What else needs to be dosed with 2 part

tjnorthdakota · Feb 3, 2017

So I have been dosing brs calcium for the last 1 1/2 yrs and recently been wondering if I should be dosing anything else with it. I'm thinking of switching to red sea calcium, it has strontium and barium in the mix instead of just pure calcium chloride. Initially I was worried about the cost because it only makes half a gallon per kg($15)but it appears to be 5x more concentrated as brs calcium according to red seas dosing formula and brs calculator(correct me if I'm wrong please). Reason I'm asking what other people dose is it just seems like while I can keep sps alive well enough I dont seem to get hardly any growth, any tips or suggestions would be great.
tank: 120 fat boy
lighting; 4x 54w t5 and 2x 150w mh
skimmer: aquamaxx cone-2
dosing: 2 part, nopox, reef energy a/b
alk-11dkh(slowly lowering)
cal-470
mag-1450(is always high, never have to dose and cant figure out why)

wkscott · Feb 4, 2017

I have been using the BRS two part for the last 3 years and have great growth and color. I also dose Kent strontium and also a potassium supplement.

AdamNC · Feb 4, 2017

Maybe check out Red Sea Coral Colors supplements and test kit. I use BRS two part Alk/Ca, BRS 2 part Mag along with the Red Sea NoPoX, Reef Energy and Coral Colors. I get decent enough growth where about once a month I have to trim back my Birdsnest and Digitata.

wkscott · Feb 4, 2017

AdamNC said:
Maybe check out Red Sea Coral Colors supplements and test kit. I use BRS two part Alk/Ca, BRS 2 part Mag along with the Red Sea NoPoX, Reef Energy and Coral Colors. I get decent enough growth where about once a month I have to trim back my Birdsnest and Digitata.

Looks like he's already dosing NoPoX and Reef Energy. His water changes must be keeping up his magnesium since he's not supplementing it.

AdamNC · Feb 4, 2017

Yea the only thing I can think of is he may be missing or they're getting used up quickly is his major/minor trace elements.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-coral-colors-abcd-4-pack.html

wkscott · Feb 4, 2017

AdamNC said:
Yea the only thing I can think of is he may be missing or they're getting used up quickly is his major/minor trace elements.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-coral-colors-abcd-4-pack.html

Right. I forgot to mention that I also dose Kent Marine Essential Elements to cover the trace elements.

tjnorthdakota · Feb 4, 2017

I have the red sea colors test kit, so far everytime I'v run the tests I have only been short on iron, could be do to bryopsis soaking it up though, currently its all dying thanks to that new treatment of fluconazole. I honestly dont know why my magnesium is always high, it never seems to get used, water changes are once a month using the aquaforest pro bio salt and I always use rodi water that has tds less than .02. Last I tested my phos and nitrates po4 was at .5 and nitrates .25 (red sea) my po4 is skewed right now though from the dying bryopsis, usually its .2-.3. per hannah test.

Salty1962 · Feb 4, 2017

If your keeping up with your water changes ,with a good salt, you shouldn't need to dose anything else than the big 3. Mg won't have to be added that often because it typically isn't utilized as quickly. Your testing results should tell you what you need to add if anything

tjnorthdakota · Feb 4, 2017

what is a balanced ratio of alk to cal to mag? Could it be the number are just out of balances and cant be used properly?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 4, 2017

tjnorthdakota said:
what is a balanced ratio of alk to cal to mag? Could it be the number are just out of balances and cant be used properly?

In the tank, or for dosing?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 4, 2017

tjnorthdakota said:
So I have been dosing brs calcium for the last 1 1/2 yrs and recently been wondering if I should be dosing anything else with it. I'm thinking of switching to red sea calcium, it has strontium and barium in the mix instead of just pure calcium chloride. Initially I was worried about the cost because it only makes half a gallon per kg($15)but it appears to be 5x more concentrated as brs calcium according to red seas dosing formula and brs calculator(correct me if I'm wrong please). Reason I'm asking what other people dose is it just seems like while I can keep sps alive well enough I dont seem to get hardly any growth, any tips or suggestions would be great.
tank: 120 fat boy
lighting; 4x 54w t5 and 2x 150w mh
skimmer: aquamaxx cone-2
dosing: 2 part, nopox, reef energy a/b
alk-11dkh(slowly lowering)
cal-470
mag-1450(is always high, never have to dose and cant figure out why)

I don't think there is any benefit to strontium or barium (definitely not barium).

tjnorthdakota · Feb 4, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
In the tank, or for dosing?

in the tank, for dosing I believe its equal parts? what I've been doing anyway.

Travis Stewart · Feb 4, 2017

I was always told to only dose for what's needed in your tank, don't just dose two part because you're dosing one or the other..

tjnorthdakota · Feb 4, 2017

not sure if there is differences in soda ash but maybe worth mentioning, I dont use brs, I buy it locally in 50lb bags for $7 from the local water treatment plant. Its food grade so I hope theres no impurities.

mrtian97 · Feb 5, 2017

I top of with Kalk RODI and dose BRS 2 parts plus Mag. I dose Alk daily 180mL and Ca 95 mL, my sps growth is great, color is not ideal (the dark Hawkins Echinata became greenish almost immediately). I also dose Red Sea Energy A and B twice a week, 5mL each. Total system volume is 90 gallon. I run reactor for gfo and carbon mix. my parameter is 8.0 for Alk, 140 for Ca and 1300 for Mag. I do weekly water change of 10 gallon with Red Sea Coral Pro.

Like to have better color, I use Radion Pro G3, increased the intensity to 60% revently in hope stimulate colors

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2017

tjnorthdakota said:
in the tank, for dosing I believe its equal parts? what I've been doing anyway.

Yes, use equal parts based on teh demand for alkalinity. If calcium is already too high (say, over 550 ppm) you can stop that part, or if too low, make a one time corrective boost to calcium.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2017

tjnorthdakota said:
not sure if there is differences in soda ash but maybe worth mentioning, I dont use brs, I buy it locally in 50lb bags for $7 from the local water treatment plant. Its food grade so I hope theres no impurities.

All chemical products have impurities, but food grade will be fine.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2017

Travis Stewart said:
I was always told to only dose for what's needed in your tank, don't just dose two part because you're dosing one or the other..

I disagree strongly. A two/three part is designed to be dosed based on alkalinity measurement alone. Just like a CaCO3/CO2 reactor or limewater dosing is set by alkalinity alone.

mrtian97 · Feb 5, 2017

To keep my parameter stable, I dose Alk 170mL and Ca 95mL per day, this kept my Alk 7.6-8.0 and Ca 440. Do I need to increase my Ca dosing to equal volume or just let it be. All my corals including sps are happy, fast growing, especially my 3 montis and Red Dragon, birds nest, etc.