Start out with Kalk and Calcium reactors?

[intensity888]

For a newbie to saltwater. Is it better to start up and get going with a kalk and calcium reactor. Or should I add those later on?

In other words, will starting out using them make my life easier?

 

[cjsrch]

yes / no


when your new usualy you dont have much CA demand
so usuing a reactor will make it easy to add the ca but may also overdose since you arnt using what you add

 

[kemperr]

I add my kalk with my topoff water and a float switch from a 7 gallon bucket, with 2 tsps of kalk. When the topoff bucket is about 1/4 full, I want to replenish it. Do I have to empty the bucket (which now has water, white crud on the bottom, and white skim on the top)? Or can I just add fresh DI water and 2 more tsps of kalk?

 

[ChrisRD]

Intensity,

IMO there's no need to add the complexity of reactors into the system until it's necessary. The easiest/safest thing to start a Ca/Alk supplementation routine with is a 2-part additive IMO. Adding kalk to topoff water is another good way (and the two methods can be used in conjuntion if the kalk alone isn't keeping up) but you need to be cautious about causing big pH fluctuations if you use too much or dose it too quickly.


Hi Kemperr and :welcome:

I've done what you're talking about for months at a time with one setup and I did not have any noticeable problems. In my case, the container wasn't easily accessible for removal and cleaning though. If it was, however, I'd prefer to clean it out between batches. JMO...

 

[kemperr]

Hi Chris,
That makes sense. In my case, it is easily accesible. Sometimes things get crazy busy, and I want to just be able to fill it. So I might not clean it every time I fill it, but every few fills I will make sure to clean it out.
Thanks for your advice,
Josh