Raising alk with fritz reef pro mix

Nick30G · Sep 18, 2018

Same here. I'm using reef Crystal's and my alkalinity is around 7.5. I tested my freshly mixed rc batch and the parameters where: Alk: 10.8 DKH CAL: 540 ppm MAG: 1600 ppm.

Jl330 · Sep 18, 2018

Nick30G said:
Same here. I'm using reef Crystal's and my alkalinity is around 7.5. I tested my freshly mixed rc batch and the parameters where: Alk: 10.8 DKH CAL: 540 ppm MAG: 1600 ppm.

Looks like it's time to start dosing.

Will kalk in my ATO get the job done or should I invest in 2 part?

Coral Newbie · Sep 18, 2018

I prefer the red sea additives. I have never done it in my ATO. I used to manually add it. Now I have 2 DOS systems. One for my water changes and the other for alk and calc

Jl330 said:
Looks like it's time to start dosing.

Will kalk in my ATO get the job done or should I invest in 2 part?

Jl330 · Sep 29, 2018

Bumping this. Made a lot of changes in my tank recently to try to get things in check.

Been dosing kalkwasser and no ill effects so far but alk still isn't rising like I'd like but calcium is.

I still have 7.0 alk but now calcium is 500.

I also added a biopellet reactor and nitrate is slowly dropping. I'm probably between 15-20 now.

Sps all still look bad.

Not sure what direction to go now.

Coral Newbie · Sep 30, 2018

It will take a couple months before your sps color up. I would say the big thing now is to record your dosing just to make sure your system is taking the alk and calc. As your system starts to stablize your system should be taking in more and your dosing should go up. Try to work on just one of the 3 at a time get your nitrates in check then move to upping alk. You need to have a super stable system for sps. What will be cool is once your sps feel good they will change quickly. I have a WWC Cookie Monster that went brown now he’s super healthy but when he came back he didn’t color up to the blue he change to neon green I think he looks cooler that way.

On sps don’t expect immediate results. Slow and steady

Jl330 said:
Bumping this. Made a lot of changes in my tank recently to try to get things in check.

Been dosing kalkwasser and no ill effects so far but alk still isn't rising like I'd like but calcium is.

I still have 7.0 alk but now calcium is 500.

I also added a biopellet reactor and nitrate is slowly dropping. I'm probably between 15-20 now.

Sps all still look bad.

Not sure what direction to go now.

Jl330 · Sep 30, 2018

Coral Newbie said:
It will take a couple months before your sps color up. I would say the big thing now is to record your dosing just to make sure your system is taking the alk and calc. As your system starts to stablize your system should be taking in more and your dosing should go up. Try to work on just one of the 3 at a time get your nitrates in check then move to upping alk. You need to have a super stable system for sps. What will be cool is once your sps feel good they will change quickly. I have a WWC Cookie Monster that went brown now he’s super healthy but when he came back he didn’t color up to the blue he change to neon green I think he looks cooler that way.

On sps don’t expect immediate results. Slow and steady

I knew it wouldn't be overnight. My biggest concern is that my alk isn't coming up. Not sure what's using it up, especially seeing calcium coming up so fast.

Coral Newbie · Sep 30, 2018

Yea I’m not sure how it all works. Right now my tank uses more calc then alk. I just look at keeping my system as close to 12 alk 450 calc. Each day my tank uses more or less that’s why testing is so important.

Jl330 · Oct 3, 2018

Alk hit 8.4 today. Let's keep it there!

Phos .2

Coral Newbie · Oct 3, 2018

Nice congrats. Keep it there for a few months so how your corals grow

Jl330 said:
Alk hit 8.4 today. Let's keep it there!

Phos .2

Jl330 · Oct 6, 2018

And now its back down to 7.9ish. I'm afraid to dose more kalk though because I don't want calcium to get too high.

Coral Newbie · Oct 7, 2018

Why aren’t you using a two part like RedSea? That way you can does alk and calc independently?

I have been raising mine like 2ml a day to keep the levels at 12 alk 450 calc

Jl330 said:
And now its back down to 7.9ish. I'm afraid to dose more kalk though because I don't want calcium to get too high.

Jl330 · Oct 7, 2018

Coral Newbie said:
Why aren’t you using a two part like RedSea? That way you can does alk and calc independently?

I have been raising mine like 2ml a day to keep the levels at 12 alk 450 calc

That's my next plan of attack. I need a dosing pump and was trying to avoid spending the money.

Coral Newbie · Oct 7, 2018

I used to manually dos now I have the Neptune DOS for a couple of reasons
1. I have the apex and also their ATO tied directly to my RODI which is nice. So just keeping with their entire system.
2. I like the fact that I can track the usage against my PH
3. The other big reason is the new Trident that is coming out. You will be able to set your alk and calc and the system is going to test and DOS accordingly. If you don’t have anything it will be big price layout like $800 for the apex like $400 for the DOS and like $800 for the trident I think.

Jl330 · Oct 7, 2018

Coral Newbie said:
I used to manually dos now I have the Neptune DOS for a couple of reasons
1. I have the apex and also their ATO tied directly to my RODI which is nice. So just keeping with their entire system.
2. I like the fact that I can track the usage against my PH
3. The other big reason is the new Trident that is coming out. You will be able to set your alk and calc and the system is going to test and DOS accordingly. If you don’t have anything it will be big price layout like $800 for the apex like $400 for the DOS and like $800 for the trident I think.

I won't be dropping that kind of coin till business picks back up.

Doesn't manually dosing get difficult/cause swings?

greg 45 · Oct 7, 2018

Why don't you look into ESV products. You can purchase there alk. supplement separately and dose manually .

Jl330 · Oct 7, 2018

greg 45 said:
Why don't you look into ESV products. You can purchase there alk. supplement separately and dose manually .

Researching this. Just don't want to cause any crazy swings

Coral Newbie · Oct 7, 2018

I never had a issue with manually dosing other than forgetting. That’s why I picked up a auto doser. If your diligent then manually dosing will work just fine. I dos redsea calc and alk with brightwell for mag. I use redsea coral pro salt so trying to keep it all in the family