Getting Two part dosing back on track

[robert manchester II]

Currently I’m dosing two part but not in equal amounts. What would be the best way to get back to dosing equal amounts? Without possibly crashing my tank? Should I raise my alk to a higher level where my calcium will be lower to where I need to up calcium where that will bring the alk level down and meet in the middle at an equal amount slowly over time? Or what would you do?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Hey @robert manchester II welcome to R2R.

What are your alkalinity and calcium levels? Generally, you should always be dosing equal amounts of both parts. Check with your product's directions to make sure this is the case, but it almost always is.

The reason is because at the very least, two-part systems add chloride and sodium. By adding only one of these parts or adding more of one than the other, you're increasing the concentration of one of these elements over time. Dosing in equal amounts is required to keep these elements in balance. Some two-part systems include magnesium or trace elements, and dosing in unequal parts will cause all of these elements to be out of balance as well.

 

[robert manchester II]

Hey @robert manchester II welcome to R2R.

What are your alkalinity and calcium levels? Generally, you should always be dosing equal amounts of both parts. Check with your product's directions to make sure this is the case, but it almost always is.

The reason is because at the very least, two-part systems add chloride and sodium. By adding only one of these parts or adding more of one than the other, you're increasing the concentration of one of these elements over time. Dosing in equal amounts is required to keep these elements in balance. Some two-part systems include magnesium or trace elements, and dosing in unequal parts will cause all of these elements to be out of balance as well.

My alk is at 8.8 and calcium is at 450 as of last night. Could this lead to lower ph values and slower growth of corals as well? I feel arrogant because I thought that I understood two part but literally realized I didn’t the other day.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

My alk is at 8.8 and calcium is at 450 as of last night. Could this lead to lower ph values and slower growth of corals as well? I feel arrogant because I thought that I understood two part but literally realized I didn’t the other day.

I doubt it would lead to lower pH. In reef tanks, pH is determined almost entirely by CO2 concentration. Some two-parts can raise pH, and if you're dosing less of those two parts then you might be increasing your pH less, but even the boost given by two-parts will eventually be overcome by the ambient CO2 in your home (which is usually many times higher than what it is outdoors).

So are you dosing more calcium than alkalinity? Your calcium is pretty high in relation to your alkalinity. For calcium that high, your alkalinity should be around 12 dKh or so (according to this and a few other calculators). I personally would decrease your calcium or increase your alkalinity. Or both. If your calcium is around 425 ppm, your alkalinity should be around 9 dKh.

 

[AdamNC]

Getting your magnesium in check will also help level your 2 part. Have you tested for that lately?

 

[robert manchester II]

Getting your magnesium in check will also help level your 2 part. Have you tested for that lately?

Yes I did it was 1440 ppm

 

[robert manchester II]

I doubt it would lead to lower pH. In reef tanks, pH is determined almost entirely by CO2 concentration. Some two-parts can raise pH, and if you're dosing less of those two parts then you might be increasing your pH less, but even the boost given by two-parts will eventually be overcome by the ambient CO2 in your home (which is usually many times higher than what it is outdoors).

So are you dosing more calcium than alkalinity? Your calcium is pretty high in relation to your alkalinity. For calcium that high, your alkalinity should be around 12 dKh or so (according to this and a few other calculators). I personally would decrease your calcium or increase your alkalinity. Or both. If your calcium is around 425 ppm, your alkalinity should be around 9 dKh.

I’m dosing 8ml of alk and 6 ml of calcium total system water volume is 100 gallons