When to switch from Kalk+Vinegar in ATO to Daily dosing?!!!!.....

[higorc]

When am I gonna have to do the switch? Everytime I test my Calcium it's between 440-500 and Alk around 9-10 which I concider to be PERFECT numbers! I have more and more SPS in my tank and it doesn't seem to bring down my readings. I do 35G water changes in my 120G+40G Sump about once a month, but the readings never seems to move the needle

I have a couple of BRS dosing pumps on stand by for a while now, but haven't set them up yet.

Am I just over thinking things? Should be daily dosing by now or just keep my eyes on it? I have to admit, since my upgrade to the 120G (over a year ago!) I have a lot more SPS and don't have as much Coraline around the tank even though ALL of my SPS seems to be doing just fine.... I just don't know what to do

I am seriously thinking about just starting dosing Calcium and Alk and watching what it does...







Higor

 

[higorc]

Just FYI, I have a 7G ATO reservoir which I mix 3 table spoons of Kalk + 45ML of vinegar per gallon... Been doing it for the past 1.5 years per Randy's recipe.

Thought I would mention that.


Higor

 

[reefstarter]

If you have good growth , good numbers , why mess with it . I am curious about the vinigar dosing though . I have heard about it before and was wondering what benefit it has above "standard " dosing or using a calcium reactor

 

[ro_nicu]

Remembering how your tank looks Higor, I would say there are probably less than 10 people on the entire East Coast that would dare give you advise, ....

 

[reefstarter]

true that

 

[delta]

If you are keeping up with the tanks demand why change?

what are your Mg levels? As far as Coraline careful what you wish for

 

[reefstarter]

Mag is why I decided to use a reactor , sure you can dose for calc , alk , and mag . or 2 part that has all 3 . what I don't get is dosing vinigar for bacterial growth then blasting that bacteria with UV . I get you don't want to see the blooms but .......

 

[delta]

Mag is why I decided to use a reactor , sure you can dose for calc , alk , and mag . or 2 part that has all 3 . what I don't get is dosing vinigar for bacterial growth then blasting that bacteria with UV . I get you don't want to see the blooms but .......

Are you adding dolomite to the reactor? That is the way to help maintain Mg with a CA reactor.

 

[higorc]

Remembering how your tank looks Higor, I would say there are probably less than 10 people on the entire East Coast that would dare give you advise, ....

HAHA Nick, u crazy! I am a firm believer that no one really knows our hobby aside from the basic principles. Some just have been through and/or have seen more ordeals than others enough to avoid and help others. I always try to tread lightly around the whole chemistry part of it. To be honest, sometimes I am surprised it works at all .

If you have good growth , good numbers , why mess with it . I am curious about the vinigar dosing though . I have heard about it before and was wondering what benefit it has above "standard " dosing or using a calcium reactor

To answer your question- I use the Vinegar primarily so I can add more Kalk to my ATO reservoir. With out the Vinegar I believe the max Kalk you can add to 1G of water is 2 tea spoon before it won't mix anymore. But if add the Vinegar, they bind together and you can "super charge" the solution with 3 tea spoons. Plus the Vinegar also works as a form of Carbon dosing.

If you are keeping up with the tanks demand why change?

what are your Mg levels? As far as Coraline careful what you wish for

You are right, it does seem like the demmands are being met. But it seems like everyone else that have SPS in there tanks are either running a Calcium reactor or dosing Calcium/Alk. I surely don't have an SPS tank, but I wouldn't say that I only have a little either. So I always find my self asking why aren't my Calcium/Alk dropping as I add more SPS and they grow and when am I gonna have to start dosing?

I have Coraline on my rocks and a little on the glass, but not nearly as I had in my 72G before this one. It seems like the SPS use it before the Coraline can... Last time I checked my Mag, it was around 1400.

I will check everything again sometime today and post new numbers.

 

[higorc]

I forgot to mention that I also run a Bio-Pellet reactor, GFO reactor and a Carbon reactor.

 

[higorc]

Mag is why I decided to use a reactor , sure you can dose for calc , alk , and mag . or 2 part that has all 3 . what I don't get is dosing vinigar for bacterial growth then blasting that bacteria with UV . I get you don't want to see the blooms but .......

Not everything goes through the UV. I mainly use the UV for parasites in the tank. Though I am sure it helps with other things... Some think it's a waste, but it has helpped me with some issues I had in the past that haven't arised again since I installed it. So it never crossed my mind yet to take it down yet.

 

[higorc]

Has anyone here switched to daily dosing after Limewater wasn't enough?

 

[Overlook reef]

Has anyone here switched to daily dosing after Limewater wasn't enough?

I switch to daily dosing after the SPS in my tank started to consume more than was being added through my ATO. I never used a Kalk reactor or constant drip, just in my ATO. Now I use the do it yourself recipe and marine magic doser. I have notice my levels fluctuate very little and it has noticeably helped growth in my tank.

 

[delta]

You are right, it does seem like the demmands are being met. But it seems like everyone else that have SPS in there tanks are either running a Calcium reactor or dosing Calcium/Alk. I surely don't have an SPS tank, but I wouldn't say that I only have a little either. So I always find my self asking why aren't my Calcium/Alk dropping as I add more SPS and they grow and when am I gonna have to start dosing?

I have Coraline on my rocks and a little on the glass, but not nearly as I had in my 72G before this one. It seems like the SPS use it before the Coraline can... Last time I checked my Mag, it was around 1400.

I will check everything again sometime today and post new numbers.

I understand questioning it, but I think you are over thinking it. It what will happen once your colonies are larger and their demand increases.

Really it just comes down it personal preference unless you push past the limitations of any given system

As far as Coraline your parameters all seem to be fine so unless you are seeing issues with the Corals I wouldn't worry about it. Plus scrapping Coraline is a pain

Has anyone here switched to daily dosing after Limewater wasn't enough?

Yes I have switched when kalk wasn't enough. It was an easy transition once you figure your daily consumption. I have never seen any issues switching between any method and I have used kalk, dosing 2 part and CA reactor.

When I run out of media or Co2 for my CA reactor I will supplement dosing until I can replenish my supply

I love the simplicity of Kalk but with a dosing pump or adding it to your topoff water it is just as simple to dose.

 

[higorc]

Thanks guys for the comments. I think I am over thinking it Greg . And you are right, Coraline on the guess is a PITA to clean!

 

[IPWitan]

Curious if you ended up reaching your limit with kalk? I am having the same question as you, but from the opposite side. I have coraline growth but my corals are very small (but growing). It seems like I am putting in a ton of CA / alk and am somewhat wondering where is it all going. I am not to the point of saturation (without vinegar), but bumping up next to it. But like your tank, my corals are tiny!

Beautiful tank, BTW.