need help with dosing?

coastie81 · 12/20/2009, 06:45 PM

I have been testing my tank and I have all the normal levels. Except mag. because I do not have a test kit for it. But my Alk. is very low. My calcium is 500. I am thinking about dosing the 2 part starter kit receipe 1. It is suppose to raise PH also which my PH never gets over 8.0 it stays around 7.8. How should I go about it? any input would be nice. or any suggestions.

Thanks

Playa-1 · 12/20/2009, 07:02 PM

How often are you doing water changes?
Are you using a Salt mix?

coastie81 · 12/20/2009, 07:14 PM

I do a 25% water change about every 1.5 - 2 weeks. I use coralife salt mixed with RO/DI with 0 tds.

Frick-n-Frags · 12/20/2009, 07:32 PM

check the randy's articles in reef chemistry. look for the 2-part buffer using sodium carbonate & sodium bi-carbonate. you can blend those two to get exactly the target pH you want..but do read the articles

also low alk permits high Ca, high alk prevents high Ca. if you are having those problems, maybe get a Mg test, because low Mg enables easier calcium carbonate precipitation..read those articles too.

man, go nuts in the chem forum and read lots of articles

laxer23 · 12/20/2009, 07:32 PM

my water stays at 8.2 in tank, although the tap is 7.0 don't know why you would be having trouble I would say raise the ph as you change the water before adding it to the tank when you raise the ph it will make calcium and mag. more available.

terri_ann · 12/20/2009, 07:33 PM

If you would go on Advanced Aquarist.Com and search under calcium/alkalinity/magnesium, etc you should find several articles by Randy Holmes-Farley. His articles will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about calc/alk/mag and what you can do to correct any imbalances. Although your calc is high, it isn't critical...a water change should lower that. The 7.8 pH isn't bad either. Are you checking it at the same time everyday as pH will change throughout a 24hr period. To increase your alk, you could dose just the part that raises the alk in the 2-part system. One of Randy's articles will show you (in graph form) if you have high calcium, what you can do to bring it into the zone; the same with low alk. Good Luck!

terri_ann · 12/20/2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laxer23

my water stays at 8.2 in tank, although the tap is 7.0 don't know why you would be having trouble I would say raise the ph as you change the water before adding it to the tank when you raise the ph it will make calcium and mag. more available.

People can have high and low pH issues for many, many reasons! My RO/DI water is at 8.4pH without salt added however, my tank runs at 7.6pH. Why? I have extremely high levels of CO2 in my house! Consider yourself lucky if you don't have problems with pH!

bertoni · 12/20/2009, 11:55 PM

If the alkalinity is low, some baking soda will boost it up effectively. Once the calcium is under 450 ppm, dosing a 2-part is a safer way to go, since it avoids issues of overdosing calcium, etc.

12/20/2009, 06:45 PM	#1
coastie81 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mt. View, California Posts: 131	need help with dosing? I have been testing my tank and I have all the normal levels. Except mag. because I do not have a test kit for it. But my Alk. is very low. My calcium is 500. I am thinking about dosing the 2 part starter kit receipe 1. It is suppose to raise PH also which my PH never gets over 8.0 it stays around 7.8. How should I go about it? any input would be nice. or any suggestions. Thanks

12/20/2009, 07:32 PM	#4
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	check the randy's articles in reef chemistry. look for the 2-part buffer using sodium carbonate & sodium bi-carbonate. you can blend those two to get exactly the target pH you want..but do read the articles also low alk permits high Ca, high alk prevents high Ca. if you are having those problems, maybe get a Mg test, because low Mg enables easier calcium carbonate precipitation..read those articles too. man, go nuts in the chem forum and read lots of articles __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

12/20/2009, 07:33 PM	#6
terri_ann Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 841	If you would go on Advanced Aquarist.Com and search under calcium/alkalinity/magnesium, etc you should find several articles by Randy Holmes-Farley. His articles will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about calc/alk/mag and what you can do to correct any imbalances. Although your calc is high, it isn't critical...a water change should lower that. The 7.8 pH isn't bad either. Are you checking it at the same time everyday as pH will change throughout a 24hr period. To increase your alk, you could dose just the part that raises the alk in the 2-part system. One of Randy's articles will show you (in graph form) if you have high calcium, what you can do to bring it into the zone; the same with low alk. Good Luck! __________________ Happy Reefing!! :) Current Tank Info: 180g mixed 40B Anemone 5' raceway frag tank

12/20/2009, 11:55 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the alkalinity is low, some baking soda will boost it up effectively. Once the calcium is under 450 ppm, dosing a 2-part is a safer way to go, since it avoids issues of overdosing calcium, etc. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/20/2009, 07:02 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	How often are you doing water changes? Are you using a Salt mix?

12/20/2009, 07:14 PM	#3
coastie81 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mt. View, California Posts: 131	I do a 25% water change about every 1.5 - 2 weeks. I use coralife salt mixed with RO/DI with 0 tds.

12/20/2009, 07:32 PM	#5
laxer23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 56	my water stays at 8.2 in tank, although the tap is 7.0 don't know why you would be having trouble I would say raise the ph as you change the water before adding it to the tank when you raise the ph it will make calcium and mag. more available.