2 parts dosing question

[canadianeh]

I read some articles about using 2 parts dosing to up your alk and cal levels. They say that you should never dose only 1 of the 2 parts separately, AND always do dose 2 parts equally.

Having said that, I have questions.

Let's say at the beginning of the week day #1 Monday my Alk is 7.9 dkh and Cal is 375 ppm. My TARGET is 8.5 dkh for ALK and 400 ppm for CAL.

Everyday for 6 days I will dose 7.5 ml of Alk and 7.5 ml of Cal.

On day #7 Sunday before I do my weekly WC, my test result of Alk is 8.2 dkh and Cal is 425 ppm.

As you can see that my Alk is under and Cal is over the TARGET.

My questions are:
-For an example, If I want to increase the dose to 10 ml for each parts to bring the Alk to 8.5, and continue to dose them equally and together of the 2 parts, would my my Alk and Cal test result will continue to climb together?

-If it is YES to my first question, then how do I bring the Cal to my target of 400 ppm?

Please help. I am confused on this part.

 

[rtparty]

When I dose, I dose whatever amount I need to get to my target levels. If part 1 and part 2 match is irrelevant for me. I use BRS 2 part though. I know other products out there tell you to dose equal amounts but don't believe it. Every tank is different so you can't make generalized and broad statements like that IMO

 

[Potatohead]

Not many people dose them equally. In theory that's correct but most tanks don't actually work exactly that way for whatever reason. Some systems like Aquaforest are designed to be dosed equally which is actually kind of a pain IMO.

You can also dose them seperately, it doesn't really matter. If your alk is 7.0 but calcium is 450 there is nothing wrong with dosing just alkalinity.

 

[mcgyvr]

In a "perfect" world those 2 elements could be consumed at the same rate..
This isn't a perfect world..

Dose each part as needed..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redfield_ratio

 

[canadianeh]

thanks guys. This is the article that I was based my information on.

https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/the-right-way-to-use-2-part-additives/

Also some suggested that I should keep dosing them equally but only pay worry about getting ALK to your target and not too worry about Cal. So if I get to my target ALk 8.5 but ended up with Cal at 450 ppm, it is okay. Opinion?

 

[Potatohead]

Alk is far more important a parameter because there is far less of it and assuming your corals are growing, it will not take much consumption before you are outside your target range. You will probably want to dose alkalinity daily depending upon consumption but may only dose calcium two or three times a week, and magnesium maybe every two weeks.

If you want to monitor alk only and always dose the same amount of calcium, at some point something has to give. 450 ppm calcium is fine but chances are very good if you keep dosing to keep alk at 8.5, and dose the matching amount of calcium, in time your calcium is going to either rise or fall depending on your tank. Of course it's possible your tank will consume them 1:1 but even then you would likely need a correction from time to time, not to mention water changes will skew the balance, etc.

 

[mcgyvr]

thanks guys. This is the article that I was based my information on.

https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/the-right-way-to-use-2-part-additives/

Also some suggested that I should keep dosing them equally but only pay worry about getting ALK to your target and not too worry about Cal. So if I get to my target ALk 8.5 but ended up with Cal at 450 ppm, it is okay. Opinion?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Recommended ranges there.. 450 for cal is fine and yes alk is more important..
I still stick with dose only what is needed and only what you can test for..