Need some help with Cal and Alk numbers

Steven91 · Jan 29, 2018

Hey fellow reefers,

I made the switch from the 8.4 system to B-Ionic system (that is gonna save me a ton of money...more coral and fish), but I noticed my Alk is a little lower than normal. My tank was normally running at 9.3 dkh (using hannah checker) and it dropped to 8.8 even after dosing 35 mL of Alk about 4 hours ago. My Cal I did not does as my Cal is at 503 (hannah checker as well) but my tank was always in the high 400s running the 8.4.

I am would just like some help deciding what I need to do next. I am gonna to continue testing and will update at the end of the week after one week of B-Ionic

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 30, 2018

Steven91 said:
Hey fellow reefers,

I made the switch from the 8.4 system to B-Ionic system (that is gonna save me a ton of money...more coral and fish), but I noticed my Alk is a little lower than normal. My tank was normally running at 9.3 dkh (using hannah checker) and it dropped to 8.8 even after dosing 35 mL of Alk about 4 hours ago. My Cal I did not does as my Cal is at 503 (hannah checker as well) but my tank was always in the high 400s running the 8.4.

I am would just like some help deciding what I need to do next. I am gonna to continue testing and will update at the end of the week after one week of B-Ionic

Several issues here.

1. Aquavitro 8.4 is not a system. It is just a buffer (no calcium). What calcium product? How did you determine a dose? There's no reason to think the calcium product should be added in the same dose as the 8.4 buffer, so if calcium ran high, that was probably because the two together do not comprise a properly designed two part, and the calcium was just more concentrated. Letting it decline a little bit before resuming equal parts dosing is also OK if you want calcium lower.

2. On moving to B-ionic (a good product, IMO), how did you set the doses? Again, no reason to assume it is the same potency as the Aquavitro. Adding more of the B-ionic to maintain alk is the optimal method, and use both parts equally (there's nothing wrong with calcium at 500 ppm, and calcium is not the only reason to use both parts).

Steven91 · Jan 30, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Several issues here.

1. Aquavitro 8.4 is not a system. It is just a buffer (no calcium). What calcium product? How did you determine a dose? There's no reason to think the calcium product should be added in the same dose as the 8.4 buffer, so if calcium ran high, that was probably because the two together do not comprise a properly designed two part, and the calcium was just more concentrated. Letting it decline a little bit before resuming equal parts dosing is also OK if you want calcium lower.

2. On moving to B-ionic (a good product, IMO), how did you set the doses? Again, no reason to assume it is the same potency as the Aquavitro. Adding more of the B-ionic to maintain alk is the optimal method, and use both parts equally (there's nothing wrong with calcium at 500 ppm, and calcium is not the only reason to use both parts).

Thank you Randy, I was using the whole Aquavitro system, which had calcification for calcium. Currently for dosing I just have manual dosing as I do not have the money for an auto dosing system (will take suggestions) and I did up my dose as my test today was 8.1 dKH and the Cal was still at 485. I dont have a heavy load, mostly softies with a clam and some LPS that are still on frag plugs.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 31, 2018

Steven91 said:
Thank you Randy, I was using the whole Aquavitro system, which had calcification for calcium. Currently for dosing I just have manual dosing as I do not have the money for an auto dosing system (will take suggestions) and I did up my dose as my test today was 8.1 dKH and the Cal was still at 485. I dont have a heavy load, mostly softies with a clam and some LPS that are still on frag plugs.

Calcification and 8.4 are not a "system" and are not balanced additives. Calcification is way more potent than the 8.4.