2 Parts dosing - Does it always have to be equal ?

[uhupong]

I never been able to dose 2 parts at equal amounts. Any ill effect long term ? My tank seem to be ok so far in the one year period.

THX !!

 

[frank180reef]

Mine is pretty equal fwiw, maybe a tad more alk

 

[Overlook reef]

That is normal.
Your tank will consume Alk,Cal and Mag at different rates. Figure out how much your tank consumes of each and dose what is needed. I am sure you will find your tank will probably consume more Alk than Cal and much, much , less Mag.

I do not even dose Mag, because my weekly water changes keeps it where it should be.

My Alk is just slightly more than my Cal.


RSM 130D
Mixed reef, SPS dominated

 

[nemodan]

To my knowledge, from readings, the 2 part solutions, like B-ionic or Kent Marine or the one from Randy Holmes, they are ionically balanced and is best to use equal amounts.

But when you do a Ca solution and an Alk solution that are not balanced (like the 2 parts from BRS) then you calculate your need of each one,and adjust accordingly.

I used the Kent Marine and now the B-ionic and dose equal amounts.

 

[phg1960]

Measurement error and other factors will change the amounts you use. When I first started dosing, I tried to force equal use. That didn't work out. No I just dose whatever it takes to keep parameters stable and where desired.

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

My alk use is much higher than my ca. I think it depends on what kind of corals you have in your tank.

 

[wdebenedettojr]

Personally I use more calcium then alk. I do have to dose mag daily also.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Overlook reef]

Wow! You add Mag daily?

I think it depends on what you have in your tank as far as Cal and Alk.

 

[dannyp02908]

I always thought that calc and alk got used evenly. There is a chart that shows what the usage should be. Something like 20cal for every 1dkh (I think im wrong on those numbers, just an example). When you use a CaRx, it doses the 2 as a balanced solution.

 

[jdeb101]

I've been wondering this recently as well. If one param is consumed quicker than the other for our tanks, yet you dose both equally daily wouldn't it end up that you quickly begin overdosing one of them?

For example, my tank consumes about .25 meq/L Alk daily and prob about 10-20 ppm of Calc every 3-4 days or so.

I'm guessing it also depends on what your dosing... I've been using Seachem Reef Builder and Reef Advantage for my dosing. The reef Advantage also adds a little Mag.

 

[JasonandSarah]

I dose all elements separately because they've always been consumed at different rates. The fact that they do get consumed unevenly is the main reason I've never tried kalk...
Who knows though?? If I was to start dosing kalk Maybe the corals would adjust and start consuming things evenly?