Dosing 2 part Questions

ColaAddict · Oct 15, 2012

I'm trying to get into dosing 2part calc/alk/mag. my calcium is always hovering around 500 usin API test (don't know how accurate that test is). I'm dosing alk and mag right now because I can test that they are actually being used up (alk 8, mag 1350). I'm currently not dosing the calc because everytime I test, it's 500. Should I assume that calc is measuring 500 because tank is probably using up some of the aragonite in the tank, so should I dose calcium anyway? or just dose it as needed?
I use a doser and have a bunch of SPS in the tank.

dirtycontour · Oct 15, 2012

I would not dose Ca. I would get a different (more accurate) test kit.

JonnyJ · Oct 15, 2012

If your alk is 8 and mag is 1350 your calcium theoretically should not be 500+ unless you were dosing incorrectly.

What are you running your salinity at?

Retest with a different kit!

-jonny

JonnyJ · Oct 15, 2012

And do not dose calcium until you bring it down a bit - just my opinion.

Dowtish · Oct 15, 2012

+1 on a better test kit. Salifert would be my choice.

Also, what kind of salt are you using and how often do you do water changes? and how many gallons do you have in your system?

dirtycontour · Oct 15, 2012

JonnyJ said:
If your alk is 8 and mag is 1350 your calcium theoretically should not be 500+ unless you were dosing incorrectly.

What are you running your salinity at?

Retest with a different kit!

-jonny

+1. This calculator could be helpful. Calcium/Alkalinity Balance Calculator

Downbeach · Oct 15, 2012

I would get a better set of test kits, Salifert or the new Red Sea all in one kit is as accurate an less expensive. You would first have to establish a base line to determine how much to dose. So, I'd start with your salinity and regimen of WC's since that's were you will be adding your Ca, Mg and Alk to begin with. You'll need something accurate to check your salinity such as a calibrated refractometer, to insure that remains constant. Once your tank has stabilized with this practice, start to check your Ca, Alk and Mg, and record the readings. Over time you will develop a trend, which will help you to determine how much your system uses over that time. Then calculate how much is needed to keep up with your demand on a daily basis, and adjust your dosing mechanism accordingly.

dirtycontour · Oct 15, 2012

Before I started dosing I tested Ca, Alk and Mg daily and recorded my results on an excel spreadsheet. From there it should be apparent what your tank is consuming. FWIW I use Salifert for Ca and Mg, Hanna checker for Alk.

beaslbob · Oct 15, 2012

actually the diy two part uses KH for dosing. When it drops you dose both calcium and alk. then after a while (1gallon used up) you dose some magnesium.

Reason being the kh is more sensitive then the cal.

So I think you would be fine dosing cal and kh when kh drops then every month or so dose come magnesium depending on where the mag is at.

It would probably be fine to just dose kh until calcium drops down also.

my .02

ColaAddict · Oct 15, 2012

Thanks guys. I keep salinity at 1.026 using a refractometer and my tank is 180 gal. Im buying the red sea kits to get better checks

reefin101 · Oct 18, 2012

what salt and how often and what percentage are you doing a WC? what types of corals? Some salts have High Cal & Low ALK?

Quinn123 · Oct 18, 2012

Why not just use a calcium reactor and all this problem would be resolve

blackx-runner · Oct 21, 2012

Quinn123 said:
Why not just use a calcium reactor and all this problem would be resolve

It would still take the same regiment of testing and dialing in the calcium reactor to get the levels stable. Not to mention the much bigger upfront costs. While I agree calcium reactors are good, they are not for everyone, and every tank.