I have both personally

PO4 can be undetectable even in a tank totally consumed with algae, just because your test kit says it's not there isn't always true just because there can be something in the tank consuming it, but that something isn't always a good thing