Cali Kid Corals

Calcium Reactors

Alexander1312 said:
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Atlas

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This is not metal halide as much as the marketing claims. Visibly it may produce a visible color like metal halide to our eyes, but it is missing quite a bit of UV-A compared to what metal halides produced. Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. Photosynthesis can, in general, take advantage of UV-A.

Now don't get me wrong, I use LEDs and LEDs can grow coral just fine, but let's not get caught up in the marketing speak.
 
ReyDeFarts said:
Are you also using Kalk with the CaRx?

How about the rest of you that are running them? @RandyC @psidriven @PjFish Not sure who else I'm missing.

After reading this thread again, @derek_SR , it sounds like you should go listen to some more ACI kalk methodology and CaRx usage :p ;)
Seems like Jake Adams was also along this path.

Seriously though, his approach to kalk and CaRx sounds like what you're/we're after, except for trying to get away from Kalk since he loves Kalk. Sucks I'm bringing him up again to you since I know it's a sensitive topic, but I was listening to Rapping with Reef Bum and the differences between BOLUS and his approach to the Kalk/CaRX usage without the observations of precipitation is what reminded me about this thread. I need to make a decision with my frag system for long term success.

There are some incredible reefers still using kalk in the EU too. Leonardo's Reef comes to mind first, and speaking of inspiring, his methodology and results are spot on. But also seems aligned with the way Meckley does it. Not necessarily because of Meckley but just that it appears he does things similarly and it has been working for him for many years. No seemingly negative experiences or old tank syndrome that I am aware of from what I have heard. Caveat though is he combines it with TM Balling components for fine tuning and traces. Which makes me wonder about staying with my current AFR dosing but incorporate Kalk with it. I may actually try Sodium Hydroxide dosing for the pH and Alk boost. Currently researching that. That will need to be a separate thread. Anyway...

Are you decided on a CaRx model yet?
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I don't use kalk. I tried once, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference for me, but I don't have much evaporation, so I wasn't able to comfortably put more kalk-laced top off water in the tank. I think you can mitigate the pH decrease other ways. A secondary reactor will help. You can also run the pH of the carx a little higher and increase the effluent you put into the tank. And if you really want a higher pH, there's always a CO2 scrubber.

I dose throughout the day and night.
 
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RandyC said:
I don't use kalk. I tried once, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference for me, but I don't have much evaporation, so I wasn't able to comfortably put more kalk-laced top off water in the tank. I think you can mitigate the pH decrease other ways. A secondary reactor will help. You can also run the pH of the carx a little higher and increase the effluent you put into the tank. And if you really want a higher pH, there's always a CO2 reactor.

I dose throughout the day and night.
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This is a big reason I continue to use Kalk actually - I so rarely have to refill my ATO reservoir now. Most of the evaporation (close to 100% if tuned correctly, though it changes seasonally) is replaced via kalk rather than the ato. And my kalk container is much larger AND it's in the garage right next to my RODI tank.
 
ReyDeFarts said:
Are you also using Kalk with the CaRx?

I may actually try Sodium Hydroxide dosing for the pH and Alk boost.
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PH for both the frag tank and the IM 150 - good enough for me, no kalk, no CA reactor, no scrubber.
 

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RandyC said:
This is not metal halide as much as the marketing claims. Visibly it may produce a visible color like metal halide to our eyes, but it is missing quite a bit of UV-A compared to what metal halides produced. Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. Photosynthesis can, in general, take advantage of UV-A.

Now don't get me wrong, I use LEDs and LEDs can grow coral just fine, but let's not get caught up in the marketing speak.
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Not sure if this is not rather an improvement over MH. Specifically in a home environment.
 
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