BRS Two Part System and Purple Up

[T-Bone2007]

I just bought Bulk Reef Supplies two part system and I was wondering if the doses of calcium I add using the two part system should stand alone or if I can still add Purple Up on occasion. Does Purple Up do anything different or is it just a calcium supplement?

Also, BRS recommends that for their two part system you don't dose the Magnesium until after you use up the entire gallon jugs of calcium and and alkalinity. Does anyone know what the reason for that it? My magnesium is a bit low at 1110 so I was wondering why I can't dose it now to bring the level up. Thank for any advise.

John

[Lightsluvr]

Purple Up isn't necessary for any reef tank. I used a bottle I won in a raffle and wouldn't pay $$ for another. All it did was cloud up the water and make my skimmer very unhappy.

If you have LR with coralline seeded on it, it will eventually cover your rock if your water quality is good. Try to avoid use of anything that you don't know the ingredients and can't test for...

JME.

LL

[T-Bone2007]

Thanks for the quick response. That's kind of what I thought, but figured I'd ask. One question I forgot to ask was my alkalinity is 12. Is that a little high? Should I let it come down some or should I try to maintain that level? Thanks.

John

[Lightsluvr]

Originally Posted by T-Bone2007

Thanks for the quick response. That's kind of what I thought, but figured I'd ask. One question I forgot to ask was my alkalinity is 12. Is that a little high? Should I let it come down some or should I try to maintain that level? Thanks.

John

ALK is a little high. Reduce dosing the ALK for a while until it comes down closer to 9. whatever you do, do it sloooowly... No sudden changes in ALK... bad mojo.

The next time you do a water change, test your WC water before you put it in the tank - what is the ALK, CA and MG of the new water? Those numbers may impact the amount you need to supplement, if any.

LL

[twiggyb]

My alk is usually around that level, but I can't get it to drop any lower than that. Some like to keep it at 8, but I think between 8 and 12 is ok, the lower numbers are probably better. I spiked my alk too high and started killing off my star polyps and perhaps killed my bubble coral too

[Hornet]

Originally Posted by T-Bone2007

Also, BRS recommends that for their two part system you don't dose the Magnesium until after you use up the entire gallon jugs of calcium and and alkalinity. Does anyone know what the reason for that it? My magnesium is a bit low at 1110 so I was wondering why I can't dose it now to bring the level up. Thank for any advise.

John

From BRS website:

"Dosing 2 Part
First test calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels and adjust to their correct points if needed. Levels must be at the right points before beginning daily dosing. "

[T-Bone2007]

Originally Posted by Hornet

From BRS website:

"Dosing 2 Part
First test calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels and adjust to their correct points if needed. Levels must be at the right points before beginning daily dosing. "

So let me see if I understand this. I first need to bring my magnesium level up to the correct level, then after all my levels are correct, do my daily dosing of calcium and alkalinity, and then after I've gone through 1 gallon of each, dose 20 oz of magnesium? Am I now reading this correctly?

John

[Hornet]

Yeap, that's what I did. Use the calculator on their website to figure up how much you need to dose. Then spread that dosage out over a few days.

[T-Bone2007]

Thanks for all the help.

John