Testing for dosing .

Mstanker · Jan 11, 2015

I have already tested my water for 3 days now. First test was on 1-5-15,1-10-15:1-11-15

Readings on the Test;

Cal-.84=420ppm
alk-.54=7.6
Mag-.70=1400

On Tue,Wed. I does 15ml of A&B kent. Here's the reading acouple days later.

1-10-15
cal-450
alk-.59=8.2dkh
mag-.72=1440
I did that test at 9pm i dont know if it matters day or night so i did a test today.

1-11-15
cal-.87=435
alk-.58=8.1
Mag-.70=1400

Should i test for the next two days to give me a idea of what to dose to keep my lvl up? Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 11, 2015

If all you dosed between 1/5 and 1/11 was 30 mL of each part of the two part, then I'd say that looks like 4-5 mL of each part each day is a fine dose.

Watch the alk for rising or falling as that is the best indication of over or under dosing.

Mstanker · Jan 11, 2015

I need 15th of part a and 15 ml of b. Is that what your saying

mike007 · Jan 11, 2015

After levels are where you want them go three days without dosing and then test parameters to see what your loss is. Then divide by three and that will tell you your daily consumption. Then you can go to the reef calculator and it will tell you how much to dose each day to maintain the levels.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 12, 2015

I was saying add 5 mL of part A and 5 mL of part B each day and see where the alkalinty ends up after a week.

Mstanker · Jan 12, 2015

oh ok, Ya my last post didnt make much since. Thats what i get for trying to repost on my phone. haha. Thanks, i'll do that once i get to the house.

Mstanker · Jan 12, 2015

I justI just tested again today and the results were cal. 425 and alk. 7.8. And mag. 1400

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 12, 2015

Seems fine.

Mstanker · Jan 13, 2015

But would going from 435 to 425 in a day probably be due to the corals taking in cal. Would i need to dose like 5ml to maintain 435?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 13, 2015

Mstanker said:
But would going from 435 to 425 in a day probably be due to the corals taking in cal. Would i need to dose like 5ml to maintain 435?

Well, yes, but it is unlikely your kits are capable to accurately measuring the difference between 425 and 435. Monitor calcium over much longer times before making a change. Like a week.

Just dose 5 mL of each for multiple days and see what is happening.

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

Alittle update on my levels last night. cal-390,alk-7.3,mag-1400. The last date i test was on the 19th i due believe so from 425 to 390. I dose 10ml of kents marine A & B last night. On that rate of cal being taking in; what would you all dose 2ml a day??

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 28, 2015

I'd personally base the dose of both parts (equally) off the alk changes unless the calcium was too high or too low (and you are not close to either of those).

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

So how much ML would u start with a day of kent marine a & b or should i just dose with a bottle of cal,

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 28, 2015

So how much do you think alkalinity is changing each day?

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

Well its hanging around 7.8 -,+. im at work now but ill post a picture of all my reading and if you would make a call on it. This month i tested from the 5-19th and stop for 6days until now.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 28, 2015

OK, so if you let us know how much it dropped between the 19th and now, I'll pick a dose that fits that.

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

On 1.13 it's 7.4

Mstanker · Jan 28, 2015

alright and the test for 1-28-15 is Cal,.85=425, alk-.55 7.7, mag= 1250ish.

Thats with me dosing 10ml of A & B last night.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 28, 2015

So between 1/13 and 1/26 it dropped only 0.1 dKH with no dosing during that time?

Assuming so, I'd use the calculator below to determine the dose for the equivalent of 0.1 or 0.05 dKH each day, using the entry for Kent's Tech CB (even though it is a slightly different product).

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Add that dose of each part each day for a couple of weeks and monitor alkalinity.