Kalkwasser + RedSea 4 part trace dosing...

[RichtheReefer21]

I have watched about 15 videos, and read a handful of posts and articles regarding my ratios. And I'm concerned about starting off right.

After almost 20months of testing, I have narrowed down my CA consumption to 20ish ppm of CA per week. I have a jb4 doser to implement the red sea colors trace system. And I have chosen to use my tunze 3155 and a 20g rodi resevoir to use as the Kalkwasser dosing mechanism.

From what I have read, its 1ml of each abcd per 20ppm consumption based on a 25g tank. Mine is a 125g display with a 33g long sump running at about 28ish gallons. So take out the substrate and rock, and I'm at about 130g twv or so.

My question is, if I start low, (1/4 tsp per gallon) of kalkwasser in the ATO res, how much redsea 4 part should I program the doser to do based off the 20ppm per week consumption of my Calcium?

So would it be, I think...

130g ÷ 25 = 5.1ml of each of the 4 part abcd per week in conjunction with my 20ppm Ca consumption?

I realize I will have to start slow and fine tune it over time, but I would like to do as best I can with my primary calculations so I start (somewhat) close to where I will end up once I dial it all in.

1/4tsp per gallon is on the lighter side for the KW saturation in my Rodi, I expect I will have to adjust that higher as I go.

Any help? I have a moderate level of confidence in my calculations, but i know how easy it is to make a mistake when first learning the ins and outs of dosing.

TIA,
cheers

 

[RichtheReefer21]

@GoVols

Heres ur update.. call in the calvary for me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That looks correct to me.

I’m generally not a fan of tieing trace elements to calcium and alk consumption, especially in a non-SPS heavy tank, as I think that many trace elements get used in ways unrelated to calcification. Like uptake into algae or soft corals or diatoms, precipitation of trace metals like iron, etc.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

That looks correct to me.

I’m generally not a fan of tieing trace elements to calcium and alk consumption, especially in a non-SPS heavy tank, as I think that many trace elements get used in ways unrelated to calcification. Like uptake into algae or soft corals or diatoms, precipitation of trace metals like iron, etc.

Thanks for taking the time to reply randy.

I feel before I start dosing i should send and ICP test out to get a baseline for everything, and another in a month or so to see how my levels are in conjunction with the dosing. Nothing else makes sense as far as playing it safe and being sure about my dosing requirements.

I guess if I start off with half-doses of what is recommended the risk is far less than potentially spiking certain elements. Can always add more, tougher to remove what is too plentiful in my mind.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That sounds like a fine plan

Happy Reefing

 

[RichtheReefer21]

That sounds like a fine plan

Happy Reefing

Thanks. You as well.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Just following up to hopefully add to the archive of knowledge and experience shared here on r2r for any future reasearchers...

I sent the icp test out yesterday, and mixed my kalkwasser to 1/4 tsp per gallon in my ATO resivoir. Came home today after 24hrs to find my pH at lovely 8.4. I will be testing Ca and DkH over the weekend and share my results here as well for anyone else who may be looking for answers on this subject.

Cheers all. And thanks again randy. All is well thus far. Time shall tell.