Folks reading this should not fall for the myth that every tank is different and unbalanced demand is common. It is not.
For many folks, if they used a two part designed for equal dosing (some are not properly designed) and dosed equally, they would hardly notice a difference from their unbalanced dosing.
but in those few cases where demand is unbalanced, it is generally becahse there are sources and sinks for alk (rarely, calcium) that they are not recognizing.
Most often, water changes cause the imbalance. Dosing nitrate adds alk. Accumulating nitrate depletes alkalinity. Sulfur denitrators deplete alk.
There are few other real effects.
Folks focusing on unequal dosing should think about reefers using CaCO3/CO2 reactors or limewater . They do not need unbalanced dosing, at least in the short term? Why not? Make sure you are not fussing with something just because you can. lol
I said the opposite, that precipitation cannot ever cause unbalanced demand because it removes alk and calcium in the same ratio corals do, 2.8 dKH for each 18-20 ppm of calcium and about 0-1 ppm magnesium.
Right. Most folks should dose equal parts to maintain alk like reactor folks do and don’t stress over small changes that may just be test error. Only adjust if calcium actually gets too high or low.
I dose what is required to maintain CA @ 420 ish and Alk @ 8.5ish.
It results in daily doses of CA 15ml versus Alk @23ml. While the needs have increased over the years, the ratio has not. Some of the difference could be caused by the doser.
Hi randy. So what does precipitation look like? How can I tell if that's happening. I have a 65 gallon red sea tank. I use red sea salt the black bucket which is higher in calcium and alkalinity. I do a 10 gallon water change every Sunday. I use the hanna checkers to do my tests. I only have 3 small acan frags in the tank. So there's really nothing to be consuming calcium and alkalinity. My hanna calcium checker read 396 calcium on Tuesday I added 20ml BRS calcium carbonate on Tuesday night. Thursday night I tested again. It was 419. Alkalinity was 8.9 both testing nights. Is the hanna checker not accurate or am I getting precipitation? This is a 6 month old tank with 3 small lps frags . Whats your opinion?
Hi randy. So what does precipitation look like? How can I tell if that's happening. I have a 65 gallon red sea tank. I use red sea salt the black bucket which is higher in calcium and alkalinity. I do a 10 gallon water change every Sunday. I use the hanna checkers to do my tests. I only have 3 small acan frags in the tank. So there's really nothing to be consuming calcium and alkalinity. My hanna calcium checker read 396 calcium on Tuesday I added 20ml BRS calcium carbonate on Tuesday night. Thursday night I tested again. It was 419. Alkalinity was 8.9 both testing nights. Is the hanna checker not accurate or am I getting precipitation? This is a 6 month old tank with 3 small lps frags . Whats your opinion?
It can range from deposits on warm objects like pump impellers and heaters, to hardening sand, to a tank that is milky white with precipitate all through it. I've had all of those over the years. lol
I also think it happens a lot that folks just do not notice, or care about. There's nothing wrong with it if you are not noticing it.
The Hanna calcium checker gives more folks grief than all other checkers. For one thing, it is freakishly sensitive to calcium in the blank. Poor design in that regard, IMO.
That said, even by it's own claim of accuracy, your numbers are not significantly different.
The HI758U Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost-effective way to measure calcium.Calcium, colorimeter, handheld colorimeter
www.hannainst.com
Accuracy @ 25°C/77°F
±6% of reading
That means that a true 400 ppm calcium level could read anything between 376 ppm and 424 ppm.
It can range from deposits on warm objects like pump impellers and heaters, to hardening sand, to a tank that is milky white with precipitate all through it. I've had all of those over the years. lol
I also think it happens a lot that folks just do not notice, or care about. There's nothing wrong with it if you are not noticing it.
The Hanna calcium checker gives more folks grief than all other checkers. For one thing, it is freakishly sensitive to calcium in the blank. Poor design in that regard, IMO.
That said, even by it's own claim of accuracy, your numbers are not significantly different.
The HI758U Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost-effective way to measure calcium.Calcium, colorimeter, handheld colorimeter
www.hannainst.com
Accuracy @ 25°C/77°F
±6% of reading
That means that a true 400 ppm calcium level could read anything between 376 ppm and 424 ppm.
Thanks randy. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my question.. and all the other questions I've asked you.. your definitely help me and others become more educated and that helps us care for the animals we love in this hobby. Have a great rest of your day my friend.
For years I dosed unequal amounts. Then I was told to resist the urge and dose them equally and that didn’t go as smooth.
Today I target very specific numbers that can only be achieved by dosing unequal amounts. I give the tank exactly what it wants and needs for the most optimal growth. There’s several of us doing it this way with the best growth and colors we’ve ever had. Not telling anybody to adopt our way, but I can tell you it’s working perfectly and I believe the whole “you must dose equal amounts” is not for me.
For years I dosed unequal amounts. Then I was told to resist the urge and dose them equally and that didn’t go as smooth.
Today I target very specific numbers that can only be achieved by dosing unequal amounts. I give the tank exactly what it wants and needs for the most optimal growth. There’s several of us doing it this way with the best growth and colors we’ve ever had. Not telling anybody to adopt our way, but I can tell you it’s working perfectly and I believe the whole “you must dose equal amounts” is not for me.
What are you dosing and how uneven is it? Many two parts are not designed for 1:1 dosing, so one would never expect it for those brands.
A number of things contribute to uneven demand, such as sulfur denitrators (consume alk) nitrate falling or dosing (adds alk), nitrate rising (consumes alk) top off with tap water (wild card) and water changes with a mix not matching the tank.
@Randy Holmes-Farley any idea why I would be having to dose way more alk on a several year old sps system?
-75g tank dosing 45ml/day each part but supplimenting 25ml every day or 2 to maintain 8.0dkh
-verified doser output within 1ml/day of each
-Traditional Berlin setup with a skimmer as the only filtration.
-tank runs 8.0dkh 420ppm Ca 1300ppm Mg
-stable nitrate at 15
-AWC changing out 1 gal/day Red Sea blue bucket
@Randy Holmes-Farley any idea why I would be having to dose way more alk on a several year old sps system?
-75g tank dosing 45ml/day each part but supplimenting 25ml every day or 2 to maintain 8.0dkh
-verified doser output within 1ml/day of each
-Traditional Berlin setup with a skimmer as the only filtration.
-tank runs 8.0dkh 420ppm Ca 1300ppm Mg
-stable nitrate at 15
-AWC changing out 1 gal/day Red Sea blue bucket
I appreciate the feedback. I’m baffled as to why there is an uneven amount dosed with 2 part and what, for me at least, cause almost twice the alk consumption. I know many say to dose more cal, even though it’s already high or holding steady, to bring your alk down to the point you can dose equal amounts. For me that hasn’t happened. Even after doing water changes and hitting the “reset” button does not help. OCD me!
they can only use calcium and alkalinity to make calcium carbonate. Yes, they incorporate more magnesium and a bit less calcium than many corals or abiotic precipitation, but that effect is small (coralline is about 9:1 calcium to magnesium by weight) and is mostly taken into account in the BRS two part.
It certainly is true that long term use of an additive exactly balanced for pure calcium carbonate, such as kalkwasser, will very slowly raise calcium due to magnesium replacing it in some of the calcium carbonate formed.
they can only use calcium and alkalinity to make calcium carbonate. Yes, they incorporate more magnesium and a bit less calcium than many corals or abiotic precipitation, but that effect is small (coralline is about 9:1 calcium to magnesium by weight) and is mostly taken into account in the BRS two part.
It certainly is true that long term use of an additive exactly balanced for pure calcium carbonate, such as kalkwasser, will very slowly raise calcium due to magnesium replacing it in some of the calcium carbonate formed.
Randy I’ve been reading a lot of your articles lately trying to figure out how to dose my tank. Tank currently is 60 gal total water volume,fish, live rock and soft coral, I have a lot of coralline algae. I’m currently using seachems fusion a and b My calcium and alkalinity won’t stay in...
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