Alkalinity/2 part dosing

pdiehm · Mar 2, 2018

So after 8 days, my alk fell from 9.8 to 7.6 or 0.275 dkh per day. Per my tests yesterday, my calcium level was 480, my Mg was 1580.

I set up my doser to dose 26ml of alkalinity over 24 doses (to maintain 8.0 dkh), do I/should I also dose calcium at the same rate or wait for the calcium levels to drop?

redfishbluefish · Mar 2, 2018

For me, 480 is a bit high. I'd hold off dosing calc until it comes down. Keep an eye on it because the addition of alk will "help" bring it down.

pdiehm · Mar 2, 2018

so I am guessing, i'll have to test calcium every few days then?

Potatohead · Mar 2, 2018

pdiehm said:
so I am guessing, i'll have to test calcium every few days then?

Until you figure your dose out, yeah. Once you get it dialed you can test calcium 2-4 times per month or so, but you want to check alk at least every second day.

Literallyhydro · Mar 2, 2018

I would dose each element independently. If the ALK supplement is dosed at 26mL, I don't think calcium should necessarily be dosed at 26mL just because ALK is dosed in that manner.

Definitely don't dose any calcium until it drops however.

pdiehm · Mar 3, 2018

Literallyhydro said:
I would dose each element independently. If the ALK supplement is dosed at 26mL, I don't think calcium should necessarily be dosed at 26mL just because ALK is dosed in that manner.

Definitely don't dose any calcium until it drops however.

Was always under the impression the BRS 2 part was dosed in equal parts.

Literallyhydro · Mar 3, 2018

pdiehm said:
Was always under the impression the BRS 2 part was dosed in equal parts.

While it's supposed to be, I would treat every tank differently. I would dose as needed.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 3, 2018

It should be close to equal and likely will be dosed in nearly equal parts. I personally would just start dosing equal parts now. The amount of calcium added is low with equal parts dosing at your rate. A bit below 2 ppm per day.

But letting it fall for a while is also OK, then start equal parts.

It will take a long time for the calcium to fall with a demand of 2 ppm per day.

pdiehm · Mar 3, 2018

Yes, you are right Randy. I'm also doing water changes a lower level of calcium as well.

For the time being, I'll add just the alkalinity portion, and test calcium every other day or so. I have a water change of 12.5gallons being prepped, and while it's small, and won't make much of a difference, if I do this every week, it will eventually start to level out.

At least that appears to be sound logic in my head. Not always the case though.