2 Part Recipe / Big Mistake

[NewSchool04]

Just a little warning for people who don't follow the directions on the reef chemistry calculator while using the Alk and Ca dosing instructions.

Tested tonight and as always I was below my target levels of 3.2 Alk and 420 for Ca. I used the reef calculator http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html to figure out how much baking soda and calcium supplement needed.

10 tsps of Kent Turbo Calcium (I use Prestone Driveway Heat) and 3 tsp of baking soda would raise it from 370 to 420 Ca and 2.7 to 3.2 Alk. The directions warn you not to add all at one time and like an idiot, I did. I've done this hundreds of times, always followed the directions and for some reason, I decided to dump it all in.

I don't think I did any real harm but my acros are sliming like mad and obviously not happy. My advice, follow the directions!

 

[hansnfrans]

This is why I can't wait to get my darn Ca+ reactor runnin'. This 2-part BS makes me nervous. What dKH values does 2.7meq/L and 3.2meq/L translate into??

 

[NewSchool04]

7.7 and 9 dKH Garen. This was all my fault but I know what you mean about the Ca reactor!

 

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, I did exactly the same thing!!! Wound up w/1500 Mg & 520 Ca. My Alk is staying around 6, no matter how much I add (Just been adding about a . lovesreefs1 has been a huge help, talking me back to more normal parameters. So far, I've got the Mg down to 1425, Ca 450 but Alk is still at 6, even though I've been adding 1mg/gal/night, of Alk.

 

[hansnfrans]

"7.7 and 9 dKH Garen"

That's not too bad of a jump. I've done worse before (jumping 2 dKH), but my corals never slimed in response. I hope everything will be okay.

If you ever want to make your own Ca Reactor, LMK. Mine is a DIY that was made by Highlander and it would be really easy to build another one just like it. You are more than welcome to check it out when the time comes for you to get a reactor.

 

[NewSchool04]

have you used the calculator Jeni to see how much Alk you need to add to balance it?

 

[NewSchool04]

I wouldn't trust myself Garen, I'd always be thinking about it exploding, leaking, etc. There are some things I will DIY but equipment that runs 24/7 isn't one of them!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Well, I wouldn't want it to go up too high, to fast. That's the mistake I made in the 1st place.

380 ml; 12.8 fl oz; 76 tsp

Warning: Do not dose all at once. Levels should be increased slowly for safety. 1ml per gal per day is the maximum recommendation.

Been adding it daily or every other night but it's not going up.
What does this mean?

Balanced Calcium is:
521 ppm at 8 meq/l

 

[BlakDuc]

There is such a low pressure in a Ca reactor since the pumps used are low flow. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[NewSchool04]

what are you adding?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I won a bunch of bottles of Ocean's Blend A&B, in Rockford

 

[NewSchool04]

just use baking soda, it will be a lot easier. Figure out where you want to get to, plug it into the calculator and then split it into 2 or three doses. I just mix in a tupperware container and pour into the overflow.
What is your water volume in the tank you're dosing?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I estimate about 100g. Hard to guess w/all the rock & sand I have.

 

[NewSchool04]

at 100 gallons, that should be 7 tsp of baking soda. Mix up a tupperware container with RO and 7 tsp of the baking soda, add 1/3 in the morning, a 1/3 in the afternoon and the other 1/3 that night. You should be right up there. Test the next day and then add to make up. I always find that it's actuall lower than the calculator figures it.

How big is your sump, fuge, etc? If this is your 90 gallon, you might have more water. I wouldn't worry about that though, use the above numbers and you'll get it up.

 

[Fuppets]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9595654#post9595654 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I estimate about 100g. Hard to guess w/all the rock & sand I have.

I have been reading about this 2 part and I have been thinking, should I be using the rated volume of my enclosure or should i subtract for the water displaced by the sand and rock?

 

[NewSchool04]

you should be using the estimated water volume

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yup, it's the 90g. Do you remenber all the rock I had in the 55? the 90g has about 2x as much. 20g sump (about 1/2 full) & 20g fuge. That's why I just estimated roughly, 100g. Can't I just use up the Ocean's Blend?

 

[NewSchool04]

Baking soda will be better to get it to where you want it, once you get it there use the Ocean's blend to maintain your levels.

 

[NewSchool04]

and cheaper!

 

[Sullyman]

I don't know how you folks do it without a reactor, seems like too much work and chance for human error.
Once the reactor is set/dialed in, it's a lot more stable than the daily dosing.
Sure a reactor's going to set you back some money but how much $ do you have in livestock in your tanks? jmo