Switching 2-Part Brands

[AndyR83]

Hello,

I’m about to swap from dosing Seachem Fusion 2-part to ESV. I’m changing due to what feels like inconsistent results. Notably, my Alk seems to be fluctuating/spiking way too much for comfort. I purchased the ESV 3-part products (B-ionic alk/cal/mag) and am ready to start using them.

My parameters as of this afternoon are:

1.025sg
pH 8.2
Alk 14.2 (spiked over the past few days)
Cal 445
Mag 1430

I’m trying to determine the best course of action moving forward. Should I dose only the cal and mag products and monitor all for a few days? Alternatively, should I not dose anything until the Alk normalizes?

Not sure if it matters, but the only other thing I dose is Acro Power.

Thanks!!

 

[MERKEY]

I would definitely let the alk normalize 1st.



Then I would start with half dose of what your normally doing.

Easy to over do it when switching.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I think there are calculators out there if you know your daily alk consumption you can know exactly how much esv 2part to use that correlates to what you were dosing with AF.

I dont know the calculator but someone may or it might be a RHF thing that's out there all over the place, im not sure.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not see how changing brands will alter an alk rising or fluctuation situation if you are dosing an appropriate amount of the alk part.

while I am not a fan of Seachem Reef Fusion because it claims to be designed for 1:1 dosing when, IMO, they did that incorrectly, if you determined a dose of the alk part based on alk testing, it would not cause unstable or rising alk.

FWIW, I do think ESV is a good choice among commercial two parts.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Here’s a calculator:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

What test kit are you using?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I do not see how changing brands will alter an alk rising or fluctuation situation if you are dosing an appropriate amount of the alk part.

while I am not a fan of Seachem Reef Fusion because it claims to be designed for 1:1 dosing when, IMO, they did that incorrectly, if you determined a dose of the alk part based on alk testing, it would not cause unstable or rising alk.

FWIW, I do think ESV is a good choice among commercial two parts.

I have a mature SPS tank that is an exception to that (I use Seachem 2 part equally), but may not be the rule.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a mature SPS tank that is an exception to that (I use Seachem 2 part equally), but may not be the rule.

I discuss it here.

Seachem Reef Fusion is not properly alk/calcium balanced for 1:1 dosing

A recent thread in the chemistry forum from someone who found that calcium increased with this product while maintaining alkalinity and using 1:1 dosing as advised by Seachem provoked me to check it's manufacturer specifications to see if it was a balanced additive. From Seachem's claims about...

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