I started dosing brs 2 part doser on 8-29-16. I tested water before dosing and ended up with ph-8.2,ammonia-0,nitrates-0,nitrates-0,pho-0,cal-520,alk-520. I have a 90 gallon tank and the first dose I used 40ml of the soda ash. What steps do I need to take to get to a normal reef tank,I have a few favities,zoas,montipora,and sps. Any advice would help. Thanks in advance
New to dosing. Need help
- Thread starter Cory p
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Not sure what your asking. Also your alk test result makes no sense.
If you mean that you are mixing your own diy 2 part solution from brs i can't help with that it's too confusing and i rather not spend my time learning to be a chemist to save $2. Much better off just buying a decent pre made 2 part like c-balance of the like.
Also start of slowly with these dosings and stick with dosing equal amounts of part a and part b at separate times. Most of these solutions are meant to be dosed equally as each part keeps the other balanced. Judge the amount your dosing by your alkalinity. Keep it stable, preferably in the range that whatever salt you use actually mixes to.
Hope that helps.
If you mean that you are mixing your own diy 2 part solution from brs i can't help with that it's too confusing and i rather not spend my time learning to be a chemist to save $2. Much better off just buying a decent pre made 2 part like c-balance of the like.
Also start of slowly with these dosings and stick with dosing equal amounts of part a and part b at separate times. Most of these solutions are meant to be dosed equally as each part keeps the other balanced. Judge the amount your dosing by your alkalinity. Keep it stable, preferably in the range that whatever salt you use actually mixes to.
Hope that helps.
nemo1017
Active Member
I use brs 2 part. Have been for a few months now. Ok so Starting calcium was 520 ppm.
-What was starting alkalinity?
-What about magnesium? (Magnesium will hold the parameters steadier for you in the long run and won't cause alk and cal to fluctuate around a lot.
-what salt brand?
- i use Red Sea reef foundation pro test kit along with a Hanna checker for alkalinity.
- I basically watched the brs videos on dosing 2 part to figure out exactly what I need to do. My tank is predominantly lps and a few sps, So I consume about 20 ml of cal and 20 ml of all daily in a 50 gallon tank. Start with the minimum dose possible, and work your way up. Looks to me If your cal is correct at 520 ;Brs recommends 420 so basing it off of them you may want to let it work its way down to around 420 and not dose cal for a little bit. (you can keep it at 520 if you want to however.)
- typically 0.1 ml per gallon of tank water is the starting dose. Titrate for the numbers you want based on the reef calculator on the brs website and it will tell you how much of each to add to hit your target number. increase this slowly as needed.
-What was starting alkalinity?
-What about magnesium? (Magnesium will hold the parameters steadier for you in the long run and won't cause alk and cal to fluctuate around a lot.
-what salt brand?
- i use Red Sea reef foundation pro test kit along with a Hanna checker for alkalinity.
- I basically watched the brs videos on dosing 2 part to figure out exactly what I need to do. My tank is predominantly lps and a few sps, So I consume about 20 ml of cal and 20 ml of all daily in a 50 gallon tank. Start with the minimum dose possible, and work your way up. Looks to me If your cal is correct at 520 ;Brs recommends 420 so basing it off of them you may want to let it work its way down to around 420 and not dose cal for a little bit. (you can keep it at 520 if you want to however.)
- typically 0.1 ml per gallon of tank water is the starting dose. Titrate for the numbers you want based on the reef calculator on the brs website and it will tell you how much of each to add to hit your target number. increase this slowly as needed.
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All those number are my starting before dosing,I had typo and my alk is 6 and I want it around a 9. I'm not sure what salt is being used,I get my water from Los where I'm from and not 100 percent correct. I dosed 40 ml of soda ash solution to bring my alk up,I'm not dosing any calcium just yet cause I want to bring it down. 420 is what I've read and seen on brs is what they keep it at normally. I used the calculator and said I needed 480 ml to bring it to a 9 but I'm adding it slowly so my ph doesn't sky rocket up. And i havent checked mag yet,checking tjat in the am. Like I said,I'm all new to dosing,I've had the tank for awhile but getting into corals and I want to start dosing but always was skeptical about it. Thanks for the help
nemo1017
Active Member
You'll see precipitation. It'll look like white solid clumps that won't dissolve and become inert. If you're dosing by hand just watch out for it. It happened to me a few times as I was going too fast. I switched to a doser and have had more success that way. Dosing by hand got to be a Total pain. You may have to break up your doses. Smaller doses throughout the day. When you start dosing calcium do it in the day, then do alk at night.
jgvergo
Valuable Member
I have an 85 gallon tank and I use BRS 2 part. Watch their videos. Dose equal amounts of Alk and Ca. Through trial and error, I have zeroed in on 55ml of each per day. That keeps my system at 9.5 dKh and 440 Ca. I recommend you start at 1/2 my amount and slowly adjust to get the levels you are looking for. Measure and adjust Alk. by dosing equal amounts of both, Ca will be fine in most cases. Mg must be done independently.
