New to dosing

[nissanrs]

^{I did about 1/4 tank water change 80g tank. For the past 2 weeks I have been doing a 3g water change every other day. As of 11/08/13 at 6pm I have a reading of Mg- 1200 Ak- dkH 5.9 Meq/L- 2.1 Ca- 290. I decided to use ESV B-ionic part 1 part 2 20 ml each. The reading at 6:30 pm are Mg-800 Ak-7.0 Meq/L-2.5 Ca-300. I added another 20ml of part 2 calcium buffer. At 9:30 pm the reading are Mg-1600 dkH 14 Meq/L-5.0 Ca- 450. I am thinking of testing in the afternoon and at night before and after doing if I dose. Advice please help. Am I on the right track. My ph reader is at my parents place. I know stupid. I haven't tested pH.}

 

[Reefing Madness]

:bump:

 

[nissanrs]

11/9/13 3:30 pm Mg - 1600 kH- 7.0 Meq/L- 2.5 Ca- 490. A bit high. I found out after that I was only suppose to raise Ca levels by 100 at a time. I was at >300 before initial dose and it moved up to 450 so I'm thinking its close. Everything inside the tank looks good. Coral frags are looking good. Hoping I am on the right track. I don't know as of yet if I will dose tonight. ANy input here will help. I will test again at 6:30pm. I have to go pick up my ph tester soon...

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you are a two-part user, you need to dose every day. If I understand your OP, I don’t know how your numbers climbed so quickly by adding 20 mls???? Maybe I just didn’t understand something that was said.


Your daily dosing regiment will be dependant on the salt you are using and the amount of sps, lps and clams you have in the tank. However, with a mixed reef with no clams, I would guess that a good starting point on an 80 gallon tank would be in the area of 30 to 40 mls per day of each alk and calc. Again, this number could change considerable dependent on salt and types of corals.

As far as mag, I dose about once a week….in the area of 40 mls for a 90 gallon tank.

 

[oscarinw]

Use the reef calculator to achieve your desired levels initially:
Reef Chemistry CalculatorOnce you achieve those levels, then you start your daily dosing and test a few days apart to see if the levels are dropping or rising and adjust accordingly. But first, reach your desired levels.
Additionally, test the day after the dosing as testing right after adding the chemicals can give you bogus results.

 

[mike007]

Go slow on your dosing. It is very easy to overdose and get things out of whack. Sometimes it takes time for these additives to kick in. Add slowly and test.

 

[nissanrs]

11/10/13 9:30 A.M. Mg- 2200 kH 7.6 Meq/L 2.7 Ca<500. 10pm Mg - 2680 second test 2800 kH dkH - 10.1 Meq/L 3.6 Ca 500. The numbers are out of wack. Mg levels are way too high. Ca at 500 is not bad. My pruple tang has been going around in circles for hours now. don't know if it is because of Mg levels or something else. I was reading that I should have levels close as possible to ocean levels. I also read having a Mg level too high wont kill anything. I need help here. First reading was before water change second was with a 5g water change. I have been doing 3g every other day past 2 weeks as mentioned earlier. I have bee doing a +10% water change spread out through out the week for past two weeks now after I did a 1/4 tank. What should I do about the high alk and calcium level. The tank is like a marble jar right? Only so many different color marbles can fit in the jar. A few extra of one certain color will take away space from another specific color. Is this why my Mg and Ca are high and Kh is low?

 

[nissanrs]

ty for all your inputs. still learning process for me here..

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

What kind of test kits are you using. These numbers don't seem right to me. Is this a stocked reef?

 

[nissanrs]

I am using Reef Foundation Pro Test Kit. The tank has been up and running for over a year. Only frags are in there for corals. I might have made a mistake with my initial testing before dose. I was calculating from liquid surface and not plunger bottom. I calculated the difference and It seems I might have been low on calcium a tad bit. I did rush into the doing I think. Will the levels drop down? how soon? should I do another water change? maybe 15g? I use tm bio-actif.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Just trying to figure some things out here..... In order to test mg up to 2200, you would have to use 2 plungers of solution. Did you do this?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Unless you've dumped gallons of Mag solution into your tank, these numbers can't be real. You need to review your testing methods. I would highly recommend going to the BRS website and viewing their video on using the Red Sea pro kit. I've got to believe you are doing something wrong. If I can quickly find the video, I edit in the link.


EDIT TO ADD:


I found the BRS link, but it won’t load for me….maybe you will have more luck.




I also pulled the Red Sea videos off YouTube:

Alkalinity


Calcium


Magnesium

 

[nissanrs]

correct I did use 2 ml. I did watch all 3 videos which are on youtube from red sea. I have recently added these frags. They seem to be doing ok though. snails are alive read these are the first things to go if Mg levels are too high.Everything seems good in the tank. I have not dosed since. Which was 2 days ago.

 

[nissanrs]

I am really hoping there was a mixture on my behalf with the testing. Everything in tank is alive and well to the best of my knowledge. As of 11/10/13 pm the readings are Mg 2680/2800 kH - dkH - 10.1 Meq/L 3.6 Ca - 500. After this test reading I did another 6-8 g water change. I did not test on 11/11.

11/12/13 10 pm These results I am certain I did right
Mg- 1600 + ( not too too much )
kH - dkH 10.6 Meq/L3.8
Ca - 485

All I have been using prior to B-Ionic 1 + 2 is tm bio-actif. I am sure my first tests were screw ups. If I did my calculations right, then the first test should have looked like this
Mg- 1600
kH- dkH- 8.7 Meq/L- 3.1
Ca- 340.

These are my first frags, rack and all. shouts' to reef pets ebay.

I am planning on doing another 3-5g water change for tomorrow. I would like to add 1 & 2, if I do I would be no more than a few drops would like keep part 1 5ml and part 2 3ml for the week. Im thinking this might lower the Mg a bit raise the alk and calcium at the same time. I might be wrong.
On the other hand I would just like to do a wc and test again the following day.

This is for certain I feel comfortable with the test kit now.

 

[nissanrs]

I added 5ml of part 1 & 2. I am doing
a minor water change tomorrow. It seems
as if the corals appreciate the dosing. the colors
started popping a few mins after dose.