Sps alk. and ca. question

robert503 · Jul 23, 2017

I have sps tank, 110 gallon red sea reefer for about 2 years. I use doser to add bright well Alk. at about 110 ml per day and Ca. at about 16 ml. per day. The ratio is about 6 to 7 ml alk. per 1 of ca. Is this about normal for sps tank? I have 20 plus frags and 30 or so 3 to 7 inch colonies. Curious what the ratio of other sps reefers using bright well is. Its been similar ratio for about a year. If not normal, what would cause high use of alk. compared to ca. I have about 6 fish.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2017

Which Brightwell products exactly?

robert503 · Jul 23, 2017

Bright well alk. 2.0 liquid and Calcion liquid

robert503 · Jul 23, 2017

correction. Alkalin 8.3 liquid

robert503 · Jul 23, 2017

Randy, thx for asking

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2017

These two products are not like a two part that is balanced ionically and are not intended or expected to be dosed equally. The calcium part is about twice as concentrated as the alk part, so you should be dosing more of the alk part.

Even with a balanced two part, if water changes are done with a salt mix that doesn't match the tank parameters, the ratio will get skewed from 1:1.

What salt mix are you using?

robert503 · Jul 24, 2017

Im using reef crystals, changing about 15% per month. Would using a two part combination liquid and a loser be a much less expensive option? If so, does bright well make a good one or is there a less expensive brand that would work just as well. Im going through a 2 liter bottle of Alk. in about 18 days i think. Thanks for ur input.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 24, 2017

I'm not particularly confident in Brightwell products, but they do make a two part. You can also get other brands (like B-ionic by ESV who I do trust) or a DIY using ingredients from a place like BRS.

I'm not sure what you are comparing costs to. Less expensive than what?

A two part is a better option than what you have been doing, but isn't necessarily cheaper (unless you DIY).