Reaching Desired Levels using BRS 2 part question

MattinIdaho · Jul 4, 2012

I just received a batch of BRS 2 Part. I checked out the reef calculator. How are most of you dosing with this? I have been using B Ionic but switched over because of the price difference. Right now I have been dosing 80 ml per day of both #1 and 2 with the B Ionic and have been gradually increasing my dosage to try to reach my target numbers.
According to the calculator I need to add like 60 oz of Mg and Ca to reach my goal numbers. Would you do it in 2 shots, over a weeks period or gradually just keep increasing by 10 ml per day until I hit the numbers I want? I am in no hurry, tank looks good and all corals are growing, have good color and are healthy. I can be patient if that would be better or would it be better to boost to the #'s I want quickly and then maintain them from now on?

Thanks

KSzegi · Jul 5, 2012

Wow, that seems like an awful lot to get to good levels is you've been dosing, especially on the calcium - what size is your tank and what are your levels? Your alk is okay?

Personally I would get the mag up to proper level first by dosing the needed amount over 2-3 days, if this level is low it will be tougher to keep your calcium up. Then I would work on the calcium - over the course of just a couple days.

If your levels are that low it might be helpful to do a few good water changes with a high calc/mg salt mix too ....

Steelerfan747 · Jul 5, 2012

Good advice from top. Also remember that a big difference with brs is they do not contain trace elements

MattinIdaho · Jul 5, 2012

My Dk is right about 7.5. My tank Display is a 180. I have been using IO with this tank. It's consistent but it's low. As of a week ago my Ca was 380, Mg 1300 and Dk 7.5. What I would like to be is 450, 1400 and 9 or close to those numbers.

ritter6788 · Jul 5, 2012

MattinIdaho said:
My Dk is right about 7.5. My tank Display is a 180. I have been using IO with this tank. It's consistent but it's low. As of a week ago my Ca was 380, Mg 1300 and Dk 7.5. What I would like to be is 450, 1400 and 9 or close to those numbers.

I had to test everyday when setting up my dosing pumps. I only test about once a week now. I would do it very slowly so not to make sudden changes. You numbers are normal for IO salt. Switching to a salt with higher parameters like Reef Crystals to start with will help your numbers. Or, you could boost the IO salt before adding it to your tank instead of after.

Do you have a tank full of sps and clams? Unless your corals are consuming the Cal. Alk. and Mag. then you shouldn't have to dose much if ever if you use a good reef salt.

robf · Jul 9, 2012

oops. Never mind

MattinIdaho · Jul 16, 2012

ritter6788 said:
Do you have a tank full of sps and clams? Unless your corals are consuming the Cal. Alk. and Mag. then you shouldn't have to dose much if ever if you use a good reef salt.

It's a mixed reef but I do have a mainly sps tank.

MattinIdaho · Jul 16, 2012

I'm really struggling to get my Ca and dKH up. I added Mg once and it went to 1410 and has stayed there but I can't get my dKH over 6.7 or my Ca over 400. I have been dosing 150ml of Ak and 500 ml of Ca per day but it doesn't seem to want to move. My polyps have really been struggling and I think it's the low Ak. I had a sudden drop before I even started using the BRS 2 part and they showed signs of stress. After I dose they seem to look better but by the next day they are struggling again and I just can't seem to get my dKH above 7.

lpslover · Jul 17, 2012

My guess would be that they are eating through it faster than you thought. Keep in mind that the BRS 2 part is not as concentrated as some of the premixed solutions out there, so larger doses than you are used to are not necessarily cause for concern. My 14 Gallon for example has primarily LPS and just compact florescent lights and needs 15 mL per day of each of the solutions just to maintain levels.

I would test your Alk, Ca, and Mg levels and bring them up to where you want them daily (calculating the dose with the BRS calculator). Yes it will be a pain, but it will allow your reef to eat up as much as it wants and hopefully get your corals back up to snuff. IME the test results you are getting every day and the amount you are adding to correct them will start to stabilize in a week or two using this method. Then you can continue using the same amount daily to maintain levels and drop testing back to weekly or biweekly depending on your personal preference.

MattinIdaho · Jul 17, 2012

Sweet, thanks for the encouragement

Kbra · Jul 18, 2012

I had similar issues with my old tank before and tried dosing all kinds of things to level it out. Ended up adding one of those sealab formula 28 blocks to the tank and it was gone in a matter of days and levels came back to norm. The lfs couldn't figure it out prior. Made me a beliver in adding them now and then.