Auto dosing Seachem Fusion F1 & F2

[Jim Gomoll]

Setting up a new 4head dosing pump for Kalkwasser, and want to dose Seachem Fusion F1, F2, and Fritz Mg.

Both Seachem and Fritz dosing instructions say to shake well before dosing.
1) Is it ok to use a dosing pump for these three without buying a stirrer for each?
2) Would it be better or ok to make 3 premix solutions of RODI and F1, F2, Mg without worry of them settling out?
3) Can I add Iodine to any of the four to automate vs manual dropper method?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

no constant stirring needed for any of them

Note this product isn't properly designed for 1:1 dosing.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

no constant stirring needed for any of them

Note this product isn't properly designed for 1:1 dosing.

If I understand your reply I can set of 3 different heads on my doser, one for each and just dose them even though bottles says to shake well before dosing.

Wouldnt I be dosing a more potent amount without mixing or shaking before dosing?

When I put these in a clear container after time I can see how they settle out and are cloudy in bottom.

 

[NormanB]

Like Randy said, no stirring needed. I use Fusion 1 and will shake the bottle prior to adding more to the dosing container and stir the container like maybe 1x/week at most. I asked SeaChem about the stirring thing an the reply was..."No need to regularly stir or shake".

I've seen Randy's comments before about Fusion 1 & 2 not being designed to be dosed 1:1. I have no experience with Fusion 2, so I would go with Randy's comments about their dosing.

I make my own Alk dosing supplement using SeaChem Reef Buffer in RODI water. Based on what I manually dosed for Alk and the reasonable solubility of Reef Buffer (confirmed by SeaChem) developed the water to Reef Buffer mixture to meet my needs. The home brew, so to speak, is currently dosed at 165ml/day to maintain Alk at 3.5-4.0meq/l.

By contrast, the Fusion 1 is dosed at 37ml/day which maintains Ca close to 425ppm.

So, the ratio of Alk to Ca dosing is approx. 4.5:1

Randy is the expert here, so I strongly recommend listening to and asking for advise on how best dose the products you wish to use.

Of course these volumes are for my system and all systems have different needs.

All the best with your endeavor!

 

[NormanB]

I've been using F1 for over 2 years now and have not yet experienced anything that looks like a seperation of the product while sitting in the dosing container.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If I understand your reply I can set of 3 different heads on my doser, one for each and just dose them even though bottles says to shake well before dosing.

Wouldnt I be dosing a more potent amount without mixing or shaking before dosing?

When I put these in a clear container after time I can see how they settle out and are cloudy in bottom.

Yes, shaking is not needed or useful. Dissolved inorganic chemicals do not settle. If there is solid precipitated in the alk part from exposure to the cold, warm it and mix it to redissolve it.

A little cloudiness on the bottom is no concern, nor it it an indication that dosing that cloudiness is useful (say, if it is calcium carbonate that won't redissolve in the tank).

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Like Randy said, no stirring needed. I use Fusion 1 and will shake the bottle prior to adding more to the dosing container and stir the container like maybe 1x/week at most. I asked SeaChem about the stirring thing an the reply was..."No need to regularly stir or shake".

I've seen Randy's comments before about Fusion 1 & 2 not being designed to be dosed 1:1. I have no experience with Fusion 2, so I would go with Randy's comments about their dosing.

I make my own Alk dosing supplement using SeaChem Reef Buffer in RODI water. Based on what I manually dosed for Alk and the reasonable solubility of Reef Buffer (confirmed by SeaChem) developed the water to Reef Buffer mixture to meet my needs. The home brew, so to speak, is currently dosed at 165ml/day to maintain Alk at 3.5-4.0meq/l.

By contrast, the Fusion 1 is dosed at 37ml/day which maintains Ca close to 425ppm.

So, the ratio of Alk to Ca dosing is approx. 4.5:1

Randy is the expert here, so I strongly recommend listening to and asking for advise on how best dose the products you wish to use.

Of course these volumes are for my system and all systems have different needs.

All the best with your endeavor!

Thanks for the clarification. For sure the Fritz RPM Mg settles so I'll give the dose container/bottles a swirl 1-2x a week.

I've been using F1 for over 2 years now and have not yet experienced anything that looks like a seperation of the product while sitting in the dosing container.

Thanks - Mg was the one I saw sperate

 

[NormanB]

Well, I went back and reread your 1st post and now I've got a question.

It seems like you want to dose Kalkwasser, F1 & F2...I won't venture into the Mg dosing.

Why is that? I've never used Kalkwasser, but from my understanding that will take care of your Ca and Alk needs, so why a double dose, so to speak, of Ca and Alk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not recommend stirring it. I would not be sure that the precipitate is even desirable to get into the tank. It's probably an impurity. In any case, cloudiness means it is a very small amount compared to the large amount of solids that did dissolve.

 

[NormanB]

Thank you for the clarification of what product you saw separate.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Yes, shaking is not needed or useful. Dissolved inorganic chemicals do not settle. If there is solid precipitated in the alk part from exposure to the cold, warm it and mix it to redissolve it.

A little cloudiness on the bottom is no concern, nor it it an indication that dosing that cloudiness is useful (say, if it is calcium carbonate that won't redissolve in the tank).

Well, I went back and reread your 1st post and now I've got a question.

It seems like you want to dose Kalkwasser, F1 & F2...I won't venture into the Mg dosing.

Why is that? I've never used Kalkwasser, but from my understanding that will take care of your Ca and Alk needs, so why a double dose, so to speak, of Ca and Alk?

I've been dosing Kalk for months now to keep Ph in check but see need for additional Ca and Alk which drop daily. After more research I'm dropping the Mg auto dosing.

 

[NormanB]

I've been dosing Kalk for months now to keep Ph in check but see need for additional Ca and Alk which drop daily. After more research I'm dropping the Mg auto dosing.

Ahhhh, I understand. Thanks