I just started dosing with B- Ionic 2part solution to My 75 Gal mix reef aquarium. My Alk is at 12.4 dkh but my Calcium is only 371. Do I increase just the Calcium or do I need to increase both Alk & Calcium. I was told to keep Alk between 8 & 13dkh, and Calcium between 400 & 450. Any help you can give will be very appreciative.
New user to 2 part solution.
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Crabs McJones
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Welcome to R2R! I'm not familiar with b ionic, but to my knowledge you can dose just calcium to bring it up to the level you want it to be. Just raise calcium slowly 
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Tumey
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Have you or did you figure out your Alk consumption before you started dosing? I too use B-Ionic and I think you’re probably dosing more than is being used. Your Alk is continuing to rise which in turn is lowering your Calc. Two part shouldn’t have to be dosed in different amounts.
Tumey
Have you or did you figure out your Alk consumption before you started dosing? I too use B-Ionic and I think you’re probably dosing more than is being used. Your Alk is continuing to rise which in turn is lowering your Calc. Two part shouldn’t have to be dosed in different amounts.
Tumey
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Yes, you can dose just one to bring your levels to were you'd like them. Use a dosing calculator.....HERE's an EXAMPLE....and determine the amount needed to bring your calcium up to were you want it. Note that you might need to do additions over a couple days so you don't shock your tank with one large dose.
Once you're at were you want to be, don't dose for 1 - 3 days and determine demand. The 1 - 3 days is determined if you are using too slowly, then wait three days, and divide by three to determine daily dose. If you have major colonies, you might be able to determine daily use in one day. Hope I explained that clearly.
HERE's one more thing you might wish to read
Oh, and welcome to R2R. #welcometoR2R
Once you're at were you want to be, don't dose for 1 - 3 days and determine demand. The 1 - 3 days is determined if you are using too slowly, then wait three days, and divide by three to determine daily dose. If you have major colonies, you might be able to determine daily use in one day. Hope I explained that clearly.
HERE's one more thing you might wish to read
Oh, and welcome to R2R. #welcometoR2R
Last edited:
Hitman
Reefing One Day @ A Time!!!
Welcome to R2R!!!
Yes you can dose CA only.
What is your coral load and how much have you been dosing?
Also what is your Mg at?
Been using B-Ionic for years and my tank loves it.
Yes you can dose CA only.
What is your coral load and how much have you been dosing?
Also what is your Mg at?
Been using B-Ionic for years and my tank loves it.
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
Make sure your Mg is in line before working on calcium and Alk levels
Sabellafella
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Hello! What is the total size of your system? Can indeed raise calcium without the need of dosing alk. Try not to exceed 20ppm calcium raise in less than 24 hours as a precaution. The easiest and safest way to make a correction is to bring levels back with water changes. That's of course- if your salt mix parameters are somewhat inline with what your looking for =)
laverda
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I would stop dosing ALK until it drops to around 9. Aiming for 8-9 is much safer. If your at 13 and something goes wrong and you over dose it is going to cause problems. Natural seawater is 7-8, and their is no need to be much higher than 8. 8-13 is way to big a range no mater what you decide to keep it at. The ALK scale is logarithmic makeing 9 is ten times higher than 8. 13 would be over 50 times higher than 8. 420 would be what I would aim to keep your CA at.
Depending on what corals your keeping and your salt mix you may not need to be dosing much if at all. I believe B-ionic contains magnesium, although it has been years since i have used it. I agree with others you should get a magnesium test kit as it will affect your DKH.
Depending on what corals your keeping and your salt mix you may not need to be dosing much if at all. I believe B-ionic contains magnesium, although it has been years since i have used it. I agree with others you should get a magnesium test kit as it will affect your DKH.
