dosing help needed

[David Cher]

my current parameters :

DKH : 5.7
CA : 390
Mg : 1290

I will be using 2 part to increase the parameters and will be fine tuning using the CR .
Do i dose alk , cA and mg all at once and measure after 1 hour later? or do i dose alk , measure before proceeding to cA?

please advice

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are your targets? Which two part?

I'd boost alk by 1.4 dKH each day split into 2 daily doses until you reach your goal.

Add the same amount of calcium 30 minutes or more later.

Add the appropriate amount of magnesium once every couple of days if it is not included in the calcium part.

 

[David Cher]

i plan to increase to :
DKH : 6.5
CA: 450
MG : 1350

do i follow those you mentioned as i have calcium reactor , i have lowered the ph on the controller?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why so low of alk? I recommend 7-11 dKH.

That said, I'd recommend the plan I posted above if you are using a two part for the boosts.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you really want magnesium that high, you'll need to add more than the balanced amount in the two part. It doesn't matte when you add it. Just don't pour it on top of the freshly added alk part before the alk mixes in.

 

[David Cher]

If you really want magnesium that high, you'll need to add more than the balanced amount in the two part. It doesn't matte when you add it. Just don't pour it on top of the freshly added alk part before the alk mixes in.

correct me if i am wrong , does it mean i will need to add more magnesium and i will need to add equal amount of alk and ca at the same time ?

 

[David Cher]

is it fine to keep the mg at 1290 ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It depends on the boosts needed. For corrections, they need not be equal. If the intent is to just use the two part for the corrections than use the reactor, just use them independently and do not need to be equal.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

is it fine to keep the mg at 1290 ?

Yes, and so is 1350. The ocean is about where you are now when the salinity is 35 ppt.

 

[Scott.h]

Yes, and so is 1350. The ocean is about where you are now when the salinity is 35 ppt.

Randy did you find algae in general to be less with higher mg levels? I keep mine around 1350.. Maybe a little less, but I've found no matter what brand of salt I have to dose quite a bit to keep it that high. I raised it some time ago and have kept it that way all in the name of everything is perfect. Just wondering if there is any real benefit keeping it around 1280 vs 1350?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy did you find algae in general to be less with higher mg levels? I keep mine around 1350.. Maybe a little less, but I've found no matter what brand of salt I have to dose quite a bit to keep it that high. I raised it some time ago and have kept it that way all in the name of everything is perfect. Just wondering if there is any real benefit keeping it around 1280 vs 1350?

No, IMO most algae is not deterred by magnesium itself. Definitely not by the difference you measure. When folks are trying to treat bryopsis they boost magnesium by hundreds of ppm, and even then it may be an impurity and not the magnesium itself.