Rocks turning white

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

This may sound like a stupid question, but will doing more frequent water changes replace dosing? Right now I am doing water changes once a month.

Yes weekly water changes would be better for Cal and ALK maintenance. Although, you are just delaying the inevitable. If you want to keep your aquarium, you will eventually need to maintain Cal and ALK with 2 part or KALK.

You should let testing dictate if you need to dose!

You can use large water changes as a way to bring your parameters back in line, but you will need something to create a more stable environment for your corals.

 

[35ppt]

Redacted

 

[saullman]

Yes weekly water changes would be better for Cal and ALK maintenance. Although, you are just delaying the inevitable. If you want to keep your aquarium, you will eventually need to maintain Cal and ALK with 2 part or KALK.

You should let testing dictate if you need to dose!

You can use large water changes as a way to bring your parameters back in line, but you will need something to create a more stable environment for your corals.

What is Kalk?

 

[homer1475]

kalkwasser

its a calcium and alkalinity additive equally balanced out. Works for many. I personally did not like the wear and tear on my ATO pump, and do not have room for a separate container to dose it.

I just prefer 2 part.

 

[saullman]

kalkwasser

its a calcium and alkalinity additive equally balanced out. Works for many. I personally did not like the wear and tear on my ATO pump, and do not have room for a separate container to dose it.

I just prefer 2 part.

I understand. Thanks for the explanation. This is a whole new language to me.

 

[saullman]

Ok. So bottom line. I need to do this as budget friendly as possible. I can buy some Arm and Hammer baking soda from the grocery store for my large alkalinity adjustment. Then I buy BRS soda ash for my alkalinity adjustment AND BRS calcium chloride for my calcium maintenance I should be ok for a while. I would need like 3 small containers to store all this stuff. (I'm dealing with a nano tank so space is an issue). I already have the Red Sea reef foundation test kit for calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. What else am I missing?

 

[homer1475]

Arm and hammer can be used as a daily dose also. No need for the BRS chemical. You would need 2 1G jugs to store the mixed solution.

Google Randy's DIY 2 part.

Test kits are fine, I would add a nitrate test, and phosphate tests to your arsenal.

 

[saullman]

Arm and hammer can be used as a daily dose also. No need for the BRS chemical. You would need 2 1G jugs to store the mixed solution.

Google Randy's DIY 2 part.

Test kits are fine, I would add a nitrate test, and phosphate tests to your arsenal.

Ok. So one big box of Arm and Hammer for both the large adjustment and daily maintenance. Didn't I read that the down fall is that it raises PH if you use it for daily maintenance.
1- Do I need to cook the baking soda so it turns into soda ash like 35 ppt mentioned? Or I can just dose it as is.
2- Is the baking soda large adjustment and daily maintenance using the same jug?

3- As far as the other test kits, I have an API test kit for nitrate and a salifert phosphate test kit. I don't like the salifert phosphate test kit because it has never showed me any results although I have an obvious algae problem that never goes away. So now I'm trying to buy a Hanna checker for phosphate to take any guess work out of the equation.

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

Ok. So bottom line. I need to do this as budget friendly as possible. I can buy some Arm and Hammer baking soda from the grocery store for my large alkalinity adjustment. Then I buy BRS soda ash for my alkalinity adjustment AND BRS calcium chloride for my calcium maintenance I should be ok for a while. I would need like 3 small containers to store all this stuff. (I'm dealing with a nano tank so space is an issue). I already have the Red Sea reef foundation test kit for calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. What else am I missing?

I think this plan sounds good . Like others said you can use Randy's recipe to make it cheaper. If this is a nano tank the 2 part from BRS will last a long time.

My advice, because you are a bigginer, would be to stick with this plan and don't complicate this any more. You can go down the Randy's recipe path after you get the hang of dosing. I personally use Randy's recipe because it cuts down the cost,but it takes more time to source the products and requires a basic understanding of dosing.

 

[saullman]

I think this plan sounds good . Like others said you can use Randy's recipe to make it cheaper. If this is a nano tank the 2 part from BRS will last a long time.

My advice, because you are a bigginer, would be to stick with this plan and don't complicate this any more. You can go down the Randy's recipe path after you get the hang of dosing. I personally use Randy's recipe because it cuts down the cost,but it takes more time to source the products and requires a basic understanding of dosing.

 

[saullman]

So if I get the 2 part from BRS (which I'm ok with), I would still need to buy Arm and Hammer from the grocery store for the large adjustment, correct?

 

[Thespammailaccount]

I think this plan sounds good . Like others said you can use Randy's recipe to make it cheaper. If this is a nano tank the 2 part from BRS will last a long time.

My advice, because you are a bigginer, would be to stick with this plan and don't complicate this any more. You can go down the Randy's recipe path after you get the hang of dosing. I personally use Randy's recipe because it cuts down the cost,but it takes more time to source the products and requires a basic understanding of dosing.

I agree keep it simple and be careful large alk swings can cause issues like coral tissue necrosis. I have never done a large adjustment at once just too scared and will only raise my alkalinity by half a dkh per day at max if needed

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

So if I get the 2 part from BRS (which I'm ok with), I would still need to buy Arm and Hammer from the grocery store for the large adjustment, correct?

You don't "need" it. It is another tool to have, but it is not necessary. Because you have a nano tank, you can always use larger, or more frequent water changes to bring up your levels when they become low. Then continue using soda ash and calcium chloride to maintain.

 

[Yates273]

Another option for calcium chloride which I use for my tanks is Prestone Driveway heat. Can be purchased locally at big box store and very cost effective. It is pure calcium chloride and as per Randy’s 2 part safe for your tank

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

Another option for calcium chloride which I use for my tanks is Prestone Driveway heat. Can be purchased locally at big box store and very cost effective. It is pure calcium chloride and as per Randy’s 2 part safe for your tank

I don't want to speak for Randy, but I believe he does not recommend driveway salts anymore. The manufacturer changed the chemical composition. I believe the concern is boron. Feel free to do your own research and make your own judgement.

 

[Yates273]

I got it from this article his new 2 part. If I’m wrong please someone let me know. This looks like it’s from 2008 although I have seen people using as late as 2017. I could be off although I have been using with no ill effects. If someone knows for sure please chime in. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

I got it from this article his new 2 part. If I’m wrong please someone let me know. This looks like it’s from 2008 although I have seen people using as late as 2017. I could be off although I have been using with no ill effects. If someone knows for sure please chime in. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I had this discussion with Randy. He recommends food grade now.

Calcium chloride for Rand's 2 part recipe

I have been trying to locate Peladow ice melt all winter here in Wisconsin without any luck. Randy, do you think this would work as a substitute or should I keep searching for products outlined in your recipe? Thanks in advance for your help.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Jaebster]

I got it from this article his new 2 part. If I’m wrong please someone let me know. This looks like it’s from 2008 although I have seen people using as late as 2017. I could be off although I have been using with no ill effects. If someone knows for sure please chime in. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

BRS did an Investigates on their 2 part vs others where they included driveway salt. You should check it out. According to their Investigates, the driveway salt includes chemical(s) you dont want in your reef (or dont want in those concentrations).

 

[saullman]

You don't "need" it. It is another tool to have, but it is not necessary. Because you have a nano tank, you can always use larger, or more frequent water changes to bring up your levels when they become low. Then continue using soda ash and calcium chloride to maintain.

I would do water changes more often if I made my own water, but I don't. I am doing it old school by driving to my lfs (45 min away) and lugging 5 gallon jugs back home. It's a pain in the you know what and expensive. I can't afford the equipment to make my own water. I'm just thankful I still have a job right now.

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

I would do water changes more often if I made my own water, but I don't. I am doing it old school by driving to my lfs (45 min away) and lugging 5 gallon jugs back home. It's a pain in the you know what and expensive. I can't afford the equipment to make my own water. I'm just thankful I still have a job right now.

Knowing that, you should get the Arm and Hammer baking soda to help keep costs down. Baking soda is cheap and will help with large adjustments. Like others have said, even though you are using baking soda for large adjustments, it would still be wise to only raise ALK by .5-1 dkh per day.