Paranoid to err dosing question...

GREEF stricken · Nov 27, 2015

ok...after some difficulties with a high alk I've got things where I want them and am going to turn on the auto program I have set for my Alk/Cal pumps. The system is DIY and "calibrated" to distribute 4.5ml/min. My goal is to dose 40ml/24hrs. Pumps set to come on 2min ea 1hour apart every 6 hrs. My question is...am I understanding Randy's DIY formula instructions correctly that both supplements are to be dosed in EQUAL AMOUNTS?? It just seems to me that they are different scales(DKH/PPM) and should adjusted independently...but I am admittedly no chemist, not very good at math and a novice Reefer(relatively speaking)...please chime in and hold my hand here before I press "Go"...

btw, I am getting up by alarm clock at both 11:55pm(for a 2 min dosage from 00:00-00:02), JUST to be sure nothing goes wrong, then again 12:55(for 01:00-01:02)...better safe than sorry.

GS

acesfull44 · Nov 27, 2015

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef2reef-tv-episoide-5-dosers.223058/

This helped me with some questions I had to your conern.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 28, 2015

Equal parts dosing is my recommendation unless the calcium is already too high or two low.

Equal parts dosing will offset the usage in the aquarium since corals and such use calcium and alkalinity in a relatively fixed ratio of 18-20 ppm calcium for each 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH) of alkalinity to make calcium carbonate. The two part is designed to provide that ratio.

The main thing that throws off such a fixed ratio is if you are doing water changes with a salt mix that does not match the tank parameters, and if that is why you need to dose a different ratio, thet is fine.

GREEF stricken · Nov 28, 2015

Roger. While that doesn't automatically springboard me to Marie Curie level of chemistry it does make me feel better...

Thx Randy

GS.

Now if I could JUST figure out why my Cal pump stops on command but my All( certainly the more dangerous of the two ) just continues to drip after controller kills power to outlet. VERY frustrating to set a midnight alarm, get up and watch it come on and then NOT go off...think the caustic nature of tha Alk formula has damaged my aqualifter??

GS