Really confused about Calcium Reactors and additional dosing

[dusty]

I just added a PM calicum Reactor to my system (135 [acronym:4b6fab2c5e="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:4b6fab2c5e] start of a reef) in hopes of avoiding all of the dosing. Since adding the reactor I have not seen coralline growth. Do I need to do additional dosing? I was under the impression, most likely wrong, that a reactor would take care of all my needs. Currently my calicum level is 400ppm, [acronym:4b6fab2c5e="Powerhead"]PH[/acronym:4b6fab2c5e] 8.[acronym:4b6fab2c5e="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:4b6fab2c5e], DKH 14. Any adivice?

Thanks in advance.

[reefrunner69]

Give it time.

Your CA and [acronym:6a04b45bf3="Alkinity"]ALK[/acronym:6a04b45bf3] are a little out of balance, for a CA of 400 a balanced [acronym:6a04b45bf3="Alkinity"]ALK[/acronym:6a04b45bf3] would be 5.6 DKH and for your 14 DKH a balanced CA would be 460 [acronym:6a04b45bf3="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:6a04b45bf3]. I think you should shoot for a happy med, maybe 11 - 12 DKH and 440 [acronym:6a04b45bf3="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:6a04b45bf3] CA It will take several weeks before you notice coraline growth, you can increase it's spread by aiming your power heads at rocks with a good amount of coraline growth, or physically scraping the coraline on the rock.

[dusty]

Ok but now I'm really confused. My reactor instructions state that the DKH will "self adjust" to between 12 and 17 DKH and CA levels around 450ppm. So, how do I go about lowering my DKH? And how abot additional dosing? Do I need to worry about Iodine, lime water etc?

[reefrunner69]

Well, it is quite possible that it was out of balance prior to starting the calc reactor. What you may prefer to do, is to bring the CA to balance with your [acronym:19a6049263="Alkinity"]ALK[/acronym:19a6049263] by using Calcium Chloride, and slowing the reactor a bit. You'll need to keep a close eye on the CA and [acronym:19a6049263="Alkinity"]ALK[/acronym:19a6049263] and when they reach your target goal, you'll want to crank it back up. I'm really hoping someone with a CA reactor will jump in here, cause I'm not sure that what I just outlined is even feasable

Originally Posted by reefrunner69

What you may prefer to do, is to bring the CA to balance with your [acronym:446d3e4387="Alkinity"]ALK[/acronym:446d3e4387] by using Calcium Chloride, and slowing the reactor a bit.

This is going to be your safest bet without overshooting anything. Slowing the reactor will allow the [acronym:446d3e4387="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:446d3e4387] to fall off slightly and the addition of the CaCl to bring up the [acronym:446d3e4387="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:446d3e4387] will push the [acronym:446d3e4387="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:446d3e4387] down a bit further and bring you into a more managable balance as RR suggested. Make sure you carefully read the bottle of CaCl you buy, many are not safely mixed with [acronym:446d3e4387="Kalkwasser"]kalk[/acronym:446d3e4387] similarly it will have the same effect on the efluent from the reactor.

Originally Posted by reefrunner69

I think you should shoot for a happy med, maybe 11 - 12 DKH and 440 [acronym:446d3e4387="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:446d3e4387] CA

Those levels will be much easier to maintain than a lower [acronym:446d3e4387="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:446d3e4387] higher [acronym:446d3e4387="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:446d3e4387] ratio. If alkalinity is to low and magnesium is not properly maintained, the [acronym:446d3e4387="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:446d3e4387] will rise out of control. Which usually results in flesh of calcerous animals "pulling" away from the scleractinia.

Cheers
Steve