When to Start 2 Part Dosing?

[Beausoleiljacob]

Happy Sunday Everyone & Hope Everyone is enjoying their weekends. Anyways, some background info: I have a 60 Gallon Aquarium with a 10 Gallon Sump so aprox 55 gallons Total Volume. My tank has been set up for a month an a half or so. I currently have 18 frags, consisting of Mostly Zoas. I also have a chalice, gonisatrea, Duncan, frogspawn, acan &, ricordea. I currently own the BRS 2 part solution in which I haven't used yet. My calcium stays around 420 & magnesium around 1300. However my alkalinity is the parameter that won't stay constant. It's always between 8.1 & 9. However it since my last water change it has been stable at 8.1. I think the reason was for changing my salt mix. I was curious which salt I should be using also, Coral Pro or the Bulk Reef Supply HW-Reefer Salt. Thank you!

Forgot to mention I also have a good sized clean up crew with a fire shrimp. For fish I have 2 firefish and 2 clownfish.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You do not need to begin dosing until the alk drops below where you want it. When it does, you can start by dosing an equal amount of both parts to get alk back where you want it.

Then just continue that process until daily dosing becomes necessary.

 

[Beausoleiljacob]

ALK 7-10 for most systems is the 'norm'...do you have coral or fish yet? Biggest mistake most of us make is trying to correct any variable but especially ALK too quickly... I have some concern about the salt mix with ALK that high (12) on average and your experience level,,,large water changes could lead to instability quickly...

It was smart to check the ALK of the new water before changes and make sure not significantly different than your system. Goal of not having your ALK swing by more than 1 DKH... best of luck

Mark

You do not need to begin dosing until the alk drops below where you want it. When it does, you can start by dosing an equal amount of both parts to get alk back where you want it.

Then just continue that process until daily dosing becomes necessary.

What would you say are the best ideal levles?
Calcium: 420-450
Alk- 8-9
Mag- 1350?

 

[Diesel]

What would you say are the best ideal levles?
Calcium: 420-450
Alk- 8-9
Mag- 1350?

It all depends on what kind of reef tank you going to have.
Above # are looking great to start out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree those are fine target levels.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I describe what I think are desirable levels for many parameters here:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-by-randy-holmes-farley.295/

 

[dacianb]

Such new tanks will have swings in parameters for a while.
Measure all you parameters at precise intervals (lets say 1 week), around same hour (so PH / temperature fluctuations day/night to not interfere) and will see how much your tank consumed in that week.
Divide the required dosing to bring things at desired levels to 7 and this is how you should dose. But for zoas / LPS you will not need dosing. Weekly water change is all those need.
SPS are the ones which will dry your water of ca and mg.