Dosing Ca/Alk

Kyle Sicard · Sep 24, 2016

Hey all,
I have a quick question regarding dosing for a SPS tank. I'm using a Bubble Magus BM-T01 dosing pump that doses Ca/Alk/vinegar. I find myself having to test my alk every 2-3 days so I can make adjustments to my alk dosing specifically. I wanted to ask if this is just the nature of dosing or is my dosing pump unit not dosing accurately? I never seem to be able to get the dosing pump to dose perfectly where the alk doesnt drift up or down if I were to let it go. My calcium seems to be stable but my alk is hard to dial in.

smh254 · Sep 24, 2016

Having the same problem following

twilliard · Sep 24, 2016

I would look into the incremental control of the dosing pumps.
if you are able to dose down to the +/- .1Ml you should be able to keep it stable.

Neil Fox · Sep 25, 2016

May want to check your magnesium. It's hard to keep KH and Ca in line if your mag is low.

McGee · Sep 25, 2016

+1

Neil Fox said:
May want to check your magnesium. It's hard to keep KH and Ca in line if your mag is low.

rovster · Sep 25, 2016

Assuming magnesium is in line here is what I do. It's similar to how you would dial in a calcium reactor.

Also THE MOST IMPORTANT detail is you test at the same time every day.

The idea is you want to slowly creep up to your desired dose. You'd prefer to under dose than over. You make up the difference with manual dosing. As you get really close do not touch your programming for a minimum of 2-3 days. As you get closer to the right amount you'll be doing less manual and less adjustment. Your changes in programming should also be less frequent. The process can take a few weeks but it isn't really a big deal or overly difficult.

Too many make the mistake of trying to nail the programming in one shot and end up messing with it every day or two and chasing their tails, you're never going to get there like that.

Hope this helps...

Diesel · Sep 25, 2016

Dosing the two part can be a complicated story on it's own.
Most ppl can explain pretty much how to do it but as always is with dosing is that you need to know what your daily consumption is at first.
Never dose anything in your tank if you don't what it is going to do or what your levels are in your water.
That said, what is your average ALK and CAL?
How much does it drop in 12 and in 24 hours?

You might want to calibrate your doser first before continue to dose too.

rovster · Sep 25, 2016

I forgot to mention the BRS calculators are good for getting you in the ballpark.

Kyle Sicard · Sep 25, 2016

Thanks guys for the advice. I typically keep my calcium around 420-435ppm and my alk from 7.6-8.2 DKH. I will try to use the tips you've given me to hone in on my dosing for alk. My magnesium is fine, its at 1400 ppm.

Currently its hard to put a number on my consumption. I was around 2-3 DKH a day but I dosed chemiclean and left my skimmer off, which was a mistake. As a result all my SPS browned out and my consumption tanked to like .6 DKH a day, so I'm currently testing daily and dosing a real small amount till everything levels back out.

maroun.c · Sep 25, 2016

It's important to used a balanced additive or to mix in a balanced way. Drifts will still happen but not as frequently.
Check that ur pump is dosing consistent: mark level let it dose for few days and add solution in a graduated container
Make sure heads are in good condition and grip is fine so that solution doesn't flow back when dosing head stops dosing which will affect dosed volume.
You need to determine ur consumption, note readings and dosed amounts and try to calculate how much to change using calculators... Eventually consumption will pick up and u have to dose a bit more but not that frequently