Dosing problem

[tjbrownie]

So I’ve been working on setting up a doser. I tested last night so I could raise levels to conduct the experiment of finding out the daily consumption in my tank. When raising my elements with Red seas A B and C solutions for calcium, alk , and mag. I believe I may have made a mistake because I wasn’t sure whether I needed to account for water displacement before raising the levels. Any advice. I’ll be dosing brs soda ash and calcium and I’m confused as to find my daily consumption and how much I need to be dosing.

 

[MnFish1]

So I’ve been working on setting up a doser. I tested last night so I could raise levels to conduct the experiment of finding out the daily consumption in my tank. When raising my elements with Red seas A B and C solutions for calcium, alk , and mag. I believe I may have made a mistake because I wasn’t sure whether I needed to account for water displacement before raising the levels. Any advice. I’ll be dosing brs soda ash and calcium and I’m confused as to find my daily consumption and how much I need to be dosing.

You measure the chemical x on day one - with no dosing following. Your measure the chemical x at day 7. You subtract the difference and divide the result by 7- thats your daily dosage requirement. And I am in total agreement with you using BRS - as compared to the others

 

[tjbrownie]

You measure the chemical x on day one - with no dosing following. Your measure the chemical x at day 7. You subtract the difference and divide the result by 7- thats your daily dosage requirement. And I am in total agreement with you using BRS - as compared to the others

So I’ll do test day #1 today. Well the difference gets you the alk used. How do I calculate the brs dose amount to set my daily dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I’ll do test day #1 today. Well the difference gets you the alk used. How do I calculate the brs dose amount to set my daily dosing?

Once you know dKH per day, you can estimate a starting dose for all parts (calcium = alk, magnesium is 16% of the alk dose) using this calculator and the entry for Randy's Recipe #1.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[MnFish1]

So I’ll do test day #1 today. Well the difference gets you the alk used. How do I calculate the brs dose amount to set my daily dosing?

On the BRS website (and others) - there is a calculator - into which you enter your starting value, and the desired ending value - as well as the type of replacement you're using and the tank volume - you can then divide up the daily dose how ever you want with your pump, etc .

 

[tjbrownie]

Once you know dKH per day, you can estimate a starting dose for all parts (calcium = alk, magnesium is 16% of the alk dose) using this calculator and the entry for Randy's Recipe #1.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

So measure dkh per day, put that in the calculator. Then take 16% of the dkh dose and dose that for cal and mag?

 

[tjbrownie]

On the BRS website (and others) - there is a calculator - into which you enter your starting value, and the desired ending value - as well as the type of replacement you're using and the tank volume - you can then divide up the daily dose how ever you want with your pump, etc .

And I can use that value to set a daily dose? It’s still confusing to me because won’t that amount dosed change when I get to desired results or can I keep dosing that amount afterwards?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So measure dkh per day, put that in the calculator. Then take 16% of the dkh dose and dose that for cal and mag?

Calcium dose = alk dose when using my diy recipes (which BRS uses). The mag dose is 16% of the alk dose.

if you keep using Red Sea, you will have to determine these in more complicated ways.

what is the alk and calcium now?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

And I can use that value to set a daily dose? It’s still confusing to me because won’t that amount dosed change when I get to desired results or can I keep dosing that amount afterwards?

The calculator is used to match the daily alk decline and use that as the daily dose starting point.
It is not a correction dose, which is a one time dose in case you are well below your target.

 

[Uncle99]

Since your using Red Sea product, just complete their online reef recipe calculator to get a ball parkish daily dose amount.

Set time of day for testing. Test and record all three elements.

Start your ballparkish dose amount, MG first, then CA on the half hour and ALK on the hour.

Do three daily tests of all three and record.

If any number is increasing…..lower dose a bit.
If any number is decreasing….increase dose a bit.
If they stayed the same, then stop.

Continue to monitor these major elements on a weekly basis, looking for any upwards or downwards trends an take appropriate action on the doser.

The more stable these become, the better for the development and diversity of your micro fauna population.

You’ll come to a point whereas you will need to test less and less.

As the system grows, it will consume more of these three so keep watch for dips in the trending and take appropriate action.

Iam useless at any math, so this was the only way for me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If using Red Sea products, which are not designed for 1:1 dosing, here’s what I would do.

Figure the daily alk demand as described above, in dKH decline in one day.

Use the Red Sea product description to determine how much alk product is needed to replace that alk lost.

To get calcium, multiple the alk demand in dKH per day by 6.8 to get calcium demand in ppm per day. Use the Red Sea directions to see how much product is needed to provide that amount of ppm.

Divide the calcium ppm per day by 10 and use that as a magnesium demand starting point, and again use the Red Sea directions to see what volume is needed each day. It may be very low and need not be dosed every day (say, dose 7 times as much once a week).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do not use short term measurements of calcium and magnesium demand to set the dose. There is way too much error. That’s why I gave the math version above.

 

[tjbrownie]

Do not use short term measurements of calcium and magnesium demand to set the dose. There is way too much error. That’s why I gave the math version above.

I am going to be using the BRS solutions for calcium and alkalinity. Not the Red Sea. I am testing my calcium and alk tonight things got too busy yesterday.

 

[tjbrownie]

The calculator is used to match the daily alk decline and use that as the daily dose starting point.
It is not a correction dose, which is a one time dose in case you are well below your target.

I tested last night- after doing a water change
Alk-9.5
Cal-490

 

[tjbrownie]

I tested last night- after doing a water change
Alk-9.5
Cal-490

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Right now I'd just monitor and not dose.

If and when you need to dose, use this calculator and the entry for Randy's recipe #1 (its what BRS uses for their Soda Ash version).

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[tjbrownie]

Right now I'd just monitor and not dose.

If and when you need to dose, use this calculator and the entry for Randy's recipe #1 (its what BRS uses for their Soda Ash version).

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Randy’s recipe #1 for the Alk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy’s recipe #1 for the Alk?

Yes, and for calcium, and for magnesium (assuming you use that part).