Dosing 2 Parts Help.

huskysglare1 · 02/25/2010, 09:21 PM

I can't seem to control my Calcium reactor. The alk spikes every time i turn it on. I think i am going to try Dosing. I got 2 Parts powder from BRS.

My ALK = 12
Calcium = 370

Do i slowly add the mixture of Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide till it reaches 420?

Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide are 2 Part Solution right?\

What's the Soda ash for? It's used to raise Alk? Doesn't the 2 Part solution raise alk? I am confuse. Please help.

kittyj · 02/25/2010, 09:47 PM

The two parts are Calcium and Alk. Your Alk is high enough

tcwoodrn · 02/25/2010, 10:09 PM

First off I would trouble shoot the Cal reactor before ditching it for a 2part system.

I use BRS two part. The soda ash is the alk and i use the calcium chloride for my cal. I don't have cal hydroxide, and don't know what its for.

This is the BRS 2 part instructions page:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...t-instructions

Once you've made your solution use this calculator to determine how much solution you need to use to get your cal to your ideal level (I set my levels at alk 9.5, cal 450, mag 1400): MAKE SURE YOU SPREAD THE RECOMMENDED DOSE OUT OVER 4-5 DAYS!
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-calculator

After that you can do one of two things; you can use their general daily dosing parameters (usually 0.4ml/gallon of the alk and cal solutions), or you can not dose for a week and measure your levels every day to see how much your tank uses.

Sorry if this isn't what your asking, but it was really hard for me to get someone to explain how to get started with 2 part.

huskysglare1 · 02/25/2010, 10:09 PM

Does that mean i just need to dose Calcium Chloride(Dihydrate)?

Could the reason why my alk is so high is because of my Calcium is so low? Therefore, it's not consuming the alk?

divewsharks · 02/26/2010, 02:36 AM

You can just dose the CA and let the alk come down on its own. Depending on the salt you use, you could also just do a water change to bring the CA up and the ALK down. You also need to check you MG, keeping all three is balance is key -- they do have a strong relationship to one another.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/26/2010, 08:58 AM

If you were trying to use that rector to boost the calcium, then yes, the alk will spike. That is not a suitable way. It adds about 20 ppm of calcium for each 2.8 dKH of alkalinity, so a 50 ppm rise in calcium would necessarily push alkalinity through the roof.

You need to get the calcium to the right level before using the reactor to maintain it and alkalinity. Use calcium chloride once to accomplish that bump.

02/25/2010, 09:21 PM	#1
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	Dosing 2 Parts Help. I can't seem to control my Calcium reactor. The alk spikes every time i turn it on. I think i am going to try Dosing. I got 2 Parts powder from BRS. My ALK = 12 Calcium = 370 Do i slowly add the mixture of Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide till it reaches 420? Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide are 2 Part Solution right?\ What's the Soda ash for? It's used to raise Alk? Doesn't the 2 Part solution raise alk? I am confuse. Please help. __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump

02/25/2010, 10:09 PM	#4
huskysglare1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,406	Does that mean i just need to dose Calcium Chloride(Dihydrate)? Could the reason why my alk is so high is because of my Calcium is so low? Therefore, it's not consuming the alk? __________________ Since Jan 2008 Current system: 170G+50g Sump/Bio-Pellet Reactor. 2x400w Radium+2x110w VHO. 2 x HYDRO Magnum 8 + 1xMP60w (removed 2 x Koralia 4). SWC 300A Cone (had SWC 200 w/ Red Demon); it's AWESOME! BRS DOSER(Cal, Alk, and Mag). Current Tank Info: 170g+50g sump Last edited by huskysglare1; 02/25/2010 at 10:39 PM.

02/26/2010, 08:58 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	If you were trying to use that rector to boost the calcium, then yes, the alk will spike. That is not a suitable way. It adds about 20 ppm of calcium for each 2.8 dKH of alkalinity, so a 50 ppm rise in calcium would necessarily push alkalinity through the roof. You need to get the calcium to the right level before using the reactor to maintain it and alkalinity. Use calcium chloride once to accomplish that bump. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/25/2010, 09:47 PM	#2
kittyj Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 301	The two parts are Calcium and Alk. Your Alk is high enough

02/25/2010, 10:09 PM	#3
tcwoodrn Moved On Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 153	First off I would trouble shoot the Cal reactor before ditching it for a 2part system. I use BRS two part. The soda ash is the alk and i use the calcium chloride for my cal. I don't have cal hydroxide, and don't know what its for. This is the BRS 2 part instructions page: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...t-instructions Once you've made your solution use this calculator to determine how much solution you need to use to get your cal to your ideal level (I set my levels at alk 9.5, cal 450, mag 1400): MAKE SURE YOU SPREAD THE RECOMMENDED DOSE OUT OVER 4-5 DAYS! http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-calculator After that you can do one of two things; you can use their general daily dosing parameters (usually 0.4ml/gallon of the alk and cal solutions), or you can not dose for a week and measure your levels every day to see how much your tank uses. Sorry if this isn't what your asking, but it was really hard for me to get someone to explain how to get started with 2 part.

02/26/2010, 02:36 AM	#5
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	You can just dose the CA and let the alk come down on its own. Depending on the salt you use, you could also just do a water change to bring the CA up and the ALK down. You also need to check you MG, keeping all three is balance is key -- they do have a strong relationship to one another.