It was me at the show. I had been dosing with Kalkwasser and Kent Marine Reef Advantage. I had several frags that grew, but very slowly. When I added my reactor (Precision Marine), the growth rates really took off. Calcium was consistently 450+, kH was 8-9 (could never get it higher)

For a while, I stopped the Kalkwasser and Reef Advantage. Growth slowed down again and my kH dropped to 6 and Calcium dropped below 400. I've since gone back to the following:

Calcium reactor, about 1 bubble per 1 to 2 seconds (yes, that is a little low)
+/- 1 gallon top off water with Kalkwasser in the morning (about 1/2 tsp of Kalkwasser)
+/- 1 gallon top off water with Reef Advantage in the morning (1 huge heaping teaspoon of Reef Advantage)
+/- 1 gallon top off water with Kalkwasser in the evening (about 1/2 tsp of Kalkwasser)
+/- 1 gallon top off water with Marine Buffer in the evening (about 1 slightly heaping tsp of buffer)(kH holds at about

Total system is about 500 total gallons. Display tank is 300 gallons.

I am in the process of adding a 40 gallon SPS frag tank to the system. I am adding two 5 gallon dosers to the system as well. Next week the kalkwasser and buffer will be a continuous drip system. I'll add about 1 tsp of Reef Advantage to 0.5 gallons of water 1 or 2 times per day.

I'll keep you posted. I hope to have even faster growth rates.

As for your question about A & B, I have never used those products. But, the Reef Advantage is a Calcium Additive and Marine buffer is for kH. So, yes, I continued to dose while adjusting my reactor (2 days) and then continued thereafter. At this time, I am happy with the results I have and will probably continue to use a combination of Reactor, Calcium additives and buffers. I know this is not the most efficient, but it seems to work well for me. I have about a 6 month supply of the Kent products. When that runs out, I plan on trying a round of Two Little Fishies (A & B) to see if it works better, or if it is easier.

Jeff,
Thanks for the thorough reply to my questions. We have been using what I'm calling "A and B," but it's actually the bulk Ca and Alk from TwoPartSolution.com. I guess you're happy with your Precision Marine reactor, so if Eric and Dustin can't find a Shuran, I'll check into the Precision Marine. Keep me posted on your growth rates. Thanks again.
Jay

Jay,

I was going to send your towards AquariumSpecialty - they are one of our sponsors ... however after looking ... they don't carry the schurans either (anymore).

I did find that SaltyCritter in Ohio does ... they ship, they are a good place to order from as well.
http://www.saltycritter.com/calcium-reactors/schuran-calcium-reactors.htm

There are several other well performing alternatives .. AFAIK, none of them are as efficient as the schuran though..

Geo -> http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=creactor
Korallin -> http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=37_352
Deltec -> http://www.deltecusa.us/calciumreactors/index.php

Here is a write-up of the Geo reactors ...
http://www.mycomas.com/content/view/110/87/

I believe ryan from SS in naples used to run a korallin on his home tank ... I now run a korallin sulfur reactor, which is a converted calcium reactor ... and it's built very solid.

I know a few people that run the deltec reactors, and they are all happy AFAIK. The deltecs are fluidized - water flows up, rather than being drawn down - same with my korallin reactor.