2 part in a mixed reef tank

[HV1990]

Okay so I have my dosers setup for alk and calcium. For alk I am using baked baking soda (soda ash) For calcium using brs calcium. Mixed as they directed. I have my alk at 9 to 9.5 pretty solid. Calcium 480. Lots of coraline growing. They are setup to run for 6 minutes twice a day. Alk first then an hour later calcium. Tank is a 60g cube with a 6bulb ati fixture.

Alk 6am for 6 min
Calcium 6am for 6 min

Alk 6pm for 6 min
Calcium 6pm for 6 min

Should I spread it out for shorter burst or this okay. Reason I am asking is that I am not seeing the growth or color and some stn.

So if you have had success with dosing 2part please chime in.

 

[dunc101]

How much alkalinity and calcium are you dosing each time? I try to dose around 10 ml a time on my tanks or less in order to keep my alkalinity even more stable throughout the day. With that said, I would be surprised if your dosing schedule is what is causing your STN.
What are your phosphates and nitrates like in the tank?
How old is the tank and did this just start occurring?

Have you had an accidental alkalinity spike in the past? In my personal experience, it has taken about 4-5 months for my corals to completely recover from an accidental alk spike (which can and will also cause STN and no growth/color issues).

 

[HV1990]

How much alkalinity and calcium are you dosing each time? I try to dose around 10 ml a time on my tanks or less in order to keep my alkalinity even more stable throughout the day.
I am dosing 1.1ml so 6.6 twice a day

With that said, I would be surprised if your dosing schedule is what is causing your STN.

What are your phosphates and nitrates like in the tank?
Phosphates are .05 and nitrates at 0


How old is the tank and did this just start occurring?
Tanks been up since mid February so about 4 months

Have you had an accidental alkalinity spike in the past? In my personal experience, it has taken about 4-5 months for my corals to completely recover from an accidental alk spike (which can and will also cause STN and no growth/color issues).

Not drastic spikes maybe 1.5 swing from dialing in my dosers and manually dosing

 

[MammothReefer]

You need to test your parameters at the same time every couple days and adjust as needed. There isn't a "set amount" that is going to work for every tank. I spread mine out but when I was dosing smaller amounts I always made sure to dose in at least 5 min intervals. Now I dose typically 12 times a day but it was fine doing smaller amounts less frequently.

I agree the dosing schedule most likely isn't causing the issue. It's either a swing, or other parameters, husbandry, or even pest related issues.

 

[HV1990]

Also to add something else to equation that I should have mentioned earlier. Dosing pumps have only been up and running for 6 weeks.... Is there a period of breaking in?

You need to test your parameters at the same time every couple days and adjust as needed.

I tested every day at 8pm for 2 weeks to get in dialed in. Does 2 part dosing require testing twice a day?

 

[mos90]

in my tank i dose 160ml per day of esv b-ionic spread out 24 times in my 300g. 6.6 ml every dose.

once a day testing is fine. i do mine 2 times a week now.

the dosing pumps do not need a break in period.

 

[HV1990]

the dosing pumps do not need a break in period.

Sorry, I mean is there a break in period for 2 part dosing to stabilize in a tank not the actual dosers themselves.

 

[mos90]

got it ... no there isnt

 

[MammothReefer]

Also to add something else to equation that I should have mentioned earlier. Dosing pumps have only been up and running for 6 weeks.... Is there a period of breaking in?

You need to test your parameters at the same time every couple days and adjust as needed.

I tested every day at 8pm for 2 weeks to get in dialed in. Does 2 part dosing require testing twice a day?

No one every other day is fine. If you test everyday you end up chasing your tail.

 

[MammothReefer]

Sorry, I mean is there a break in period for 2 part dosing to stabilize in a tank not the actual dosers themselves.

That depends on how much you are changing the tank. Once we stop adding corals/fish and get a little more hands off things settle down and hit a groove.