Recommendations for dosing 2part
- Thread starter coral88
- Start date
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Russellaqua
Coral Junkie
Usually the part A bottle has you add some and wait about 10 minutes so that it's thoroughly mixed in your system and then you add an equal amount of part B. I find the bottle usually tells you what the calcium content is. If you let me know that, your current calcium level, and what you'd like your calcium to be at, I can tell you exactly how much you'd need to add to get your tank to where you'd like it. I generally keep mine around 450 ppm Ca. It's hard to do an automatic dosing because they have to be separated in time, but if you had 2 dosers you could do it with a couple timers.
ficklefins
Super Duper Moderator
I use this to determine my dosing needs:
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html
Sorry, no setup just measure and dump
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html
Sorry, no setup just measure and dump
OP
OP
coral88
Hobbyist for now
I appreciate your attempt at answering my question but I don’t think you understand what
I’m asking.
I did not ask how much 2part to dose I can use the online calculators for that.
What I’m asking is what is the best setup Such as type of pump and timer and yes I will need two.
OP
OP
coral88
Hobbyist for now
I was considering The Aqua Medic Reefdoser but have read a lot of bad reviews on them. For what they cost I think I can do better.
Would like to hear from anybody using a automated two part doser .
Would like to hear from anybody using a automated two part doser .
TritonsGarden
Coral Farmer Wannabe
Very good question. I have been struggling with the same problem. Tempted to start a DIY doser.
Does anyone else have a problem with Ph spikes when you dose alk? I usually dose in the morning when the Ph is the lowest. It doesn't raise the tank Ph much but I'm afraid it has killed a couple of fish in the sump by the alk storm that it creates.
Jack
Does anyone else have a problem with Ph spikes when you dose alk? I usually dose in the morning when the Ph is the lowest. It doesn't raise the tank Ph much but I'm afraid it has killed a couple of fish in the sump by the alk storm that it creates.
Jack
surfn
I bleed orange and maroon
what size tank?
i dosed a 2-part solution for several years, and then recently switched over to just kalk. my growth has been exceptionally faster (and with less equipment) by dosing kalk in my top off water. before, when i dosed 2 part, i need 2 separate pumps (1 for each part), plus a way of doing fresh water top off.
by mixing up kalk in a big container and dosing it via a litermeter 3 pump, i've essentially killed 3 birds with 1 stone.
i highly recommend dosing kalk mixed up in your freshwater top off rather than doing 2-part. (as long as you don't exceed your kalk demand, but at that rate you'd also have to make up new 2-part solutions once a month...which in that case its better to just go with a calcium reactor)
i dosed a 2-part solution for several years, and then recently switched over to just kalk. my growth has been exceptionally faster (and with less equipment) by dosing kalk in my top off water. before, when i dosed 2 part, i need 2 separate pumps (1 for each part), plus a way of doing fresh water top off.
by mixing up kalk in a big container and dosing it via a litermeter 3 pump, i've essentially killed 3 birds with 1 stone.
i highly recommend dosing kalk mixed up in your freshwater top off rather than doing 2-part. (as long as you don't exceed your kalk demand, but at that rate you'd also have to make up new 2-part solutions once a month...which in that case its better to just go with a calcium reactor)
I dose with peristaltic pumps. In one tank I add CaCl2, Ca(OH)2 (pickling lime), and SrCl2. The other gets baked baking soda. My tank "consumes" about 1/4 cup of CaCl and 5 tbsp. of baked baking soda in 2 days (in solution, of course). I drip 24/7 about 1 drop every 5 seconds in a high flow region of the sump.
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Depends on the uptake by your corals, but probably not. Certainly can't even come close in my tank. You just can't dissolve enough kalk in water.
Dave
OP
OP
coral88
Hobbyist for now
So back to what is a good automated way of dosing 2part???
I’m thinking of adding a reef keeper. Would it be able to control a dosing pump.
If not do I need to go with a calcium reactor. The demand I have now is not that bad but it will be increasing greatly over the next few months.
I’m thinking of adding a reef keeper. Would it be able to control a dosing pump.
If not do I need to go with a calcium reactor. The demand I have now is not that bad but it will be increasing greatly over the next few months.
surfn
I bleed orange and maroon
if you are going to do a ~200g system, no way kalk and/or 2-part will suffice your needs if you have sps. you will most likely need a calcium reactor.
but in addition to a calcium reactor, may as well dose your freshwater top off saturated with kalk.
but in addition to a calcium reactor, may as well dose your freshwater top off saturated with kalk.
Russellaqua
Coral Junkie
I'd definitely go with a calcium reactor. It eliminates any big fluctuations in Ca and Alk, is controlled by a pH monitor so you don't have big pH swings, and will work for any sized system with essentially any Ca and Alk demand.
OP
OP
coral88
Hobbyist for now
So a calcium reactor it is.
Now that I now I’m going with a calcium reactor.
I have a co2 tank with a on off solenoid. And I think I know where I can get a calcium reactor on the cheap.
Will a Reef Keeper 2 be a good controller for the reactor or should I just use a ph controller?
Now that I now I’m going with a calcium reactor.
I have a co2 tank with a on off solenoid. And I think I know where I can get a calcium reactor on the cheap.
Will a Reef Keeper 2 be a good controller for the reactor or should I just use a ph controller?
