Requiring large doses of 2 part to maintain parameters

mts2005 · Jan 15, 2015

I have a 210 gallon tank. Todays parameters pH 8.09. Ca 400, KH 9.1, Mg 1280. I began using ESV B-Ionic 2-part several months ago using dosing pumps(20 intervals for 10 minutes each draining into sump. Each component separated by 20 min) I am up to 200ml of each daily (~1 ml/gallon), going through a gallon about every 20 days. I do not have a bioload anywhere near this required level (light at best) and no significant coralline growth. I am getting precipitation and having to breakdown pumps monthly to keep them functioning. Any idea what is accounting for this much product which is barely maintaining these low normal levels? Any help is greatly appreciated.

beaslbob · Jan 15, 2015

Sounds like you need to cut back.
things seem "in whack So what I would do turn off the dosers and then dose two part equally and only when alk drops down. that way the tank will tell you how much to dose and you can adjust the dosers based upon actual usage.
Your mag seems a little low so you may want to increase that. FWIW Mag takes what seems to be a lot initially but much less later.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 15, 2015

What happens to the alkalintiy if you add half as much each day?

I'd try that and see what happens (if you have not already). Alk will certainly fall, but maybe not too much.

FWIW, this is a problem some people have for reasons that are not clearly understood.