who's using IO salt then doses 2 part?

[Devaji]

Ok guys I have decided to start dosing a 2 part of some sort. most likely a DIY recipe from Randy.
the question here is, who here is using regular IO then dosing to get it were you want it then dose to keep it there?

I know there must be a few out there who do this. I would love some 1st hand experience.
also what is your formula? how much of each Ca, mag. and alk per gallon do you does your water change water to get it up?
I would assume there is some basic formula to get it in the ball park before testing?

 

[yellojello]

I think there are tons on here that do exactly that. Don't have specific numbers, but I use Muratic Acid to lower the Alk (IO has fairly high Alk), and then Ca and Mag supplement to increase (IO has low Ca/Mag). Depends on what levels you want to keep it though. Then just use auto-doser for Alk, Ca, Mag supplement.

 

[Devaji]

oh good to know IO have high alk. can you tell me more about how you lower it with Muratic acid?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I use Io and two part. Did nothing to reduce alk. in a larger water vol(me that's 60 gal and 30) the change after a WC is not noticeable. I keep my alk at 8-8.5
IMO, don't over complicate it.
Look at the alk over the course daily of a week. look at cal once a week and match the consumption on the calculator.
Under dose the tank evenly with Cal/alk/mag for the first week. test, increase dose. Do this for a month or two slowly till the alk remains stable. IF the alk mag and cal begin to look unbalanced, test again.

 

[joseserrano]

I am using IO again, and have to bump up the CA and MG significantly. Looking for an alternative once I run out of IO.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I am using IO again, and have to bump up the CA and MG significantly. Looking for an alternative once I run out of IO.

may I ask your water vol and size of your general WC's?

 

[joseserrano]

I do about 30g and have to pump up my mg by about 150ppm, and cal about 120ppm

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I do about 30g and have to pump up my mg by about 150ppm, and cal about 120ppm

30 gal in what tank vol?
and is the 120 and 150 in the tanks water vol?
what product?

 

[joseserrano]

30 gal in what tank vol?
and is the 120 and 150 in the tanks water vol?
what product?

I have about a 100g of water. I just have a heavy feeding hand, and also shut off the display same day I do the WC to do a heavy feeding. Try and get that excess food out. Regarding the 120 and 150, I put the wrong info down, I was talking to someone and typing.

Mag tests at 1200 after water change, so I have to pump it up 150PPM, I do this with around 400-500ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

Cal tests at 380-390 after WC, so I have to bump it up 30-40ppm, I do this with around 120ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

It just can get costly after awhile in addition to adding day to day 2 part, and its a little of a pain. I am thinking of switching to brightwell, but I need to find a place I can get it all the time at a reasonable price.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have about a 100g of water. I just have a heavy feeding hand, and also shut off the display same day I do the WC to do a heavy feeding. Try and get that excess food out. Regarding the 120 and 150, I put the wrong info down, I was talking to someone and typing.

Mag tests at 1200 after water change, so I have to pump it up 150PPM, I do this with around 400-500ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

Cal tests at 380-390 after WC, so I have to bump it up 30-40ppm, I do this with around 120ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

It just can get costly after awhile in addition to adding day to day 2 part, and its a little of a pain. I am thinking of switching to brightwell, but I need to find a place I can get it all the time at a reasonable price.

Interesting. thank you.
Im on auto dosing(youll love it btw). Im not seeing fluctuations and imbalance that high. Maybe Ill test again after a sandwich.

 

[Devaji]

I have about a 100g of water. I just have a heavy feeding hand, and also shut off the display same day I do the WC to do a heavy feeding. Try and get that excess food out. Regarding the 120 and 150, I put the wrong info down, I was talking to someone and typing.

Mag tests at 1200 after water change, so I have to pump it up 150PPM, I do this with around 400-500ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

Cal tests at 380-390 after WC, so I have to bump it up 30-40ppm, I do this with around 120ml of seachem dry solution mixed in RO.

It just can get costly after awhile in addition to adding day to day 2 part, and its a little of a pain. I am thinking of switching to brightwell, but I need to find a place I can get it all the time at a reasonable price.

so you are not adding extera ca nad mag right to the WC water? but after. I was thinking that is how it was doing?
but I dont know this is all new to me. haha but that was my plan anyway. to dose and test WC water to get it up then auto dose what is needed to keep it there.

are you using RC IO or reg IO?

 

[joseserrano]

I pour it into the sump as I am filling the tank back up.

 

[madweazl]

I've been using Reef Crystals lately because it has been on sale when I needed salt but I believe it and IO mix up similarly at 11.5 dKH. I maintain 8-8.5 like another above. Before this last water change of ~13% (10g to 74g volume), the tank was measured at 8.2 dKH and after the water change it was 8.5. I haven't tested IO in quite a while so I'm not sure what it's mixing at but thought they were close now. Ca in the fresh RC was 459 at 1.026.

Edit: just looked at my notes from the water change and that was at 1.025 vice 1.026 it looks like.