Dosing help!

[johnyboy]

I have had a recent decline in all of my levels because I switched my salt brands like a moron. So I switched back to my regular salt and seen an increase in my levels thank god. This got my attention towards dosing. I have esv mag cal and alk solutions. I'm not sure exactly everything about dosing so I have a few questions. Should I dose mag alone for a few times to get that elevated first and then dose a little alk and calcium ( at different times of the day to not get the snowflake effect ) in order for the calcium to raise along with the alk? Is this a good strategy ? Would it be ok to dose mag alone first? Thanks happy reefing

 

[Downbeach]

What are your levels, including SG? What are you using to measure with, i.e. refractometer or hydrometer for SG, Salifert or Red Sea Pro, etc. for Ca Mg and alk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is the additive you already have from ESV called B-ionic?

 

[BigKid4788]

If you plan on dosing b-ionic, I don't believe you need to dose mag. I've found that if u dose b-ionic ca and alk, your mag levels should stay in range.

 

[johnyboy]

Yes it's B ionic. I'm dosing mag now a little bit to raise it and soon I will start dosing alk and cal is this a good plan?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes it's B ionic. I'm dosing mag now a little bit to raise it and soon I will start dosing alk and cal is this a good plan?

Yes, that's reasonable. The B-ionic will keep magnesium and calcium about steady when dosed in equal parts to maintain alkalinity. The main thing that causes deviations from this is water changes with mixes that don't match the tank, and if that happens (for any reason), it is OK to make occasional corrections or slowing the dosing of one part relative to the other.

 

[Crixus]

Yes it's B ionic. I'm dosing mag now a little bit to raise it and soon I will start dosing alk and cal is this a good plan?

You never answered another poster's message....what are your current levels?

 

[johnyboy]

My levels started out as mag 1050 cal 350 and alk 7 after switching to a different salt. Then I did 3 little water changes and now I'm at mag 1280 cal 400 alk 8.7 ... I'm dosing 20 ml of mag everyday to slowly keep it high and I am starting to dose alk and cal soon. If I'm dosing all three in one day how and when should I do it ?

 

[morpheas]

What are the two brands you mention if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My levels started out as mag 1050 cal 350 and alk 7 after switching to a different salt. Then I did 3 little water changes and now I'm at mag 1280 cal 400 alk 8.7 ... I'm dosing 20 ml of mag everyday to slowly keep it high and I am starting to dose alk and cal soon. If I'm dosing all three in one day how and when should I do it ?

Calcium and magnesium can be dosed any time, just separate them in time from alk dosing so they are mixed in for a few minutes before alk is added.

When to dose alk depends on what it is, but high pH additives (such as regular B-ionic) may be best added in the early AM when pH is low, or spread out through the day. Adding more than 1 dKH at a time will boost pH perceptably.

 

[johnyboy]

Ok so you seen my levels. How would you dose the three throughout the day?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd probably boost them all first by raising the salinity to 35 ppt if it is not yet there.

Then if any more additions are needed, I'd boost magnesium all at once to 1300 ppm and calcium all at once to 420 ppm, dosing each any time of day.

The alk is fine where it is, but if you want it higher, boost it once in the AM.

Then you'll begin maintenance dosing, which may not be much at all, but dose equal parts of the B-ionic to maintain alk where you want it. Dose the alk in the AM and calcium in the pm.

 

[johnyboy]

I don't want to throw the ph off. Would it be ok to dose some alk when I wake up then later on in the day dose the calcium and then the mag?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that is fine. If you are using B-ionic, adding 1.4 dKH all at once will boost pH by about 0.35 pH units. In the AM that is usually OK. In the pm that may get a bit high and spreading it out would be better.

Bigger doses should spread out more. Smaller doses all lat once is ZOK.

 

[johnyboy]

So it's basically trial by error. I should add a tiny bit of alk tom morning and then some calcium in the afternoon. If your familiar with B ionic then how many ML of each do you recommend starting with? I been dosing 20 mL of mag the last two days to get it up a little more. I havnt dosed alk or cal yet. How many ml of the esv cal and alk do you rec starting with. ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So it's basically trial by error. I should add a tiny bit of alk tom morning and then some calcium in the afternoon. If your familiar with B ionic then how many ML of each do you recommend starting with? I been dosing 20 mL of mag the last two days to get it up a little more. I havnt dosed alk or cal yet. How many ml of the esv cal and alk do you rec starting with. ?

How much do you think your alk declines in a normal day? If you have not dosed any yet and you have the alk you do, it will take hardly any.