Fluval 13.5 @ 2 months: Alkalinity Consumption Question

[dhof]

FWIW, I do not know if they recently changed the concentrations or have a typo, but the Red Sea site says Foundation is not balanced for 1:1 dosing:

pasted from a different thread:

Red Sea Foundation elements does not appear to be intended for 1:1 dosing (if you accept the data they give on their web site):

https://www.redseafish.com/reef-care-program/reef_foundation_program/reef-foundation-b/
Liquid supplement: 1ml will raise the Alk level of 100 liters (25 gal) by 0.036 meq/l (0.1dKH)

https://www.redseafish.com/reef-care-program/reef_foundation_program/reef-foundation-a/
Liquid supplement: 1ml will raise the Ca level of 100 liters (25 gal) by 2ppm.

So if we add 27.8 ml of each part to 25 gallons, we will have added:

27.8 x 0.036 meq/l = 1.00 meq/L (2.8 dKH)
27.8 x 2 ppm = 55.6 ppm

That is not the ratio for 1:1 dosing. The calcium part is way more potent and that is probably why you are using so much less. For 1:1 that same 27.8 mL per 25 gallons ought to be delivering about 18-20 ppm.

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Thanks for the Analysis, Randy. I am definitely still dosing quite a bit more liquid Red Sea Alkalinity than their liquid Calcium. Your analysis makes me feel more sure that my dosing strategy is on point.

I'm still trying to find that "perfect balance" and I'm really close at the moment. My Fluval 13.5 is taking about 25mL of Red Sea Liquid Alk per day and about 11mL of Red Sea Liquid Calcium per day. The Calcium is rock solid where I want it, but I'm still losing about 1dKH per week of Alkalinity. This gives me confidence to up the Alkalinity a bit more to get it all perfectly stable.

I think the BRS website still lists 1:1:1 as a recommendation on the Red Sea Liquid dosing, so I'll mention this thread to them to see if they can change that instruction as it is likely not correct and will cause additional people confusion.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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Thanks for the Analysis, Randy. I am definitely still dosing quite a bit more liquid Red Sea Alkalinity than their liquid Calcium. Your analysis makes me feel more sure that my dosing strategy is on point.

I'm still trying to find that "perfect balance" and I'm really close at the moment. My Fluval 13.5 is taking about 25mL of Red Sea Liquid Alk per day and about 11mL of Red Sea Liquid Calcium per day. The Calcium is rock solid where I want it, but I'm still losing about 1dKH per week of Alkalinity. This gives me confidence to up the Alkalinity a bit more to get it all perfectly stable.

I think the BRS website still lists 1:1:1 as a recommendation on the Red Sea Liquid dosing, so I'll mention this thread to them to see if they can change that instruction as it is likely not correct and will cause additional people confusion.

Sounds good!

Happy reefing.