brs 2 part dose

[Wiz]

Hey, so I've been using brs for a while now. Had it nailed down before I moved. Total volume was bout 80g. Dosed bout 3oz a day of each. Then I moved.
Upgraded my display and sump. Total volume bout 120g now. Dosed 5oz for the last week. And alk fell but calc stayed almost level. Gonna start 6oz now.
Questions:
1) is it normal that my dosing almost doubled already with less than double the volume?
2) why are the two disproportionate?
3) why are alk and calc not the same dose anymore?
4) my doses seem much higher than most use and recomended, why?

My system is extremely well stocked most would say over stocked. But it used to be the same doses and less dose overall. So I am confused

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alk falling and calcium stable is what you observe when underdosing both. Alk is way more sensitive to over or under dosing.

The dose is entirely related to the calcification rate in the tank, and that can easily change for many reasons, some as simple as corals getting bigger, getting more light, more nutrients, etc.

5 oz per day in a 120 is about 2 dKH per day, which is not excessive. Coralline algae and soft corals alone can do that.

 

[Wiz]

Thanks Randy, I always think it has to be right because well it is what it is. However it's always nice to have somebody back that up. Man I am going to go through a lot of two part. LOL

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy, I always think it has to be right because well it is what it is. However it's always nice to have somebody back that up. Man I am going to go through a lot of two part. LOL

You can make the alk part easily yourself using baking soda.

 

[Wiz]

I was using oven-baked baking soda and advanced Reef calcium before I switch to BRS. Is the oven baked baking soda the same as their soda ash? Would it be the same amounts

You can make the alk part easily yourself using baking soda.

 

[Ewilson]

Brs has a calculator that might help

 

[Wiz]

Yeah, that's how I correct it before starting a higher dose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was using oven-baked baking soda and advanced Reef calcium before I switch to BRS. Is the oven baked baking soda the same as their soda ash? Would it be the same amounts

It is the same on a weight basis if you fully bake it. Fluffiness depends on the manufacturer, so volumes may vary a bit. But yes, it is the same chemical. In my recipe (which BRS uses and they then adapted it to their specific fluffiness), I have folks measure before baking:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[Wiz]

Finally nailed it down. 7oz a day. A lot but that's it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good. Just keep monitoring.

 

[Fourstars]

I'm in the same boat as you, going broke with the BRS system. going to start using Randy's recipe #2 to try to save money. My biggest issue is the tank is at the age that it has excessive coralline algae growth and I couldn't live with my bare bottom and added a sand bed after the fact. my alkalinity use sky rocketed! I have started dripping Kalkwasser again and it has helped stabilize things. in the morning I dose two part and then drip all day,. working well so far.