Can I dose just alk in a 2-part?

[JosephM]

My Alk is seeming to drop pretty quickly with only softies in the tank and I’m hoping to add some LPS soon. I was planning on going with ESV’s 2 part as it provides some trace elements. Could I dose just part 1 to raise alk because my calcium is steady at 530ppm (it is slowly dropping but way over my target numbers)

 

[Supurderek]

Yes. Just use the all until it gets to where you want it while making sure to keep an eye out on calcium. Once it reaches a balance, you can dose each evenly. Expect to having different ratio of all to calcium dosing until you hit your target numbers. Aim to drop calcium to 450-460.

 

[Spieg]

Yes you can, but also be aware that besides the Ca, Mg and most trace elements are also in part-2.

 

[JosephM]

Yes you can, but also be aware that besides the Ca, Mg and most trace elements are also in part-2.

My mag is very high... tested 1800 last night. I thought that there wasn’t any or at least minimal mag in 2-part? Because I’ve read people have to buy mag separate of 2-part to dose. I don’t want to raise that any higher that’s for sure

 

[Spieg]

My mag is very high... tested 1800 last night. I thought that there wasn’t any or at least minimal mag in 2-part? Because I’ve read people have to buy mag separate of 2-part to dose. I don’t want to raise that any higher that’s for sure

ESV B-Ionic has most everything in their 2-part.

 

[JosephM]

ESV B-Ionic has most everything in their 2-part.

So I’d be better off going with like BRS’s 2-part?

 

[Spieg]

That's up-to you... I like having it all in my 2-part so I don't have to buy a bunch of other components.

 

[JosephM]

That's up-to you... I like having it all in my 2-part so I don't have to buy a bunch of other components.

Well yeah I would too but my mag doesn’t need to go any higher and if ESV is going to raise that wouldn’t it be better to go with something else

 

[Spieg]

Why not just dose the part 1 for a while and see if Ca and Mg drop off enough to your liking then go back to dosing both parts again?

 

[Supurderek]

I expect both to drop significantly overtime when you raise your alkalinity.

 

[Spieg]

Been using ESV for many many years without much issue... question you should be asking is how did your tank get out of balance? Did you have any Alk component go solid in the jug (happens when shipped in cold weather)? Some times you have to warm it up to liquify it properly.

 

[JosephM]

Why not just dose the part 1 for a while and see if Ca and Mg drop off enough to your liking then go back to dosing both parts again?

So I can just dose part 1 to raise alkalinity and not worry about raising my mag and calc more?

 

[JosephM]

I expect both to drop significantly overtime when you raise your alkalinity.

Okay that’s good to hear

 

[JosephM]

Been using ESV for many many years without much issue... question you should be asking is how did your tank get out of balance? Did you have any Alk component go solid in the jug (happens when shipped in cold weather)? Some times you have to warm it up to liquify it properly.

I haven’t dosed anything ever. And use IO salt, complete mystery why it got so high. Well I do dose 3 ml iron weekly but still no way it’s that

 

[Spieg]

Check your Alk jug and make sure it's all liquid. If it has a solid chunk that looks like a piece of ice, it means you are dosing a weak Alk solution (which will throw your tank out of balance when you dose equal parts of both solutions). When it happens to me, I fill the sink with hot water and set the jug in the hot water until the chunk liquefies.

 

[JosephM]

Check your Alk jug and make sure it's all liquid. If it has a solid chunk that looks like a piece of ice, it means you are dosing a weak Alk solution (which will throw your tank out of balance when you dose equal parts of both solutions). When it happens to me, I fill the sink with hot water and set the jug in the hot water until the chunk liquefies.

Okay that’s good to know, I’ll keep that in mind, thank you

 

[Vette67]

Why not just dose baking soda to get to your target alk and then go back to dosing your 2 part as needed? There are plenty of calculators out (BRS has one) to tell you how much sodium bicarbonate to add to raise alk the desired amount. Then you’re not chewing up your 2 part unevenly... And you can even use Arm & Hammer with no issues. But BRS sells bulk sodium bicarbonate if you’re not comfortable with grocery store baking soda.

 

[JosephM]

Why not just dose baking soda to get to your target alk and then go back to dosing your 2 part as needed? There are plenty of calculators out (BRS has one) to tell you how much sodium bicarbonate to add to raise alk the desired amount. Then you’re not chewing up your 2 part unevenly... And you can even use Arm & Hammer with no issues. But BRS sells bulk sodium bicarbonate if you’re not comfortable with grocery store baking soda.

I didn’t know about that. I think I could probably do that for a while because my mag and calc are so high. Thank you for this!

 

[Supurderek]

Good idea on using baking soda!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, it will make no difference whether you use the alk part of B-ionic or baking soda for an initial alk boost, but I expect longer term you will need both parts. Unless nitrate is raising continuously, or water changes are messing with the alk somehow (or a couple of other unlikely things like the use of a sulfur denitrator), alk does not keep dropping without a proportional amount of calcium being used:

Here's a calculator that has more entries than most others:

Reef Chemistry Calculator