2 part question

reeftanker3295 · 06/07/2015, 03:55 PM

Just raised my calcium up to 420, ended up dropping my kh to about 7 which was expected, now I'm wondering how I raise my alk without dropping my calcium, do i add equal parts of both parts, more alk than calcium, or what? I'm using brs 2 part solution.
Also, is daily dosing really necessary on a 40b reef with mostly soft corals and a few lps or can I get away with weekly dosing?

thegrun · 06/07/2015, 05:44 PM

Try to only raise your calcium a maximum of 50ppm per day and alkalinity 1.3dKh per day and you shouldn't see much of a drop in calcium or alkalinity assuming your magnesium is in range. It is very important you keep your magnesium levels correct or adding alkalinity and calcium will only cause those two to combine and form calcium carbonate without significantly raising the levels of either.

thegrun · 06/07/2015, 05:48 PM

Without knowing how much calcium your tank uses daily it is difficult to advise you on the frequency of dosing, but from your general description I suspect that weekly dosing would suffice. Corals do best with stable water parameters so if you find you need to dose fairly large amounts at the end of the week (more than 0.5 ppm of calcium or 1.3 dKh of alkalinity) I would add more frequent doses.

reeftanker3295 · 06/07/2015, 05:58 PM

I added calcium in increments of 50ppm a day, however I didnt realize the role of magnesium, I will make sure I bring mag up to levels before doing any more dosing, have another day of dosing to get there. But once that is there how do I raise my dkh without dropping my calcium at all or should my calcium remain stable once my mag is in line?

thegrun · 06/07/2015, 06:00 PM

You should see very little drop in calcium if the magnesium is at 1350 or higher.

reeftanker3295 · 06/07/2015, 06:02 PM

Ok great thanks

Sn8kbyt · 06/08/2015, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

you should see very little drop in calcium if the magnesium is at 1350 or higher.

+1

scooter31707 · 06/08/2015, 07:18 AM

I agree. Also once coralline begins to grown it will start sucking up Ca and that point you may have to adjust the dosing.

U Ben Fishin · 06/08/2015, 02:46 PM

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I am using marine buffer to raise alkalinity. Mg is 1500+, Ka rangers from 7.2 to 9.0 over a weeks time. I've been working on stabilizing it by adding buffer to ATO water. Just haven't found the sweet spot yet. Ca has been running in the 420 range. The 29 gal is 3 months old. Corals all look good (bubble, mushrooms, leather, frog spawn, glove, hammer, zoos, GSP). I am just wondering if buffer is the right long term approach. Tank has about 35 lbs live rock. Pos=0 Nitrates=0. Water change every 3 to 4 weeks at 10%.

outssider · 06/08/2015, 03:44 PM

the problem with adding buffer to your ato is that it is dependent on evaporation rate. If your humidity changes drastically...this might not work to well...

Sn8kbyt · 06/09/2015, 06:12 AM

Agreed buffer to ATO water is not the best way to do it. If no dosing pumps then manually added to the DT is the way to go.

hkgar · 06/09/2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Without knowing how much calcium your tank uses daily it is difficult to advise you on the frequency of dosing, but from your general description I suspect that weekly dosing would suffice. Corals do best with stable water parameters so if you find you need to dose fairly large amounts at the end of the week (more than 0.5 ppm of calcium or 1.3 dKh of alkalinity) I would add more frequent doses.

What test kit can accurately measure calcium to within 0.5 ppm? Maybe you meant 50 ppm?

06/07/2015, 03:55 PM	#1
reeftanker3295 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 192	2 part question Just raised my calcium up to 420, ended up dropping my kh to about 7 which was expected, now I'm wondering how I raise my alk without dropping my calcium, do i add equal parts of both parts, more alk than calcium, or what? I'm using brs 2 part solution. Also, is daily dosing really necessary on a 40b reef with mostly soft corals and a few lps or can I get away with weekly dosing?

06/08/2015, 02:46 PM	#9
U Ben Fishin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Salina Kansas Posts: 66	I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I am using marine buffer to raise alkalinity. Mg is 1500+, Ka rangers from 7.2 to 9.0 over a weeks time. I've been working on stabilizing it by adding buffer to ATO water. Just haven't found the sweet spot yet. Ca has been running in the 420 range. The 29 gal is 3 months old. Corals all look good (bubble, mushrooms, leather, frog spawn, glove, hammer, zoos, GSP). I am just wondering if buffer is the right long term approach. Tank has about 35 lbs live rock. Pos=0 Nitrates=0. Water change every 3 to 4 weeks at 10%. __________________ Ben Salina Kansas 29 gallon reef tank build after being out of it for 20 years! Retired most of the time Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef Lighting is LED, DYI skimmer

06/09/2015, 06:12 AM	#11
Sn8kbyt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Manitowoc, WI Posts: 607	Agreed buffer to ATO water is not the best way to do it. If no dosing pumps then manually added to the DT is the way to go. __________________ 220 gallon DT and 90 gallon sump, all DC powered, APEX gold with DOS, feeder, and a few extra modules, Avast Marine swabbie on Skimz Monster 258, 6 Rapid LED Onyx fixtures, BRS dosers, 4 Jaebo RW-15. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 2-20L QT, and a 20 gallon tall octogon tank waiting to be setup for a seahorse tank.

06/07/2015, 05:44 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Try to only raise your calcium a maximum of 50ppm per day and alkalinity 1.3dKh per day and you shouldn't see much of a drop in calcium or alkalinity assuming your magnesium is in range. It is very important you keep your magnesium levels correct or adding alkalinity and calcium will only cause those two to combine and form calcium carbonate without significantly raising the levels of either.

06/07/2015, 05:48 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Without knowing how much calcium your tank uses daily it is difficult to advise you on the frequency of dosing, but from your general description I suspect that weekly dosing would suffice. Corals do best with stable water parameters so if you find you need to dose fairly large amounts at the end of the week (more than 0.5 ppm of calcium or 1.3 dKh of alkalinity) I would add more frequent doses.

06/07/2015, 05:58 PM	#4
reeftanker3295 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 192	I added calcium in increments of 50ppm a day, however I didnt realize the role of magnesium, I will make sure I bring mag up to levels before doing any more dosing, have another day of dosing to get there. But once that is there how do I raise my dkh without dropping my calcium at all or should my calcium remain stable once my mag is in line?

06/07/2015, 06:00 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You should see very little drop in calcium if the magnesium is at 1350 or higher.

06/07/2015, 06:02 PM	#6
reeftanker3295 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 192	Ok great thanks

06/08/2015, 07:18 AM	#8
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree. Also once coralline begins to grown it will start sucking up Ca and that point you may have to adjust the dosing.

06/08/2015, 03:44 PM	#10
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	the problem with adding buffer to your ato is that it is dependent on evaporation rate. If your humidity changes drastically...this might not work to well...