How much is a calcium reactor vs two part dosing. Is it worth putting on a reef tank? Reef FAQ

[@ramihuus]

Ryan failed to take in to account that most dosing pumps cost few hundred bucks allso, and they do fail just as often as pumps on calcium reactor, and due to the nature of the hobby, since corals grow the calcium and alkalinity uptake increase aswell, so i'd say if one doses by hand and keeps cutting corals to have the exact consumption down at 1Dkh/ day, it might take 2-8 years depending on your tank, but in most cases i'd say its closer to 1,5-3 years of use for the equipment to pay itself. Allso, the resell value of calcium reactor and it's equipment is usually close to half of what you paid for it so in that case it might only take 1-2 years if your planning on selling the tank later. All in all, exelent video yet again!

[@jonasramus]

Well, one of the biggest reasons for me is that 2 part requires refilling your storage buckets more often than replacing CR media. That benefit is not about saving time, but rather it’s about reducing the risks of exhausted media. Empty two part containers (a problem I’ve had from time to time) can cause instability in the calk and alk levels in the tank. With the calcium reactor, I’m just much less likely to disrupt my daily dosing, resulting in more stable parameters.

[@ravenwhite6266]

well said!!!!!

[@brian7442]

I swear BRS is the gift that keeps giving. Thanks so much for these awesome videos.

[@alexmerida4765]

Wow awesome 👏 video. Definitely you guys make reefing a lot more fun while we learn. Thanks 🙏 BRS!!!

[@bonnie7988]

Thanks for your help Ryan. It makes my decision maker much easier now.

[@devachapman6315]

perfect! I have been thinking alot about this very subject. for a soon to be 200 gal total h20 volume LPS dom. tank. got my answer for now its will be 2part with a possible Ca Rx in a year or 2.

[@greatlakesreefing9671]

Definitely worth it for large sps tanks that are burning through 2 part

[@Mike__B]

I really important point that needs to be stressed though is with a 2 part whether you go with the cheap or expensive versions they just work. With a calcium reactor if you go for that "el cheapo" approach you're going to be pulling your hair out getting everything dialed in, and then probably still are going to run into a slew of problems as you use. So in the end the "worth" should be comparing something that "just works" vs. something that "just works" and there's no way a super cheap one you mention will "just work".

[@BRStv]

Great point!

[@stevenmoomey2115]

I bought a Calcium Reactor many, many years ago, the one I got you didn't need a dosing pump, it would self feed. It didn't work, it either crashed my pH or didn't add enough calcium. They said I need a second reaction chamber $$$$. I made my own out of PVC Pipe, I contacted customer service when it still didn't work. The told me I voided the warranty, and couldn't be helped by them anymore.

[@freakygoblin3068]

I wonder.. given 100 2 part dosing tanks and 100 calcium reactor dosing tanks.. what is the tank crash rate? I know there are other factors involved, experience, reason for crash whatever but is there some element of one is more prone to failure than the other. Especially when looking at the automatic ALK testers now on the market. Yes, Neptune tests for Alk, calc, and magnesium but things like the alkatronic, kh director only test alk. People should be testing all, how many do if alk is an automatic test?

[@madamd30]

I've seen about 4 or 5 BRS videos on connecting the vertex calcium reactor and a couple with the calcium reactor connecting to the co2. However of all these videos it does show how to connect the Kamoer pump to both utilizing the holes. It only talks about how it functions and not actually showing an example of the connecting the the tubes/holes to the reactor and co2. There was one brief demonstration with both Randy and yourself but it was quite confusing since after speaking about the effluent connection there was no other instruction. Can you provide instructions on connecting the kamoer to both the Vertex Calcium Reactor and the CO2?

[@Flownon]

Best thumbnail ever. Had me lmao at my desk.

[@BRStv]

Haha! Glad you like them!

[@samoliver4634]

Everyone’s bringing up the dangers of running out of 2 part and disrupting stability, and the pain of changing things out, but you have to do the same with the coral media and the co2 bottle. Not to mention having to buy two tanks of co2, or else taking one off and getting it filled, while leaving your tank unstable. A calcium reactor is for reefers using 5 gallon buckets for dosing containers. Lol

[@MrPrentissDJones]

I’m switching from freshwater to saltwater and I already have the $350 carbon dozer and CO2 tank. So I figured why not just go with a calcium reactor.

[@imCXS-zh2yt]

Welcome to living in the gutter

[@tsurro8086]

I use about 150ml a day on brs two part, honestly not sure if my tank is a 1 dkh tank a day, i would say that I use one gallon of alk and cal, a month of ur brs pharma, mixes in seconds good stuff and cheap but then I have to add a trace supplement, it would be easier for an all in one, but that total cost has to be around $2000 at least!!

[@maocdroid]

Great!!!

[@imCXS-zh2yt]

Bout to put this on my 20g nano

[@AJ-bi6ns]

What’s the noise level on the Kamoer?

[@undergroundreefs6523]

can i have a link to these ICP tests of the effluent?

[@christians8114]

What’s the acro at 2:07 I NEED IT

[@alexandravivaldi9993]

Any recommendation would be appropriate my calcium is 526 my Alk is 10.7 using Hanna check should I run a calcium reactor even though my alk and cal is high The water in the reactor I am afraid to go bad

[@skzion2]

Doesn't a calcium reactor add other points of failure?

[@samoliver4634]

Just look at all the equipment and see all the things that have to be set just right. I’ve also heard of tanks going down hill because of reactor problems. It’s something you shouldn’t buy unless you have to feed a large amount of coral.

[@BRStv]

Unless you're dosing by hand, there will always be some sort of potential failure point. It's all about understanding the equipment that we're using and having the appropriate save guards in place. 🙂

[@skzion2]

Bulk Reef Supply My thought was that a calcium reactor involves a dosing pump with 24/7 capability plus every part of the reactor. Dosing involved a couple of dosing pumps that need not be 24/7 certified.

[@rubensacramento]

Is there a link to the icp of the effluent?

[@adambahe9309]

I get that you guys are experimenting with video thumbnails and whether or not they are going to get you more views. But my vote is going solidly in the “don’t” category.

[@BRStv]

We love the feedback, positive or negative. Thanks Adam!

[@MaxHedrm]

How is harvesting a bunch of coral skeletons from the ocean to use in your reactor green?

[@raileejedidiahrjad5304]

Just want to ask, I want to add corals in my 2155 gallons shark tank, can they live without a calcium reactor ? Tnx

[@BRStv]

Among other things, corals require calcium and alkalinity to grow their skeletal structure. A calcium reactor is just one way of providing calcium and alkalinity. There are a bunch of other options like Kalkwasser dosing and two-part dosing to achieve that goal if you don't want to invest in a calcium reactor.

[@smurphnreef5491]

I think the only thing to not get factored in is a ph controller or apex to monitor ph. Is it possible to run a calcium reactor without ph monitoring? Or could it be done with say a hanna ph checker? Because that would easily add $100 - $500 to the setup cost

[@BRStv]

Technically you could rely on bubble count to estimate pH, but in the long run, a pH controller is likely going to save your tank and provide some peace of mind.

[@jszei]

Consider the cost of increased reliability and stability, which a reactor definitely brings, as well as your own time which has a value regardless of whether you love mixing stuff with water or not. The question really comes down to how much do you personally invest in this hobby. If you're all in, then buy a CaRx. If you're just checking things out, start with 2 or 3 part.

[@joe0813]

Im stuck using two part. no more room under the stand for a calc reactor

[@BRStv]

Don't you hate when you run out of room?? Ughh!

[@juanmorales3577]

Hi guys I’m looking for pump for my vertex calcium reactor I don’t see this vertex in brs store what’s the deal out the market in USA???or just bad reactor to buy?

[@PepeCoinMania]

if you really have the cash for that go for the best but if not just dont try budget solutions. keep with simple corals and thats it...

[@ReeferGil]

One day I'll up grade!

[@ReeferDave]

My names Dave and I'm a gear junkie.

[@tom-andrethomsen]

Hi, Dave! This is a safe place. Use your words 😊

[@ReeferDave]

@@tom-andrethomsen 🤣🤣🤣

[@battyjoe]

I have added a Deltec TwinTech 1500 to my 230 gallon setup. I use Triton and as such I am trying to reduce the cost of usage somewhat. The intention is to run around 60% rCaRx and 40% Triton. I am always away with work so this allows fine tuning of the Kh and 2 part via my Alkatronic/Dosetronic combo. One question, what happens to the media if you turn off the reactor of a day? Does it dissolve since it is sitting in carbonic acid?

[@BRStv]

At a minimum, you'd want to keep the water in the reactor recirculating. If you have a pH controller, the water inside of the reactor will likely hit a max saturation point where no more media can dissolve and you should be ok.

[@TheIslandTrotter]

9o