is there a better way?

[eric.battani]

It might already be in the forum somewhere but not sure.
What do the owners of big demand tanks, or tanks that use a lot of cal, mag, and alk do? I know some people might even say that my tank is not that demanding. But I think it is. :tongue: I'm currently dosing 120cc of alk daily (one box of baking soda mixed in one gallon of rodi water) even thought of mixing more than one box so I don't have to draw as much up. 2 gallons of kalkwassers a week (2 teaspoons per gallon) and not real sure on how much mag ( I have a 3 oz cup I pour into an old container that label has wore off so not sure on how much it holds ( I add 40 cc of it daily, bottle last about 2 weeks) I know its not a exact measure on mag but it works and keeps mag up. So levels are cal 360 ( going to have to probably add a 3rd jug) alk 11.2, mag 1260. I'm tired of the daily dosing and checking to see if kalkwassers dripper is stopped. Short of getting a dosing pump is there a better easier way? I have a lot of lps and a few sps, around 40 plus combined. I still miss the good old days when water changes keep up with coral demands. Thanks for reading.

 

[mcarroll]

First, I would try to hew closer to the formula for Recipe 1 or 2 for you dosing needs so it will be easier to know what you are dosing, and easier to compare with what other people are doing as well. Getting a new set of lab hardware sounds like it would be a good first step. If you can't measure accurately, you're already working against your own success.

Second, I would get away from manual dosing a.s.a.p. before demand goes even higher. There's a likelihood of making a mistake during the setup phase of your dosers, and high demand just makes the mistake happen more quickly and with bigger effects. So - like so many aspects of life - make your mistakes sooner than later.

Third, getting a reactor like the Tunze 5074 that connects your limewater dosing to the end of your ATO system would be a great improvement for you as well.

FYI, there are a few kinds of dosers that work well. From budget DIY systems that will run you about $20-$30 per pump up to about $70-$100 per pump or more for commercial units.



-Matt

 

[eric.battani]

I'm sorry I should have wrote the part about mixing mag a little better. I use an old bottle, container, whatever you want to call it. I use put 3oz of mag in the bottle and fill the rest with rodi water, bottle holds about 600 ml. So i do have a exact measure on mag, it is just something I use to mix mag in. As far as test kits go I use redsea tests to test my alk and mag all others I use api. I know some people talk bad about api tests but ammonia nitrates phosphate cal nitrite work well for me. I have 6 fish with very little bio load, I run a coralife 220, 2 ats, phosgaurd, macro algae and have about 200lbs of live rock in a 125 So in my case I feel the tests are ok. But you maybe right about needing dosing pumps. Its just that I don't have a lot of room under my cabinet left. And already have so much under there.

 

[mcarroll]

Integrating a kalk reactor to your ATO might be The Way for you then.

It lives inside your ATO reservoir, and you can add vinegar to the RODI water to boost the reactors output way beyond plain kalk.

Speaking only of the Tunze 5074, btw. Not aware of any others that are set up the same way, and most are more complex or complicated, including moving parts on some. It's pretty universal in a kalkwassser environment that anything mechanical will break down/freeze up eventually do to being encrusted. The Tunze's design simplicity pretty much makes that impossible.

-Matt

 

[Mike J.]

Your low mag level might be the culprit. Get your mag level to 1350 or higher. Your low mag level might be hindering calcium absorption. It is also evident that you alk level is high and your calc level is low. A proper mag level will also help to balance it out.

If you study magnesium you'll find out how important it is to all life, including humans.

Also if you would study how to start dosing, in general all instructions say to get your mag levels correct first.

 

[Mike J.]

Calcium/Alkalinity Balance Calculator